Household Solid Waste Management Practices and Environmental Effects in Barangay Bantug Norte, Cabanatuan City

This study assessed household solid waste management (SWM) practices and their associated environmental effects in Barangay Bantug Norte, Cabanatuan City, Philippines. Anchored on Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, the study examined household practices in waste segregation, collection, recycling, composting, and disposal, as well as environmental conditions related to scattered waste, drainage blockage, odor occurrence, and pest infestation. Using a descriptive-correlational research design, data were gathered from 169 randomly selected households through a researcher-developed questionnaire. Results showed that residents generally practiced solid waste management measures often (WM = 3.50), with high compliance in waste collection schedules and proper disposal practices. However, household recycling practices remained less consistently implemented. Environmental conditions associated with improper waste management were only slightly observed (WM = 2.33), although scattered waste remained the most visible concern within the community. Pearson correlation analysis revealed no significant relationship between household SWM practices and observed environmental conditions (r = -0.122, p = 0.115), suggesting that broader infrastructural and municipal factors may contribute more significantly to environmental issues than household practices alone. The findings highlight the need to strengthen recycling participation, improve waste management infrastructure, and enhance municipal waste services to support sustainable environmental management in the barangay.