Layag IlayaResearch Journal
Part I · Environmental Sustainability & Innovations

Against the Clock

Assessing Waste Accumulation and Garbage Collection Timing in Barangay Plainview, Mandaluyong City

LIRJ-2026-V1I1-003 Descriptive-Observational Study · Received: January 2026 · Accepted: February 2026 · Published: March 2026
19
combined waste counts on January 21 — the month’s peak, before a sharp drop to 1 the next day

At a Glance

Study sites
Boni Avenue & San Rafael Street
Study window
7–10 days · January 2026
Observation blocks
4–6 PM · 9–11 PM · 4–6 AM
Peak day
Jan 21 — 19 counts

Research Summary

This descriptive-observational study tracked visible waste accumulation and garbage-collection timing at selected public sites in Barangay Plainview, with emphasis on Boni Avenue near San Joaquin Street and the vicinity of San Rafael Street. By recording repeated observations across three time blocks during January 2026, the paper shows that waste pile-ups are shaped not only by the amount of garbage generated but by irregular collection timing and weak schedule communication.

Objectives

  • Record actual garbage-truck arrival times per site across 7–10 consecutive days.
  • Describe observed garbage-accumulation levels per site and time block.
  • Track the duration that waste remains uncollected, from first appearance to removal.
  • Document common community disposal practices visible in public spaces.
  • Propose evidence-based actions to reduce repeated waste pile-ups.

Context & Method

Barangay Plainview’s waste problem appears most clearly in roadside accumulation points where daily routines, commercial activity, and collection services intersect. The study concentrates on Boni Avenue and San Rafael Street because residents and preliminary observations consistently identified them as visible pile-up zones. Its premise is straightforward: if collection timing is inconsistent or poorly communicated, even ordinary waste volumes become a public-sanitation problem.

  • Research design: descriptive-observational study of the waste system in its existing state.
  • Study sites: Boni Avenue near San Joaquin Street and nearby sections of San Rafael Street, Barangay Plainview.
  • Duration: 7–10 consecutive observation days in January 2026.
  • Time blocks: late afternoon (4:00–6:00 PM), late evening (9:00–11:00 PM), and early morning (4:00–6:00 AM).
  • Tools: accumulation observation log, truck-arrival record, duration tracker, disposal-practice checklist, and short anonymized interviews.
19Combined peak · Jan 21
1Counts on Jan 22, after collection
16San Rafael early peak · Jan 13
8–11Boni Ave. repeated mid-month counts
Fig. 1Daily counts reveal sharp fluctuations, including a combined peak on January 21 and a sharp reduction on January 22 after a likely major collection event.
Observed truck-arrival windows: 4:00–6:00 PM · 9:00–11:00 PM · 4:00–6:00 AM
Fig. 2Truck arrivals were dispersed across several time windows rather than one predictable collection period.

Key Findings

  • The combined dataset peaked at 19 observed counts on January 21, 2026, followed by a sharp drop to 1 on January 22.
  • San Rafael Street reached an early peak of 16 counts on January 13, suggesting concentrated dumping and intermittent collection.
  • Boni Avenue sustained repeated mid-month counts of 8–11 and surged again on January 27, indicating persistent exposure in a busier corridor.
  • Truck arrivals were spread across early-morning to evening windows rather than one clearly understood collection period.

Implications & Recommended Actions

  • Post and publicize street-level collection schedules through barangay boards, social media, and visible signage.
  • Define a recommended disposal window of one to two hours before collection to reduce overnight pile-ups.
  • Install or improve signage at common dumping points and hotspot corners.
  • Prioritize Boni Avenue and San Rafael Street for quicker pickup response and routine monitoring.
  • Strengthen coordination with waste-service providers to reduce skipped or partial collection events.
7–10Observation days
3Time blocks
19Peak count
1Post-pickup

“The study suggests that the most damaging feature of the Plainview waste problem is uncertainty: when residents do not know exactly when collection will occur, waste remains exposed longer, spreads farther, and becomes harder to manage.”

Research Team — Grade 12
Portrait of the Against the Clock student research team
Research Adviser
Mr. Franklin D. Garvida
Student Researchers
Jhaira Kristelle J. Flores, Sofia Marie R. Royo, Thea May M. Dranto, John Carlo Rodriguez, Lawrence John N. Balahay, John Rick S. Ballesteros, Nash Hayward R. Parreno, Luel S. Palomar Jr., Ashriel Kate L. Del Carmen, Saida Adilan, Evon Renz S. Villaceran
Keywords waste accumulation; garbage-collection timing; urban sanitation; Barangay Plainview; solid waste management