This study characterized the establishment, performance and future plans of sanitary landfills (SLFs) established in three municipalities in Nueva Vizcaya (Aritao, Bayombong and Bagabag) to raise insights whether such LGUs indeed contribute to forestland degradation from poor implementation of SLF operations.

The researcher used a mixed-method approach to scrutinize the technical, management, and socio-economic aspects of the SLFs using existing independent ratings. MLGU performance reports, interviews, and consultation with experts.

It was found that studied SLFs were relatively underdeveloped and undermanaged. The process of determining site suitability was not based on technical analysis. The LGU's budget and staffing for SLFs are at bare minimum; staff were not technically prepared to engage in planning matters like improvement, mitigation of unprocessed waste, among others. Further, LGUs were not maximizing SLFs in terms of community livelihood and government income generation.

There was no definitive perception that component barangays of the three LGUs were proactively participating in domestic waste minimization, avoidance and/or refusal. This led to the notion that waste generation remained the same, if not rising. Eventually. growing waste volume would prompt municipal governments to convert more forestlands into tail-end waste management facilities. Thus, the municipalities have intensified their information education campaign program to impart the essence of cooperation and accountability in terms of proper handling of their solid waste.

The researcher generalized that this study employed variables such as financial management, social acceptability, accessibility among others, to develop a multi-faceted outlook on condition of SLF and its managing bodies. Based on the observations or survey responses, sanitary landfills success to contain waste relied heavily upon the support of the LGUs. The higher the investment cost put into the facility and management depicted that the service was effective and had quality assuming all the aspects including the barangays contributing to the facility were cooperative and accountable. 

Thesis (Master of Science in Forestry - Forest Resource Management)

Includes appendices and bibliographical references