Application of Integrated Solid Waste Management in a Tourist Resort of Boracay Island, Philippines

In many Asian countries, in order to raise awareness and to improve the solid waste situation, innovative integrated waste management concepts have to be developed and established. As such an integrated approach should comprise of technical, environmental, legal and socio-economic aspects and should involve key stakeholders at different levels. The paper is a result of the project ISSOWAMA – Integrated Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Asia.

This paper presents the results of the application of the  Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) concept on the situation in Boracay Island, a foremost tourist resort in the Municipality of Malay in the Philippines. As a response to the Philippine government’s campaign and the local residents’ clamor for a more ecologically-sound waste disposal, the local government of Malay Municipality, with technical support from the national government and funding agencies, chose a multi-sectoral, community-based segregation and recycling program in the island; an off-site landfill at the mainland municipality; and the closure-rehabilitation of an open dumpsite within the island. The SWM program visibly reduced indiscriminate throwing, burning and dumping of wastes and, therefore, diminished public health risks and negative environmental impacts. A SWM organization was established and the necessary legislations were created and enforced. A local common fund was also created and is specifically appropriated for the whole SWM program of the municipality.

How the local conditions led to the establishment of the SWM system and how the solid waste management system impacts local conditions are further discussed according to the ISSOWAMA framework.