To burn garbage or not to?

Trash burning is a common method to dispose garbage. People say it is the fastest and free way
to dispose waste, without relying on municipal garbage disposal or having to transport trash to the
landfill. It is already a practice that most people do within the community and other public places which
sadly includes the school.

Teachers and pupils prefer to throw and burn garbage inside the school premises than to collect
and place it inside garbage bags. It hastens their task to dispose trash and it resolves their intolerance of
waiting garbage collectors. Not realizing how harmful this practice is to their health and to the
environment. Current research indicates that backyard burning is far more harmful to our health than
previously thought.

Open-air burning trash contributes large emissions of several air pollutants. The emissions or
smoke that we create whenever we burn our garbage contain chemicals, these are dioxins and furans, a
cancer causing substances to human. It also affect people with sensitive respiratory systems. Exposure
to smoke can also increase the risk of heart disease, cause rashes, nausea and headaches.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) bans burning of garbage.
Burning of leaves and waste materials is prohibited under Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act (Section 48, paragraph 3). People found to violate this law will be penalized
with imprisonment of one to 15 days and a corresponding fine of P300.00 to P1,000. The law states that
burning leaves and wastes is harmful to one’s health. Leaf and waste burning releases several poisons in
the environment. Local Government units are hereby mandated to promote, encourage and implement
in their respective jurisdiction a comprehensive ecological waste management.

Ipil Heights Elementary School under the administration of Mr. Robert R. Leyson, has strictly
imposed the Anti Burning Law. Alternatives such as “sako” has been decided to be used as a container of
garbage. Under the agreement, the school will stop the practice of burning garbage in dumps. The
method of segregation, recycling and composting need to be implemented more effectively, expecting
to put an end to the errant practice of burning.

Law and its implementation will remain ineffective and futile without discipline and incessant
action. It must be taken seriously day after day. Right track has been started and must unfailingly be
trailed.

The stringent law has put in force and the errant practice has partly become human’s norm, the
resolution will be yours “to burn garbage or not to”.