The Component 3: Residuals of the Compendium of Philippine Environment Statistics compiles statistics on the amount and characteristics of residuals generated by human production and consumption processes, their management, and their final release to the environment. Residuals are defined as flows of solid, liquid, and gaseous materials, and energy that are discarded, discharged, or emitted by establishments and households through processes of consumption, production, or accumulation.
3.1 Emissions to Air
This subcomponent covers the sources and quantities of gaseous and particulate substances released to the atmosphere by establishments and households as a result of production. Results of emissions are estimated as inventories by type of source, by process, and by economic activity. Statistics on emissions to air can be used to define the maximum allowable level of emission as well as to inform the impacts of air pollution to humans.
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are substances that absorb infrared radiation and contribute to the increase in temperature of the Earth’s surface and the lower atmosphere. GHG emission inventories are compiled based on the guidelines developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The GHG inventory presents the contribution of six sectors to the country’s emissions and removals, namely: 1) Energy; 2) Transport; 3) Agriculture; 4) Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU); 5.) Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU); and 6) Waste.
According to the Climate Change Commission, the country’s total GHG emissions amounted to 204.33 teragrams of carbon dioxide equivalent (Tg CO2e) in 2020, a decline of 12.3 percent from 232.99 Tg CO2e in 2015. The energy, transport, agriculture, IPPU and waste sectors collectively emitted a total of 230.26 Tg CO2e, while the FOLU sector sequestered 25.94 Tg CO2e.
Among the sectors, the energy sector contributed the highest GHG emissions in 2015 and 2020, reaching 74.89 Tg CO2e and 99.85 Tg CO2e, respectively. This was followed by the agriculture sector with 52.70 Tg CO2e in 2015 and 54.08 Tg CO2e in 2020 (Figure 1 and Table 3.1)
The Montreal Protocol is a global agreement that commits parties to take concrete measures to protect the ozone layer by freezing, reducing, or ending production and consumption of controlled substances. Ozone-depleting substances (ODS), which include hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) and methyl bromide, are controlled under the Montreal Protocol and its amendments.
In 2023, the country used 1.19 million kilograms of HCFC, a decrease of 0.7 percent from 1.20 million kilograms of HCFC in 2022. Meanwhile, 24.48 thousand kilograms of methyl bromide were used in 2023, a 16.7 percent decline from the reported 29.39 thousand kilograms of methyl bromide in 2022. (Table 3.3)
3.2 Generation and Management of Wastewater
This subcomponent covers statistics on the generation, management, discharge, and pollutant content of wastewater. As defined in the FDES 20131, wastewater is discarded water that is no longer required by the owner or user. They are either discharged into sewers, received by treatment facilities, discarded into the environment, or reused without prior treatment. Information on the generation and management of wastewater can aid in the assessment and policy formulation on wastewater volume and pollution levels.
Ideally, the coverage of reporting is at the national level. However, due to limitations on data availability, statistics under this subcomponent cover only the East and West Zones of Metro Manila.
The total volume of wastewater generated by the two concessionaires increased by 2.6 percent from 822.21 million cubic meters in 2022 to 843.75 million cubic meters in 2023. The collected wastewater in 2023 contained 13.32 million kilograms of chemical oxygen, 8.97 million kilograms of total suspended solids, and 7.08 million kilograms of biochemical oxygen. Meanwhile, only the East Zone of Metro Manila has recorded data on nitrates and phosphates, with a total of 80.41 thousand kilograms and 352.94 thousand kilograms, respectively. (Tables 3.4 and 3.5)
Out of the total wastewater generated in 2023, 121.66 million cubic meters were collected and treated prior to the release into the environment. On the other hand, the remaining 722.09 million cubic meters were discharged untreated into the environment. (Table 3.4)
As of 2023, there are a total of 49 treatment plants in the East and West Zones of Metro Manila, 26 of which are in the East Zone and the 23 are in the West Zone of Metro Manila. The total treatment plants have the capacity to treat up to 1.07 trillion liters of wastewater per day. (Table 3.6)
3.3 Generation and Management of Waste
This subcomponent covers statistics on the amount and characteristics of waste. Waste includes discarded materials, in solid or liquid state, that are no longer needed by the owner or user. Statistics on the generation and management of waste aid the formulation of programs that aim to reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
The projected waste generation increased to 60.64 thousand tons per day in 2023, a 2.4 percent increase from the projected 59.24 thousand tons per day in 2022. The projection of waste generation is derived from the waste rate per capita multiplied by the population. (Figure 2 and Table 3.7)
In 2023, the country generated a total of 238.26 thousand tons of hazardous waste. Out of the generated hazardous waste, 222.71 thousand tons were treated. Among the types of hazardous waste, oil was the largest at 76.33 thousand tons, 71.88 thousand tons of which were treated. This was followed by miscellaneous wastes such as pathological or infectious wastes, pharmaceuticals and drugs, pesticides, and waste electrical and electronic equipment at 45.59 thousand tons, 43.05 thousand tons of which were treated. (Table 3.8 and 3.10)
The country recorded a total of 11,823 material recovery facilities, 299 sanitary landfills, and 43 illegal dumpsites. In addition, the registered treatment, storage, and disposal facilities in the country increased to 175 in 2023 from 153 in 2022. (Table 3.9 and 3.11)
3.4 Release of Chemical Substances
Based on the FDES 2013, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals are used to increase productivity, protect plants and animals from diseases, and enhance the quality of biological products. However, environmental effects are generated by the diffusion of these chemicals through cycling systems and the build-up of contaminants. Statistics under this subcomponent include the amount of fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemical substances, which serve as the basis for estimating the chemicals that remain in the environment. The amount of fertilizers and pesticides used are also included as Tier 1 statistics under Component 2: Environmental Resources and their Use.
1 Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics 2013
