Developing and implementing a household waste tracking app to monitor and incentivize waste reduction efforts (PHBAG0002)

Commitment ID

PHBAG0002

Commitment Title

Developing and implementing a household waste tracking app to monitor and incentivize waste reduction efforts

Problem

Baguio City faces significant challenges in managing waste effectively. Issues include:

- Weak enforcement of waste segregation, leading to mixed waste streams and inefficiencies in recycling and resource recovery;

- Low community participation in waste reduction initiatives, compounded by the absence of innovative and user-friendly waste management systems;

- Increasing waste volumes that drive up costs for tipping fees, collection, and transport, placing a financial burden on the local government (e.g., Php 113 million in 2023).

- Environmental concerns such as greenhouse gas emissions, water, and soil pollution due to improper waste disposal.

High waste volumes increase costs for waste tipping fees and collection and transportation placing a financial strain on the City government. Additionally, the failure to segregate and minimize waste leads to lost opportunities for recycling and resource recovery, which could generate economic value.

Excessive waste generation exacerbates environmental issues, including greenhouse gas emissions, and pollution of water and soil resources. Poor segregation and improper disposal of waste hinder the city’s ability to promote sustainability and meet environmental targets.

The development of the app will monitor waste reduction efforts and incentivize households to adopt more sustainable practices, fostering accountability and community participation.

Status quo

Based from the 2022 Waste Analysis and Characterization Study, a projection on total waste generation in tons per day was undertaken. The city generated 55,531.684 metric tons of solid waste in 2023. At a per capita average of 0.146 MT per year, volumes could reach 60,609.564 MT by 2030 as the population approaches 415,134 . These residual wastes end up in sanitary landfills outside the city thus incurring tipping/hauling fees exceeding Php 113 million in 2023 alone.

While the goal of zero waste, as in no waste generation at all, may be nearly impossible due to the complexity of changes that will have to be done in lifestyle, rethinking production and consumption systems, and improving manufacturing processes, it is possible for the city to get close to zero waste. In the reduction targets of the city, the conservative reduction is at 80% by 2032 and it can work for further reduction from there. This goal can be achieved through consistent waste generation minimization, improving recycling and composting, and rethinking production and consumptions systems. The zero-waste goal shall serve as the guiding principle of all policies as well as programs on waste reduction ad shifting towards systems where resources are reused, repurposed, or reintegrated into the environment in a sustainable way. Even if zero waste may not be fully attainable, moving toward zero waste will drastically reduce environmental harm and resource depletion which the city is experiencing right now.

Action

The commitment focuses on strengthening waste management practices in selected barangays through the development and implementation of a household waste tracking app to monitor waste reduction efforts and foster community participation by offering incentives such as garbage fee exemptions to households with the most significant waste reduction.

The commitment entails:

Development and Deployment of a Waste Tracking App: A digital platform for households to record and monitor waste reduction progress, featuring user-friendly dashboards and real-time data.

Community Engagement in Pilot Barangays: Targeting five barangays for the program’s initial implementation, with community orientations and support provided.

Incentive Mechanisms: Recognizing top-performing households with benefits such as reduced garbage fees.

Policy Integration: Aligning app data with city waste management policies to enhance monitoring and enforcement.

The expected results are:

Increased Household Participation: Encouraging households to actively engage in waste reduction through clear monitoring and reward systems.

Improved Waste Management Efficiency: Enhancing segregation and reducing overall waste volume.

Economic Benefits: Lower costs for waste collection, transportation, and disposal, easing the financial burden on the local government.

Environmental Impact: Reduced waste generation, greenhouse gas emissions, and landfill use, contributing to environmental sustainability

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?

The commitment addresses the inefficiencies in household waste management by introducing a transparent and technology-driven approach. The waste tracking app will empower households to monitor and improve their waste reduction practices while promoting accountability and community involvement. By incentivizing households with rewards like garbage fee exemptions, the initiative encourages active participation, fostering a culture of sustainable waste management. This approach will reduce waste at the source, lessen environmental pollution, and lower the financial burden on the local government for waste disposal.

The expected Outputs are:

1. Development of a Waste Tracking App: A digital tool accessible to households for monitoring waste reduction progress.
2. Household Participation in Selected Barangays: Enrollment and active engagement of households in the waste reduction program.
3. Data Collection on Waste Reduction: Transparent and real-time tracking of waste reduction efforts.
4. Incentive Mechanism Implementation: Awarding garbage fee exemptions to top-performing households.

What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?

The commitment on Waste Management in Baguio City relates to the long-term goal of enhancing transparency and promoting robust citizen participation as identified in the city's Open Government Strategy. Specifically, the development and implementation of a household waste tracking app align with fostering greater accountability by monitoring and incentivizing waste reduction efforts. This initiative not only strengthens public participation through technology and community involvement but also promotes transparency in waste management practices. It supports the city's strategic vision of being "Co-Creative, Sustainable, and Resilient," ensuring that waste management is more efficient, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of the community.

Primary Policy Area

Audits & Controls, Civic Space

Primary Sector

Environment & Climate

What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?