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ABSTRACT RAFOL, JUDE RUSTON, B. and SAMUSAM, JOHN MICHAEL, T. 2020. Assessment of the Established Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) Based on the Perception of the Respondents in the City of Batac, Ilocos Norte. Undergraduate Thesis. College of Agriculture Food and Sustainable Development. Mariano Marcos State University, City of Batac, 2906 Ilocos Norte, 59pp. Adviser: Dr. Floramante C. Pastor The study was conducted to assess the established material recovery facilities (MRF) based on the perception of the respondents in the City of Batac, Ilocos Norte It specifically aimed to characterize the established MRF in selected barangays and assess if it conforms to the provisions of RA 9003 (i.e., compartments for the different types of wastes, size, location, etc.), determine if the practices of the people conforms to the purpose of MRF (i.e., segregation), and determine the impacts (positive or negative) of these established MRFs to the waste management of selected barangays with the inclusion of some secondary impacts to the social, economic and environment. The study was conducted from January to June 2020 in 18 different barangays. This study involved 200 respondents. The study used a descriptive research design to gather the needed information supported by ocular observation. Results showed that most established MRFs in the barangays is used by the barangay alone; mostly built with angle bar and steel, built in an area that is open and accessible, and they are barangay-owned. In relation to the practices majority of the respondents' wastes were not collected by the designated barangay collector and the wastes were kept or stored for a long period of time. The MRF of a barangay does not have enough capacity to receive or store all the wastes. Respondents also claimed that the waste is sorted and segregated, but ocular assessment showed that there are sites that do not practice recycling or reusing process in their barangay. Moreover, most of the barangays are not practicing composting and the residual wastes are not transferred to the sanitary landfill. It was also observed by the researchers that waste duration in the barangay MRF was from six months and above. Most of the barangays are not recording the daily weights or volumes of wastes received, processed, and removed from the site. The respondents agree that MRF has positive effect to the solid waste management the barangays with some secondary impact to social and economic factors, and to the environment. Moreover, they also agree with the purpose of the MRF in their barangays. In view of the foregoing, it can be concluded that the intended purpose of MRF is not fully realized for some of the barangays. Some established MRFs are just kept but not operational to the fullest. If operational, appropriate practices relative to the objectives of MRF are not implemented accordingly. Nevertheless, MRFs are perceived to have positive effects to the solid waste management of the barangay and also contributed to the social, economic and to the environment. The study recommends that established MRFs must be kept operational to the fullest and practices according to the objectives of MRF must be properly implemented and enforced. Since MRFs are believed to have positive impacts, the provision of RA 9003 to have MRF for each barangay must be enforced through local ordinances that strictly require each barangay to establish their own MRF; and to conduct information, education and communication (IEC) campaign improve the realization of the real purpose of MRF. |
