Cleaning-up, clearing up!
The Five-S theory has long been cascaded to us since its value was seen as an effective management tool by Toyota Motors. As a refresher, 5-S , which means, sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain, is a system that Taiichi Ohno started in Toyota in the early 40s until the 60s starting with a 4-S system that was seen to be economically beneficial as well as a way to work out positive logistics. This eventually evolved in the 60s with Hiroyuki Hirano and Takashi Osadon as a tool for industries to keep things in order, and reduce unnecessary inventory, space, and waste.
In offices, and shopfloors, one finds posters that show how to apply this system in keeping the areas clean and orderly as well as ensure a sustained upkeep of materials for easy movement in spaces. Now it is also an important safety tool.
Now why did I bring this up? In spite of its long -known use, the system has not been fully maximized in our homes and even in some workplaces and public spaces. It still needs more indoctrination for us to assimilate this in our way of life.
Daily, Cebu City records 600-700 tons of garbage a day. Mandaue City with 210 tons, and Lapulapu City generates 250 tons of waste a day. The tri-cities, being more populated with varying industries show the rate of waste accumulation that could build islands. Legend has it (I say legend because I have not verified this as fact in my years of covering Sitio Bato) that Sitio Bato even rose out of the accumulated garbage that slowly filled in the spaces in Carbon area. Believable, considering the tons of both bio and non-bio degradable wastes that abound in this busy economic area.
Now, with the influx of more people and the increasing number of industries, we expect more refuse from production and enterprise activities to fill up our bins. Homes generate at least a third of the tonnage in every city considering the way we collect plastics with all the food and beverage packages we have not to mention the packages of deliveries from online sources.
Although some of the material used are biodegradable, microplastics become another concern. Debates on the applicable use of incinerators are still in the offing. Waste to energy projects are also still being discussed as there is still a need to understand that basic requirement of volume, and volume in spite of the tonnage we accumulate is said to be lacking if segregation/waste management is applied to the garbage we collect.
So the cycle remains. And government spends millions every day for dumping garbage in private landfills. Note that tipping fees in the province already is pegged at P3900 per ton.
So what can we do meanwhile? Reduce wastes. Simplify. Follow the act of sorting, classifying things that are needed and still recyclable and repurpose them. Reduce the purchase of items not needed that only use up space in our homes and eventually invite pests, or require us to buy more storage boxes for items we really do not need. Give gifts that are practical or needed and not those that will eventually end up in a closet.
I remember a very practical advice from my friend, Ernie Yap, who said he does not want to buy shelves because the more shelves he has, the more items he stores and the more space it uses up and the more cockroaches and rodents reside there.
So yes, let us go back to the basics of sorting, sweeping, standardizing and creating a system where we can reduce wastes at home and in our communities. Let us buy wisely. Gift practically, and share what we do not need with those who may need them more.
Sort, sweep, standardize, sustain and stay safe. Clean-up and clear-up!
- Latest
