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CABA ÑA, Elisha Danielle ABM 11C
CABASAG, Maria Isley
CHUA, Anna Margarita
FABON, Micah Therese
MARQUEZ, Marc Anthony Adalson
PEREZ, Maria Emilia
Problem: Mismanagement of Food Waste in De La Salle University
I. Observations
As seen within and outside the premises of De La Salle University, a number
food stalls and restaurants are present. These provide the food Lasallians buy, however
after consumption, students just tend to throw their leftovers. These waste will then be
collected and disposed by the sanitary management. With these being observed, it is
evident that food waste is high in quantity but low in quality. Waste may seem unuseful,
but there are a lot of ways on how to manage them.
II. Questions
What causes students to throw away unconsumed food?
Who will benefit from using food waste as plant fertilizer?
What will be the effect of using food waste as plant fertilizer to the problem on waste
management?
Will this action require cooperation from the student body?
Will the proposed solution be costly?
Will the resulting product be a great substitute for existing plant fertilizers?
III. Prior Knowledge
In the researchers’ perspective, food waste is considered an economic and
environmental problem. It is observed that most people tend to throw away leftovers
even the ones that are almost not consumed; thus it technically shows that throwing
away food is throwing away money as well. In fact, these food waste have posed a
threat to the environment due to the fact that improper disposal of these leads to
emission of harmful gases such as methane. Researchers have also small background
regarding food waste used as effective plant fertilizers.
IV. Hypothesis
It is hypothesized that if food waste produced in De La Salle University will be
used as plant fertilizer, then these waste will have practical use. Utilizing food waste is
plausible inside the school premises due to the mere fact that it will not only contribute in
eliminating them but also it will help in providing a healthy environment for plants as well
as the said community.
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V. Predictions
According to 2015 reports from the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC),
33 percent of total food production goes to waste. Most institutions contribute to the
increasing food waste in the country. According to University Pollution Control Officer of
De La Salle University, Myklim A. Casibang, 50% of the biodegradable trash found in
their campus is food waste. In a daily basis, approximately 272.51 kg of food waste is
collected around the campus which is around 25 percent of all the trash collected. In line
with this, several practices are being done to address the issue such as CLAYGO and
proper waste segregation. However, there is still a need for improvement to ensure food
waste is being managed properly. The researchers aims to provide a solution by
converting it into fertilizer for trees and plants. The food waste found in De La Salle
University Manila will be used to make plant fertilizer in order to lessen their waste and
also help the environment.
VI. Data
Due to the evidence of a huge percentage of food waste in the recent years, an
experiment spearheaded by Stabnikova, Ding, Tay and Wang (2005) sought to solve this
very issue. They proposed the aerobic conversion of food waste into organic fertilizers,
utilizing biotechnology under controlled aeration, stirring, pH and temperature. Mass
incineration is the method primarily used by most countries in eliminating their food
waste, but a more recent study made by Khoo, Lim and Tan (2009) established that
aerobic composting showed more “environmentally favorable results”. Albeit aerobic
composting being more favorable than mass incineration, the same study also
concluded that anaerobic digestion (AD) is more preferred than aerobic composting due
mainly to CO2 and NH3 emissions, as well as, low amount of biocompost produced.
Anaerobic digestion is a series of biological processes in which microorganisms break
down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen (American Biogas Council, n.d.).
In summary, the two methods provided are conceived the most ideal in turning food
waste into organic fertilizers, which is the proposed solution of the researchers.
VII. Conclusions
As firsthand witnesses of the importance of the “Clean As You Go” or CLAYGO
policy in De La Salle University Manila, students are convinced that food waste should
be thrown away responsibly. Still, the question “what happens to food waste after
disposal?” remains. To provide an answer to this question, the researchers proposes the
conversion of food waste into plant fertilizers. By converting biodegradable trash into
organic fertilizers and using the compost for the growth of plants and trees in
DLSUManila or in other campuses, these waste can not only be moderated but can also
be put to good use. Fertilizers can benefit the environment directly, and the students
eventually.
VIII. References
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-_ro8-ZK5JxTI9-3lzGHmIl6CyDxCyW1L5ocFXpGGlQ/edit 2/3
1/18/2019 LIF SCI SCIENTIFIC METHOD - Google Docs
American Biogas Council. (n.d.). Http://www.americanbiogascouncil.org. Retrieved from
https://www.americanbiogascouncil.org/biogas_what.asp
Lim, R., Chua, W. and Aglubat, D. (August 24, 2018). Lasallian efforts in addressing food waste.
Retrieved from http://thelasallian.com/2018/08/24/lasallianeffortsinaddressingfood
waste/
Stabnikova, O., Ding, H. B., Tay, J. H., & Wang, J. Y. (2005). Biotechnology for aerobic
conversion of food waste into organic fertilizer. Waste management & research , 23 (1),
3947.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-_ro8-ZK5JxTI9-3lzGHmIl6CyDxCyW1L5ocFXpGGlQ/edit 3/3