RATIONALE: ZERO WASTE MANAGEMENT PROJECT One of the more serious problems that our country and our university in particular encounter nowadays is pollution which is due to improper handling and disposal of solid wastes. This problem occurs not only in urban areas where population density is high and human activities are continuous and intense but is also felt in the regional and rural areas. In Metro Manila, the population density is 14,440 persons per square kilometer, 63 times more than the national average. Per capita waste production daily is estimated at 0.66 kg. More than half a kilo of trash per person per day is a lot. The volume of daily wastes weights in a little over 6,000 tons. Only 85% of these wastes are collected. Uncollected wastes pile up and fester in street corners and marketplaces, vacant lots and other open (often unauthorized) dumpsites. Ubiquitous scavengers light into these waste piles to pick whatever they can salvage from the junk. These waste materials are the breeding ground of flies, mosquitoes, rats, and other manner of pests and disease-carrying organisms. An irreducible amount of waste also finds its way into bodies of water, into ditches, storm drains, and sewer mains. This does not only contaminate and pollute our waters; come the rainy season, garbage plugs up the city’ sewerage and flood waters rise-causing untold damages to life and property. Common sense tells us that the most cost-effective way of managing waste is to do something at the source generation, that is, at home, at the office or at the institutional level.

1. ZZEERROO
FFOORR SSCCHHOOOOLLSS
AA MMoodduullee bbyy LLiiwwaayywwaayy MMeemmiijjee –– CCrruuzz
UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

2. Zero Waste
Zero Waste maximizes
recycling, minimizes waste,
reduces consumption and
ensures that products are
made to be reused, repaired
or recycled back into nature
or the marketplace.

3. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Its only when we truly know and
understand that we have a limited time
on earth and that we have no way of
knowing when our time is up, we will
then begin to leave each day to the
fullest, as if it was the only one we had.

4. General Objectives:
1. To transform Polytechnic University of the
Philippines into Zero Waste Zone.
2. To transform the university into a Zero
Waste zone
3. To protect our natural resources from
being squandered
4. To send less trash to polluting dumps
5. To help cut greenhouse gases (GHG) that
are propelling climate change

5. Specific Objectives:
1. To promote and inculcate ecological awareness,
action and commitment in the university and in the
community.
2. To push for university policies and programs that
will prevent and reduce wastes and toxins
3. To advance and apply best practices in the
ecological waste management including materials
substitution, reuse, repair, recycling and
composting.
4. To support safe and sustainable livelihood and
enterprise for cleaners and recyclers

6. IINNTTRROODDUUCCTTIIOONN

7. For the last few years, we all
know that there is a growing
scientific concern about our global
environment. Scientists have warned
us for decades about environmental
abuse. They have been predicting
imminent calamity for so long that
we tend to ignore them. But could
the scientists be right this time?

8. Very few cities in developing countries have
proper facilities for disposing of solid and
human waste. Because cities generate so
much of both, this is a huge problem to
people’s health and the pleasure of living in a
city.

9. There are million people living along the
banks of the river in cities. These people deposit
nearly all their sewage – almost billion liters per
day directly into the river

10. DDEEFFIINNIITTIIOONN OOFF TTEERRMMSS

11. WWaassttee MMaannaaggeemmeenntt
The best indicator of resource depletion, and therefore
environmental degradation, is waste. There are two forms of waste:
domestic and industrial. Natural ecosystems, including land, water and
air, into which this waste is dumped, are not able to assimilate large
volumes of waste as fast as they are generated
With increased wealth, more waste is becoming less biodegradable.
Industry likewise, generates hazardous and other toxic forms of waste
that require special disposal measures. The improper disposal of waste
can have long–term impacts, such as pollution of land and water,
including underground water aquifers. Furthermore, some illnesses,
including leukemia, asthma, chronic bronchitis, dysentery and cholera
are linked by the discharge of waste into the environment.
It is noted that, although the poor in the urban areas emit less
waste, it is they who are directly dependent on their environment.
Thus, the problem of waste disposal poses greater risks to them than to
the wealthy.

12. WWAASSTTEE - may be defined
as “matter in the
wrong place”,
implying that what
is waste in one
person’s hands may
become a resource in
another. This
promotes the idea of
considering all waste
as possible sources
of new materials.

13. SSOOLLIIDD WWAASSTTEE
 refers to all discarded waste
material from household, trade,
commercial, industrial, and
mining activities.
 it includes agricultural waste,
construction debris, sludge from
sewage treatment plants and
other non-hazardous, non-toxic
effluent. It also includes waste
arising from the conduct of public
services.

14. HHOOSSPPIITTAALL WWAASSTTEE
Hospital waste is generated during
the diagnosis, treatment immunization of
human beings or animals. It may include
wastes like sharps, soiled waste,
disposables, anatomical waste, cultures,
discarded medicines, chemical wastes,
etc. These are in the form of disposable
syringes, swabs, bandages, body fluids,
human excreta, etc. This waste is highly
infectious and can be a serious threat to
human health if not managed in a
scientific manner. It has been roughly
estimated that of the 4 kg of waste
generated in a hospital at least 1 kg
would be infected.

16. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
 refers to all activities involving the control,
transfer and transport, processing and disposal
of solid wastes in accordance with the best
principles of public health, economics,
engineering, conservation, aesthetics, and
other environmental considerations. It includes
all attendant administrative, financial, legal,
planning and engineering functions.

17. WWAASSTTEE SSEEGGRREEGGAATTIIOONN
 refers to a solid waste management
practice of separating different materials
found in solid waste in order to promote
recycling and re-use of resources to
reduce the volume of waste for collection
and disposal.

18. WWaassttee hhiieerraarrcchhyy
The waste hierarchy refers to the "3 Rs" reduce,
reuse and recycle, which classify waste management
strategies according to their desirability.

19. EECCOOLLOOGGIICCAALL SSOOLLIIDD WWAASSTTEE
MMAANNAAGGEEMMEENNTT AACCTT ooff 22000000
(REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9003) - AN ACT PROVIDING FOR AN
ECOLOGICAL
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM,
CREATING THE NECESSARY INSTITUTIONAL
MECHANISMS AND INCENTIVES,
DECLARING CERTAIN ACTS PROHIBITED
AND PROVIDING PENALTIES,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

20. RREEDDUUCCTTIIOONN OOFF WWAASSTTEE

21. What happens to
rubbish thrown on the
ground? Metal cans
take the rest of your
lif etime to breakdown
and disappear. Glass
breaks into tiny pieces
and then stays that
way. Plastic will survive
whole or in pieces for

22. TTHHEE 33RRss OOFF SSOOLLIIDD WWAASSTTEE
MMAANNAAGGEEMMEENNTT
REDUCE Avoid wasteful
consumption of goods.
REUSE
Whenever practicable, reuse
items that are still useful instead
of just throwing them away.
RECYCLE
Waste should be treated as
valuable resource.

23. WE can aallll hheellpp rreedduuccee
wwaassttee……
1. Reject goods in shops that are heavily
packaged; try to buy items loose and
unpackaged.
2. Use refillable containers.
Repair things instead of throwing them away
3. Look for recycled products.
4. Give old furniture and other goods to a local
charity or repair workshop.
5. Recycle all your paper, card, glass, metal,
plastic, and textiles
6. Compost garden and kitchen waste.
7. Campaign for better local recycling facilities in
your area, including doorstep collection.

24. RReeccyycclliinngg ppaappeerr
 saves forests and energy
 reduces the amount of greenhouse
gases given off into the atmosphere.
The world recycles only
a quarter of its paper
today: by doubling this
amount we would f ree
millions of hectares of
forest f rom paper

25. RReeccyycclliinngg iirroonn aanndd sstteeeell
 saves energy and
water,
 cuts out mining
wastes,
 reduces pollution
by three-quarters,
and
 creates thousands
of jobs.

26. GGOOAALL::
Sustained/sustainable
cleanliness, orderliness,
enhanced ecological balance,
beauty, productivity, dignity in
the university and its environs.

27. GGEENNEERRAALL OOBBJJEECCTTIIVVEESS::
To maximize, optimize,
harness, mobilize UNIVERSITY
resources both material and
human to achieve the vision and
goals of ZERO WASTE
MANAGEMENT.

28. SSPPEECCIIFFIICC OOBBJJEECCTTIIVVEESS::
1. To make every faculty, student, school personnel learn,
appreciate and practice ecological waste management.
2. To make the university an “ecology learning center” and
EXEMPLAR for the implementation of Zero
Waste Management through TOTAL RECYCLING,
using curricular, co-curricular or extra curricular
approaches.
3. To reach out to parents, family, community residents,
community leaders through each student, faculty, school
personnel for propagation, acceptance, demonstration
and implementation of ZERO WASTE MANAGEMENT.

29. ZERO WWAASSTTEE MMAANNAAGGEEMMEENNTT
--MMUULLTTII--FF’’SS SSOORRTTIINNGG//RREECCYYCCLLIINNGG SSCCHHEEMMEE
Key steps: There are only two kinds of
waste: Biodegradable and Non
biodegradable. (Do not mix the two.)
Sort at source, separate, segregate
Package properly for desired,
intended use
Use/reuse ecologically. Do not dump.
Do not burn. Save for projects. Sell,
donate. Reuse. Recycle

30. SSCCHHOOOOLL
RREE UUSSEE
BBIIOODDEEGGRRAADDAABBLLEE
((CCOOMMPPOOSSTTAABBLLEE))
((NNAABBUUBBUULLOOKK))
CANTEEN GARDEN LABORATORY HUMAN
WASTE WASTE WASTE WASTE
*cooking waste *leaves *specimens *soiled napkins
*leftovers *flowers *chemicals *wipes
**bones *twigs *animal waste *pad excreta
***seeds *weeds *carcasses
COVERED CAN/PAIL Legends:
*keep in own container/return to
supplier/
*feeds do not mix with compost
*fermentables **for composting
*food materials ***for projects

31. MMAATTEERRIIAALLSS FFOORR UUTTIILLIIZZAATTIIOONN
Iron and metal for melting down for the manufacture
of new products.
Newspaper and magazines for the production of egg
boxes, toilet paper, etc.
Plastic (polyethylene for the manufacture of new
plastic.
Cardboard for the manufacture of new cardboard.
Writing paper, EDP print-outs, etc, for the
manufacture of new paper.
Clothes and shoes for social help and charity
organizations
Empty bottles for re-use.
Garden refuse for composting.
Stone and building refuse for crushing and use as
gravel.

32. MMEETTHHOODDOOLLOOGGYY
The project has two phases:
Phase One - ON - CAMPUS
Phase Two - OFF - CAMPUS

33. SSTTEEPPSS FFOORR
IIMMPPLLEEMMEENNTTAATTIIOONN::
PHASE ONE : ON CAMPUS:
I. Orientation on Concept of Zero Waste Management.
II. Appointment of Project Officer (Recycling, or Ecology Officer)
III. Formation of Committee or Core Group - To formulate Guidelines
for implementing expected of the school.
a. To serve as Ecology Learning Center and Exemplar of Zero
Waste Management.
b. To use the Curriculum Approach for facilitating its
implementation.
c. To maximize its integration in CO-curriculum activities.
d. To research innovate, stimulate creative, appropriate,
conservation- oriented, sustainable. ECO-friendly Technologies.
e. To foster, enhance “sense of community” pride, belongingness,
responsibility through “OUTREACH Activities.”
IV. Implementation.
V. Evaluation/Documentation.

34. PHASE TWO :: OOFFFF CCAAMMPPUUSS ((OOuuttrreeaacchh))
I. Parent- Faculty Association (PFA)
II. Activities to enhance community awareness,
interest, involvement, and responsibility.
III. Organization of students by streets,
puroks,barangays, with the help/leadership of a
teacher-adviser or volunteer.
IV. Simple Action- Planning based on the Project’s
three Areas of Concern:
Education,Engineering and Material
Requirements, and Enforcement.
V. Supervision, Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting
progress of activities and Documentation
(recording).

35. SSTTEEPPSS FFOORR IIMMPPLLEEMMEENNTTAATTIIOONN::
PHASE ONE : ON CAMPUS
1. School administrator initiates project and disseminates to the
school population the concept of ecological waste
management.
2. A project officer (recycling/ecology officer) is appointed.
3. A committee is formed to formulate guidelines for
implementation of the role of the school in both phase one (on- campus)
and phase two (off-campus).
A. School as ecology learning center exemplar and
demonstration center for ecological waste
management.
B. Curriculum approach - to integrate it in all feasible
subject areas. e.g. Ecology, Biological
Science, Environmental Science,
Mathematics, etc.

36. C. Co-curriculum approach – NSTP/CWTS, eco-clubs,
science and technology clubs, and other organizations.
D. D. Research/innovations, appropriate ecological waste
technologies, etc.
E. To enhance (‘sense of community’ in teaching/learning
strategies, including ‘outreach activities’.
4. Implementation.
5. Evaluation (Documentation).

37. PHASE TWO: OOFFFF CCAAMMPPUUSS ((OOUUTTRREEAACCHH))
1. Parent-Faculty Association (PFA):
Every faculty has 50 or more students whose parents are members
of the Parent - Faculty Association. Once a month the teachers will meet
with these parents, so this can be an important opportunity to discuss,
clarify the concept of Ec o lo g ic a l Wa s te Ma na g e m e nt.
2. Display of School-Community Vicinity Map.
To help instill the spirit of community belongingness, pride,
ecological awareness, a big- School-Community Map is conspicuously
displayed. Visits to the map can be a school activity, interest-generating
questions can be written in big letters beside it for all to see and read.
eg.
a. Do you know your community? Can you locate your neighborhood?
Your residence?
b. Do you have any environmental / ecological problems related to
waste management?
c. What are you doing to help solve them?
d. What else would you like to be done to solve them?

38. 3. Organization of Students by Streets/Puroks/or
Barangays. With the help of a faculty adviser
(preferably a regular faculty or any volunteer adviser),
students residing in same puroks/streets/barangays
will meet, elect leaders(on a rotation basis), discuss
the project, and their possible contributions for its
succesful implementation.
4. Make simple action plan based on the three areas
of concern. Education-Engineering- Enforcement and
set time table.
5. Recording and Reporting (Documentation).
Progress Reports are prepared and given to teacher
adviser for submission to project officer for evaluation
and recognition of accomplishments/giving of
incentives, etc.

39. SSAAMMPPLLEE AACCTTIIOONN PPLLAANN
Problem Ways and
Means
Resources Time Table Criteria for
Outcome
Evaluation
Large
volume of
mixed
uncollected
scattered
waste
Educate on
sorting-at-source.
Sacks Summer
Vacation
Stake holders
Reduction of
Waste
Correct
sorting of non-waste
compostables
into
compostables
Sorter Summer
Vacation
Stake holders

41. TThhrroouugghh AAddvvooccaaccyy……

42. TThhrroouugghh IInnffoorrmmaattiioonn DDiisssseemmiinnaattiioonn……

43. TThhrroouugghh BBaarraannggaayy SSeemmiinnaarrss……

44. TThhrroouugghh ppllaannttiinngg aa ttrreeee ffoorr
eevveerryy hhaappppyy mmoommeenntt……

45. ““Anything else you’re iinntteerreesstteedd iinn
iiss nnoott ggooiinngg ttoo hhaappppeenn iiff yyoouu ccaann’’tt
bbrreeaatthhee tthhee aaiirr aanndd ddrriinnkk tthhee wwaatteerr..
DDoonn’’tt ssiitt tthhiiss oonnee oouutt.. DDoo ssoommeetthhiinngg..
YYoouu aarree bbyy aacccciiddeenntt ooff ffaattee aalliivvee aatt aann
aabbssoolluutteellyy ccrriittiiccaall mmoommeenntt iinn tthhee
hhiissttoorryy ooff oouurr ppllaanneett..
- Carl Sagon