daniel bowman simon

A Pilot Program of Waste Super-Segregation

I have not mentioned much about work in a while. I moved to a new municipality last month, and hit the ground running. I’ve been observing the public market, riding the municipal garbage truck, attending planning sessions, explaining to neighbors that burning trash causes great harm to more than just the ozone layer (think lungs—asthma and cancer) among other things.

I fall asleep thinking about trash, and wake up in a garbage state of mind. I am thankful I am not the type who remembers my dreams. My fellow Peace Corps volunteers say I’m obsessed. The locals have called me hinuktuk, which translates to a similarly. I’m going to Bikol next week for a short vacation (it’s Holy Week, which means nothing gets done) and I’ve been warned against uttering words relating to Solid Waste Management.

The idea below is still in the infancy stage. It was inspired somewhat by the thrilling and suspenseful book Rubbish: The Archeology of Garbage, What Our Garbage Tells Us About Ourselves . The good people at The Garbage Project dig up landfills and sort trash into a ridiculous number of categories and sub-categories. This program should be easier on the eyes and nose, and perhaps attract less flies. (Of course, the purpose is different.)

I have never heard of a similar project for community collection. If you have, please let me know. And if you have any suggestions or criticisms, bring it!

A PILOT PROGRAM OF WASTE SUPER-SEGREGATION

DESCRIPTION:
At the barangay hall, place picture-coded or physical-representation-coded waste receptacles for various and numerous types of waste, in order to encourage better waste segregation-at-source and segregation-near-source habits.

BACKGROUND:
Until now, people, here and in many other places, have ignored the instructions on segregated waste receptacles. There are a few reasons we assume that people ignore the instructions:
- People confuse the meanings of “malata” (biodegradable) and “di-malata” (non-biodegradable) (ie. some people think that cellophane are “malata” or leaves are “di-malata”)
- People also confuse the color codings (what does green mean vs. what does red mean?)
- People can’t or don’t read the instructional words on the receptacles (especially young children and old people with poor vision)
- Even though the wastes generated are in different types and quantities, the receptacles are all the same size. That means if the proper receptacles are already full, the people will throw to the not-yet-full improper receptacles
- Waste collectors often dump all wastes (regardless of type of waste) in same dump truck, so people think their efforts are pointless

ACTION PLAN:
- Make a series of variable size receptacles on the eastern side of the Barangay Hall of Eastern Poblacion
- We will affix to each receptacle a picture or actual example (physical representation) of the proper item, as well as a written description of what should be disposed in that receptacle
- In some cases, the containers have an exact sized hole in the cover, in order to allow disposal of that item, but prevent disposal of improper items (for example, a small round hole for bottle caps, which will prevent throwing of larger items, such as bottles or kitchen waste.)

- Some examples of receptacles:
o Cellophanes
o Junkfood wrappers, food seasoning sachets
o Juice and ice candy wrappers
o Ice water wrappers
o Hard plastics (like cigarette lighters or broken toys)
o Tin cans
o Disposable plastics cups
o Popsicle (ice bar) sticks, barbeque sticks
o Shampoo sachets
o Plastic bottles (like water or soda)
o Bottle caps (tansans)
o Cigarette pack wrappers
o Fruit and vegetable kitchen wastes
o Diapers, pads, and sanitary napkins
o Batteries
o Other “special” hazardous waste

- Place signs above receptacles in the local dialect (Bisayan):
o Please Respect Our Community Waste Segregation Project, Please Place Items in the Proper Receptacles
o This is one easy way to help our children to have a healthy and clean environment and a better place to live now and forever
o If you have questions about this project please ask Elvie, Daniel, Barangay Chairman, Kagawads, Tanods, or purok leaders

RATIONALE:
- Pictures or physical representations on waste receptacles are self-explanatory. There will be less confusion about where to dispose a certain kind of waste (for example, where do I put cellophane or leafs or batteries?)
- This super-segregation is very specific. We should be able to recover certain items for re-use, recycling or art projects
- A place to properly and easily segregate waste nearby may encourage and simplify household segregation-at-source efforts
- Children might enjoy this activity and see it as a kind of a game

EDUCATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES:
- We will inform the Barangay Chairman, Kagawads and Tanods, as well as purok leaders, about our Waste Super-Segregation Program (either through barangay session, purok meeting or home visits.) Because this program is quite simple, it should not take long to fully explain the program
- We will inform the residents nearby the barangay hall about this program through informal methods
- If participation is low, we will use a trysikad as a mobile education unit to quickly demonstrate the program around the neighborhood

MATERIALS NEEDED:
- containers
- pictures or physical representations of all the various kind of wastes we will be collecting
- glue (to affix pictures or physical representations to the receptacles)
- paper, computer, and plastic coverings (for the signs)
- trysikad (in case we do mobile education)

BUDGET:
- The budget for this program should be minimal, as most of the materials are already available, and the education component is all local and does not require vehicular transportation

EVALUATION/MONITORING:
- On a daily basis, we will inspect the receptacles in order to see if the people are segregating their waste properly
- Count certain items in order to establish records of use of the receptacles
- We should also determine how people are keeping the wastes in their homes (whether or not they are pre-segregating, and by what means)

NEXT STEPS:
- If this program shows signs of success, we will write Bisayan and English manual so that other puroks and barangays and the Metro-Tagbilaran cluster municipalities can replicate our program, if they chose to do so
- In June, when school is back in session, we will try to implement similar waste super-segregation at the central elementary school and at the barangay high school. When Daniel transfers to his nipa hut (once it is constructed,) he will try to replicate the super-segregation project in the market
- Establish a transfer station at the back of the municipal hall for the segregated residual waste. (If there is no foul odor, perhaps we can keep the wastes there until the sanitary landfill is established.) We also need to arrange a system to deliver the wastes to the transfer station (i.e. who will do the transfer, and how often the waste will be transferred)
- Plan and implement a compost-system for the biodegradable waste
- Make a video to educate the people about proper segregation at source and engage their hearts and minds in proper solid waste management
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PREPARED BY:
ELVIE L. IRAG AND DANIEL B. SIMON
March 14, 2005

All Hail Fareed!

Here in the Peace Corps, we are blessed with a free copy of Newsweek every freakin' week!!!!

My response to Fareed Zakaria’s latest Newsweek column,
Imagine:500 Miles to the Gallon

Dear Newsweek Editors:

All Hail Fareed!

How delightful it would be if Fareed Zakaria were Mr. Bush's speechwriter. And so much the better if Bush's speeches on energy independence led to serious, responsible actions rather than mere lip-service.

Instead of any legitimate action on freeing the American and world citizens from the crippling health, economic, and environmental effects of petroleum dependence (from countries with quite un-democratic leadership,) we re-elected a man notorious for stacking the courts with judges who kowtow to the corporate energy interests, who as Fareed mentions, have "vested interest in not changing much."

For a president who loves to talk about research, he hasn't shown any evidence he's read the reports by The Apollo Project or the Natural Capitalism folks practically screaming that the technologies we need for energy independence already exist. (And he certainly doesn't listen to any of the evidence on climate change.)

So, I propose to let the campaigning begin. Fareed For President 2008. Wherever I am in the world, I'll punch the chad for him in on my mail-in ballot, and pray it gets counted. Until then, I'll keep riding my bicycle.

daniel bowman simon
bohol, philippines

P.S. Here's another related topic you all might find interesting (from grist.org)

AAA FOR EFFORT
Legislation would force EPA to get realistic about fuel-efficiency stats

A bill debuting in Congress today would require the U.S. EPA to revamp its gas-mileage tests to more accurately reflect real-world driving conditions. Currently the EPA determines mileage ratings for vehicles by using 30-year-old tests that allow vehicle engines to get warm, never push the speed above 60 mph, never run the air conditioning, and never accelerate quickly. Enviro groups have long argued for reform of the tests, but now the bill has garnered the support of behemoth auto club AAA, which has conducted its own tests and found that the EPA is overestimating average gas mileage for several vehicle models, sometimes by almost 10 miles per gallon. The AAA's test, though not scientific, involves drivers around the country "getting groceries, getting stuck in traffic jams, driving the same way you would," says AAA spokesdude Mantill Williams. Now if only AAA would stop lobbying for more highways and fewer emissions
standards ...

straight to the source: USA Today, James R. Healey, 02 Mar 2005

see also, in Grist: Road Warriors -- A travel club provides a greener alternative to AAA -- by Michelle Nijhuis

see also, in Grist: Sticker Shocking -- The EPA has been misoverestimating the fuel economy of cars sold in the U.S., says enviro group -- in Muckraker

Got the Bolthouse Blues

I decided to tease my dad a little bit. Maybe he’ll be motivated enough to dust off the old juicer that’s somewhere in the kitchen. And in his defence, I don’t think he’s ever set foot in wal-mart.

Dear Dad,
So I did a little research on this great new bolthouse farms juice you're drinking. My comments in BLOCK...(and it pains me to say this, but the same goes for Tropicana Grovestand:)

From:
Q. Where is your juice made?
A. We make our juice daily in our newly constructed state of the art bottling facility located in the San Joaquin Valley of California.
THAT'S WHERE I WENT TO SCHOOL. NICE PLACE. BUT AS YOU MIGHT RECALL, PRETTY DARN FAR FROM NEW YORK. THE JUICE HAS TO GET TO YOU SOMEHOW, HUH?

Q. Is your juice perishable?
A. Yes! Our juice must be kept cold. Under normal refrigerated conditions, our juice can be safely enjoyed up to the expiration date printed on the bottle. (40 days from production)
HMMMM...IF IT MUST BE KEPT COLD IT MUST NEED REFRIGERATION ON THE RIDE FROM CA TO NY. YOU BOUGHT A CAR WITH NO AIR-CONDITIONER BECAUSE IT SAVED ON GAS. BOY OH BOY, THIS RIDE MUST EAT UP A REALLY RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF GAS. AND WHAT'S THAT I HEARD ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING?

PLUS, LOOKS LIKE IT CAN STAY PUT IN THE REFRIGERATOR SECTION OF THE SUPERMARKET PRETTY MUCH FOREVER, AND WHAT'S THAT I HEARD ABOUT THEM NEEDING MORE ENERGY AND A NEW COAL OR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT? (NOT IN MY BACKYARD!!!!)

Q. How long will your juice stay fresh?
A. Once the bottle is opened, our juice should retain its fresh flavor for approximately 7-10 days. ensuring the best taste possible while still ensuring the safety of our product.
OH, GOOD, YOU CAN KEEP IT IN THE FRIDGE AT HOME LONGER THAN THAT POT OF LEFT-OVER SPLIT PEA SOUP.

Q. Where can I recycle your bottle?
A. Bolthouse juice bottles can be recycled anywhere that accepts P.E.T. #1 plastics.
OH, WHAT A RELIEF IT IS TO KNOW THAT AFTER THE BOTTLE HAS TRAVELEED CROSS COUNTRY, FILLING THE LUNGS OF MY FELLOW AMERICANS WITH SOOT, AND HELPING THIS CLIMATE CHANGE THING PICK UP SOME MUCH NEEDED SPEED, AT LEAST I CAN RECYCLE THE DARN BOTTLE.

Q. Where can I find your product?
A. Bolthouse Farms beverages can be found in the refrigerated produce section of your local grocery store.
LOCAL GROCERY STORE? WHAT'S THAT? CAN'T I GET IT CHEAPER AT WAL-MART ANYWAY?

HEY DAD, CHECK THIS OUT TOO...SOUNDS LIKE LOCALLY GROWN ORGANIC IS A REAL DOUBLE WHAMMY!!!!!
From: Grist Magazine
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 12:19:40 -0800
To: daily-grist@lists.grist.org
Subject: DAILY GRIST, 03 Mar 2005

YOU SAY TOMATO, I SAY HIDDEN COSTS OF TRANSPORT
Locally grown food greener than organic, British study says

Though organic farming is relatively easy on the environment, buying locally grown food, even the pesticide-sprayed variety, is usually more earth-friendly than buying organic, a new study contends. Published in the journal Food Policy, the study found that the transportation of food over long distances -- anywhere outside a 12-mile radius -- can cause more harm than the growing of food with non-organic methods. Researchers calculated the hidden costs of farming and food transport and found that the U.K. would save some $4 billion a year in environmental and traffic costs if all food consumed was locally grown, and an additional $2.1 billion a year if all food were grown organically. The study authors called on supermarkets to label items with the number of "food miles" they travel to get to the store. "The most political act we do on a daily basis is to eat, as our actions affect farms, landscapes, and food businesses," said study coauthor Jules Pretty of the University of Essex.

straight to the source: BBC News, 02 March 2005

straight to the source: The Independent, Steve Connor, 03 March 2005

A Contest Alerted, A Crisis Averted.

So February is done and over. She took Hunter with her. I read a tribute of Mr. Thompson on the internet. The author quoted a proposal by Sterling Greenwood, the publisher of The Aspen Free Press (self-proclaimed “Aspen's Worst Newspaper”) “"Twisted," for example, Mr. Greenwood said, is a classic Hunter word - combining elements of fatigue, inebriation and a hint of the bizarre - that should be retired like a slugger's old number.”

I am not sure if I agree words should be retired, but I do have a confession to make. When I read “Generation of Swine, Gonzo Papers Vol. 2: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the ‘80s” last year, I enjoyed an entire phrase so much I lifted it right here to this very website. I hope I haven’t caused anybody harm or disgust. But no, I won’t disclose what that phrase was, cuz I might have the occasion to use it again, without inciting the wrath of Mr. Greenwood. However, a free box of Peanut Kisses, Bohol’s finest junk food, is forthcoming for the first person to identify the phrase that pays.

(Some restrictions apply. This contest off limits to employees of dbs.com and US Peace Corps, and most residents of Colorado. Sorry I used the word I so much in previous paragraph. It’s not really about me. “Winner” must shoulder shipping costs from the Philippines. Contest sponsor not liable for any ill effects brought on by Peanut Kisses. Not that there would be any. For a complete list of the “winner,” should there be any, please send a SASE to dbs.)

Next on my agenda: I invited my brother and lola (grandma) to contribute a guest commentary on their visits to the Philippines. Neither even bothered to respond to my kind invitation. Instead, they took off to Honduras and returned to the daily grind of bridge, tennis, and yoga respectively. That figures.

So I will tell a story instead. A wise man told me once there ain’t such a thing called “coincidence.”

Lola and I were chillin’ on the beach in Panglao, late on a Sunday afternoon, and I decided that wasn’t good enough. I wanted to show her another beach. But instead of hiking there on the road, I figured it would be a nice idea to wade through the low tide to the other beach. I told her it would be about a kilometer (62% of a mile.) She was in!

We started wading and quickly the white-sand coast disappeared. We were hugging the volcanic rock wall, the tide was rising, and we could not see any beachy land. I told Lola we’d reach our destination shortly. But suddenly, I was not so sure myself. (After all, I’d only ever passed this way in a kayak, and that was at night.) Lola told me she was less than thrilled to be in said situation, now completely soaked and headed in the opposite direction from her suitcase. And then she slipped, and scraped her leg on a sharp rock.

What you have to understand at this point in my relation of events about Grandma Lili is that she is one of the most laidback, easy-going persons in the history of womankind. I have never seen her angry and or strung-out, (even when I was eight and dumped all her cigarettes in the toilet bowl, waiting for her to discover them on her next trip to the comfort room.) But all of a sudden, Lola freaked out. She recalled vividly a time more than thirty years ago when a minor leg wound on a tropical adventure almost led to amputation.

I tried to get her to calm down, but she could not be reasoned with. (Lest you think she was having a nicotine fit, she quit smoking shortly after her smokes ended up swimming in porcelain.) I told her we were still just around the corner, even though I knew it was a lie. I was hoping for a miracle. For example, it would have been nice if somebody I knew passed us in a small banka (outrigger boat) and offered us a ride to shore.

We finally reached a small area of beach in between the super-sized rocks. A few gentlemen were drinking beer and barely acknowledged our presence. I asked if the stairs behind them led anywhere, and they responded with some fancy facial gestures, as if to say “duh, why would they be here if they didn’t?” So we started up the weed-covered concrete stairs, and a big black barking retriever followed behind us. If there’s anything my grandma doesn’t appreciate, it is a dog. But the dog liked Lola, and wanted to show us the way. We tromped through huge fallen palm leaves, and surprise, surprise, ended up facing barbed wire. Then I noticed more stairs, going down. And so, we were back on the pint-sized beach. The drunk men looked at us funny.

Fortuitously, there was a 3rd staircase. when we reached the top, we encountered an old bearded man sitting in a little hut, shellacking a piece of bamboo. In my best Cebuano, I asked him whether we were anywhere near Alona Beach. He stared at me blankly. (sometimes, Filipinos are so astonished to hear a foreigner speaking their language that they go into shock.) So I used English. Still no answer. I gave him the “what drugs are you on?” look, and he said “I, Japanese.” So I used the three words of Japanese I remembered to ask him once more how to get to where we needed to go. He pointed to a little path, and told me “1 kilometer.”

Lola didn't like the sound of 1 kilometer, especially with the big dog still following us, and to be honest, neither did I. But we both realized we were up a certain kind of stinking creek, and at least we were out of the rising tide. And then it happened. We stumbled upon a barkada of jovial Filipinos, and said hello.

There was a van beside their table, so my grandma asked if they could give a us a ride, but they ignored the request. Then, she asked if any of them had a band-aid for her barely bloody leg, and one of the women went into her house and came out with a handful of first-aid items. Turned out the lady was a nurse, freshly back from Europe. She cleaned up Lola, and assured her that getting scraped in the salty sea is nothing to worry about. Grandma finally seemed to come to the realization that her leg would not need to be sawed off. And then, the woman’s husband said that since we were wet, he would give us a ride, as long as we were willing to sit on trash bags (so as not to get the seats salty.)

In utter desperation, a nurse and a driver in one shot! That was the last time Lola complained until I dragged her on a hike in a slippery virgin forest at Lake Danao, but that’s a story for another day.