WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF SCIENCE LABORATORIES AMONG HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN DAVAO CITY: BASIS FOR A CITY-WIDE WASTE MANAGEMENT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM IN SCIENCE LABORATORIES

Abstract

The primary aim of the study was to determine the waste management practices of science laboratories of Higher Education Institutions in Davao City. Mean was the statistical tool used to determine the level of waste management practices in the profile of wastes being generated by science laboratories of Higher Education Institutions in Davao City in terms of . Biodegradable wastes, non-biodegradable waste and of residual wastes. T-test was used to determine the significant difference in the level of waste management practices when analyzed by the type of school laboratory, the biology and chenistry laboratory. The instrument used in the study was patterned from the Rhode Island University- Assessment Questionnaire which was used in assessing the status of waste management practices in science laboratories in that State. The questionnaire was modified to include only the items relevant to the study, was validated and tested for its realibility. These were the mean ratings for each of the indicators of the level of waste management practices of science laboratories in HEI's: Science laboratories of HEIs in Davao City generate 63.8 kilograms of wastes per week, or the equivalent of 3.2 tons of wastes per annum, with biology laboratory contributing 32.8 kilograms per week or 1.71 tons per annum and chemistry laboratory contributing 31.0 kilograms per week or 1.61 tons per annum. On the type of wastes being generated, biodegradable wastes contribute 21.9 kilograms per week, non biodegradable wastes 22.8 kilograms per week and residual wastes 19.1kilograms per week. The overall mean rating for level of waste management practices in science laboratories of HEIs in Davao City was 3.15 or moderate. The mean rating by laboratory is 3.17 for biology laboratory and 3.12 for chemistry laboratory. On the indicators of waste management practices, the mean scores were 3.41 for handling of laboratory wastes at source; 3.36 for storage of laboratory wastes; 3.18 for collection of laboratory wastes and 2.64 for final disposal of laboratory wastes. Based on the mean rating of waste management practices when analyzed in terms of biology laboratory and chemistry laboratory showed that the overall computed t-value was 3.091 with the corresponding probability value of 0.002 at a = 0.05 level of significance. Therefore, the null hypothesis for sub-problem 3 was rejected.