GarBuy: Innovative E-commerce Website Connecting People and Junk Dealers

A Research Proposal Submitted to Talisay City National High School Senior High

School Department

Ealvain Llarien L. Alvarado

Meca Hanabishi L. Despi

Faith Humility G. Catipay

Jasmine Rate G. Arcilla

Jayfhil L. Dela Cuesta

Milkoa Skylah L. Ruiz

Ramel L. Nebres
 September 2024

I. Introduction

1.1 Rationale

The Philippines is currently facing a serious plastic pollution problem, which

threatens both the environment and public health. Plastic bottles are one of the

biggest causes of pollution on land and in water. The Department of Environment

and Natural Resources (DENR) reports that the Philippines produces around 2.7

million tons of plastic waste every year. According to DENR Secretary Maria

Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga during the launch of the Earth Day Every Day project in

Pasay City, most of the plastic waste ends up in landfills, dumpsites, rivers, and

water supply systems (Philippine News Agency, 2024). The improper disposal of

plastics causes health risks to communities, as toxic chemicals leach into the soil

and water. Plastic pollution has transformed once-beautiful landscapes into

unsightly and polluted areas, impacting tourism and quality of life.

Efforts at waste management, such as in Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu,

around 5,000 tons of plastic waste, equivalent to 250 million one-liter plastic

bottles, has already been collected (Sunstar, 2023). Participation in clean-ups

tends to be low without rewards, so GarBuy website plans to combine incentives

with education to encourage more community involvement. For instance, the

platform will offer rewards such as small financial incentives for users who

recycle plastic bottles through local junk shops.

 Furthermore, the widespread use of mobile phones and the internet in the

Philippines presents an opportunity for the GarBuy website. In the Philippines,

there are 117.4 million mobile phone connections, covering almost everyone

(Kemp, 2024). Also, 57% of Filipinos shop online each week, with 18.9% buying

groceries online and 11% purchasing secondhand items (Truelogic Marketing,

2024). This shows that many people are used to shopping online. GarBuy can

take advantage of this trend. With so many people using their phones and

shopping online, GarBuy can easily reach a large audience. The platform can

connect users, especially in Talisay City National High School, with local junk

shops to help recycle plastic bottles, fitting well with the online shopping habits of

many Filipinos.

Despite growing awareness, the Philippines struggles with effective waste

management. Only 9% of plastic waste in the Philippines is recycled, with 35%

leaking into the open environment and 33% going to landfills (Lauengco, J.D.,

2024). This plastic pollution affects natural habitats and makes it harder for

ecosystems to adjust to climate change. It also harms the livelihoods of millions

of people, impacts food production, and affects overall well-being (United Nations

Environment Programme, 2023). As ecosystems become weaker, they lose their

ability to provide essential services like clean water and fertile soil, which are

crucial for human survival.

Additionally, schools like Talisay City National High School are also facing
plastic waste challenges. According to Mrs. Celine Boquiron, one of the JO (Job

Order), said that they can collect about 15 XXL plastic trash bags of plastic

bottles each week, with each bag measuring 37 inches high, 83 inches long, and

39 inches wide. Their rectangular plastic bottle storage can hold around 230

bottles each. This accumulation of plastic waste can negatively affect the

school's environment creating litter if not properly disposed of.

There are several challenges that the GarBuy platform will face. One of the

biggest is encouraging people to participate in reducing plastic waste, as many

are not motivated unless they are offered rewards or educated about the issue.

Barangay Captain Joemar Estrope mentioned that some local residents would

not participate in clean-up efforts without incentives (SunStar, 2023). Changing

people’s habits and mindsets about how they dispose of plastic is another

challenge that will take time. According to United States Agency for International

Development (USAID), while millions of our people are relying on agriculture and

fishery for livelihood, our government and people keep on hurting the sources of

our means of surviving (Philstar, 2024). Getting both the public and local junk

shops to use the GarBuy platform might also be slow, especially in areas with

limited internet access. According to the Philippine Institute for Development

Studies (PIDS, 2024), "Access and internet speed fall sharply in rural regions,

leaving many communities disconnected from the online world’s opportunities."

Another challenge is gathering accurate data on the amount of plastic waste

collected and recycled through the platform, as reports can be inconsistent.

According to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ, 2024), the

COA's analysis noted there was "limited visibility" in waste diversion

accomplishments across the country due to incomplete data for MRFs. Time

constraints are also a concern, as developing and promoting the platform may

take longer than expected, which could delay the project’s results. According to

Sir Kelly Adrian Neri, a teacher from TCNHS and an IT graduate, the difficulty

and time required to create a website depends on its purpose and complexity. If

the website is primarily for advertising, it may be easier to use an online website

creator rather than building it from scratch. However, for more specialized or

feature-rich websites, custom development is often necessary, which can be a

time-consuming process.

Additionally, managing the logistics of connecting junk shops with people and

ensuring smooth transactions may be complicated. According to Bworld Online

(2023), the Philippines faces several challenges in the transportation sector,

including poor quality of the road network, poor intermodal connectivity, and

inadequate public transport services. Lastly, balancing incentives and education

to get the community more involved in plastic waste management will require

careful planning. According to the World Economic Forum (2022), for

environmental community-based project to be effective, they should consider

local culture, provide incentives, make meaningful environmental impacts, and

follow sustainability regulations and recommendations by leading environmental

groups to effectively address global plastic waste.

1.2 Statement of the Objectives

The primary aim of this research is to improve waste management practices

within the Talisay City National High School community through the development

and implementation of an innovative, accessible waste management website.

1.2.1 To develop an accessible waste management website that facilitates user-

friendly and convenient waste disposal for the Talisay City National High School

community.

1.2.2 To assess the functionality and user experience of the website through

usability testing and feedback to ensure high quality and accessibility.

1.2.3 To evaluate the effectiveness of the website in improving recycling

behaviors by measuring changes in recycling rates and user engagement before

and after implementation.

1.3 Hypothesis

The following null and alternative hypotheses will be tested in this study:

1.3.1

H0: The implementation of an accessible website will not significantly improve

user engagement in waste disposal habits among the Talisay City National High

School community.

H1: The implementation of an accessible waste management website will greatly

improve user engagement in waste disposal habits among the Talisay City

National High School community.

1.3.2

H0: The functionality and user experience of the waste management website will

not have a positive correlation with the recycling rates within Talisay City National

High School.

H1: The functionality and user experience of the waste management website will

positively correspond with the recycling rates within the Talisay City National

High School community.

1.3.3

H0: The usability and accessibility of the waste management website will not

enhance the convenience of waste disposal practices, and will not lead to an

increase in proper waste segregation within the Talisay City National High School
community.

H1: The usability and accessibility of the waste management website will

enhance the convenience of waste disposal practices, leading to an increase in

proper waste segregation within the Talisay City National High School

community.

1.3.4

H0: The introduction of a waste management website will not result in a

measurable reduction in improperly disposed waste within the Talisay City

National High School.

H1: The introduction of a waste management website will result in a measurable

reduction in improperly disposed waste within the Talisay City National High

School community, as compared to pre-implementation levels.

1.3.5

H0: There is no decrease in the number of plastic bottles seen regardless of the

assistance of the waste management website.

H1: The number of plastic bottles seen will decrease with the assistance of the

waste management website.

1.4 References

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logistics and transport sector.

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challenges-in-the-philippine-logistics-and-transport-sector/

Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (2024, September 9).

Philippines produces about 2.7 million tons of plastic waste every year. Philippine

News Agency.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1223184?

fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3XriFceK0fsFw0O2LflpjVE4OuVSLQFA9P7A

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Kemp, S. (2024). Digital 2024: Philippines. DataReportal.

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Lauengco, J. D. (2024). The Philippine war on plastic—Part 1. Philippine News

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