FACTORS AFFECTING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN AN URBAN SETTING

The study assessed the compliance of the chosen barangays of Lucena City, Quezon namely Gulang-gulang, Ibabang Dupay, and Dalahican to the City Ordinance No. 2676 mandated by the Republic Act No. 9003 or otherwise known as Ecological Solid Waste Management. It determined the programs and policies for disposal and segregation, collection and transport, recycling, and composting practices. It also determined the community’s level of participation in these SWM programs. The researcher used descriptive method with quantitative approach in this study. A validated survey questionnaire was created in Google Forms and was administered online though Messenger application in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sampling method used was stratified random sampling wherein Fifty (50) respondents from each barangay was selected based on the criteria of the study, with the total of 150 respondents. Frequency, percentage and weighted mean was used as data statistical treatment. Results revealed that proper labelling and color coding of bins is the least implemented in the disposal ang segregation section while the prohibition of illegal activities such as littering, throwing, and dumping of waste in public places are moderately implemented. In the Collection and Transport section, it was revealed that following the collection schedule by bringing the waste bins outside is moderately implemented in the community. While in the Recycling section, selling recyclables to junkshop and scrap vendors is the moderately implemented while the lowest rank belonged to recyclables are properly stored in the barangay. Conducting of seminars and trainings about waste composting got the lowest rank in the Composting section while the practice of composting kitchen wastes obtained the highest rank. Results also showed that the participation of community is based on the availability of waste bins in the household and awareness on waste management. They also responded that knowledge on certain environmental issues involving solid waste management is also a factor for community participation while the amount of waste collection fees is the least factor that they consider to participate. In the level of participation to SWM Programs, respondents answered that they follow the schedule collection of waste in their community and they keep the surroundings clean by sweeping the front yards and sideroads of their house. However, they do not often participate in trainings and seminars regarding sold waste management. In terms of the issues and problems of the implementation, study revealed that lack of interest/willingness of residents to participate in the implementation and the lack of national government coordination are very serious problem for the community. From the findings, the researcher had come up with a proposed policy recommendation for the implementation of the C.O No. 2676.