From Waste to Renewable Energy: A Policy Review on Waste-to-Energy in the Philippines

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This paper reviewing past, current, and future government policies, and in conducting interviews government officials and private sector related to WtE. This paper explores comprehensively the Philippine policy framework regulating WtE. The topic is very interesting, and I enjoyed reading it. I would like to thank you for authors efforts in presenting your research work. However, before your work is recommended or accepted, a few comments must be included to improve the quality of your work as well as for future publication in this journal. I have the following observations, questions, and comments that may help to improve your work.

 

Line 163: 3.2. Interviews with government officialsà Interview with government and private sector?

Line 293: water minimization à waste minimization?

Line 376: 4.8. Interviews with officials in key sectors related to WtE à Interviews with officials and private in key sectors related to WtE?

Line 560: a market market-based à a market-based?

Line 750: remove ]

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Thanks for your comments. Please find the detailed responses in the attached document.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear authors, the research is devoted to the relevant topic and meets current agenda. Some comments and recommendations:

Structure of the manuscript is quite complicated. Sections 4 and 6 have a lot of sub-topics. It might be better to combine them and to systemize in order to avoid a complexity.

The section Materials and methods does not reflect the whole algorithm of the research.

No Discussion section with discussion of the results achieved, their limitations and prospects for future investigation.

It might be useful to clarify the practical significance and novelty of your research.

Author Response

Thanks for your comments. Please find the detailed responses in the attached document.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear Editors:

 

Thank you very much for the recommendation to review the manuscript entitled " From Waste to Renewable Energy: A Policy Review on Waste- to-Energy in the Philippines". I would like to send you my comments on it.

 

 

Revision

In this review article they discuss how to comprehensively address the Philippine policy framework regulating WtE. The authors identify several policy gaps and concerns in the Philippines about the fundamental concept of treating waste as a renewable energy resource. The article is good and well structured.

 

Some minor changes are suggested:

The references X, Y and Z, which are scientific articles, have Available at, to place the doi. It is suggested to only put the DOI and the corresponding number as it has the MDPI bibliographic style. Example:

Ricket, A.L.; Jolley, G.J.; Knutsen, F.B.; Davis, S.C. Rural Sustainable Prosperity: Social Enterprise Ecosystems as a Framework for Sustainable Rural Development. Sustainability 2023, 15, 11339. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411339

 

References 37 and 38 have as access link, google drive, and when accessing the link does not work. It is suggested to place a web page where the document is available.

37. Waste Analysis and Characterization Study (WACS): A standardized and mandatory guide for Philippine Local Government Units and Solid Waste Management Practitioners, pp. 20-30. Available at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tCsJKcQESof_R752ay9LN9_uGkBkeySH

38. National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) Resolution No. 1380 (2020). Available in NSWMC website at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/101-8LiiB19jXVsb4W70dosD8qoAHyJFm.

 

No comments

 

Author Response

Thanks for your comments. Please find the detailed responses in the attached document.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

The paper presents only a few concerns regarding the use of renewable energy sources

 

I recommend to complete the study with statistics on the amount of waste generated per waste category, what is the waste recovery rate. 

chapter 2 presents methods of waste recovery, recommends an analysis of each method, which are the weak points and strong points

I recommend an analysis of the methods from a financial and environmental point of view, are these methods supported? 

What are the costs of adopting such a policy? Is this approach feasible for the Philippines?

 

Author Response

Thanks for your comments. Please find the detailed responses in the attached document.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 4 Report

thanks for the additions to your work