Photos taken at Gregorio del Pilar Elementary School, Tondo, Manila, 31 May 2016
An ecology group urged the participants of the ongoing
Brigada Eskwela nationwide to also spruce up the materials recovery facilities
(MRFs) in schools.
Brigada Eskwela nationwide to also spruce up the materials recovery facilities
(MRFs) in schools.
MRFs, also known as “ecology centers,” serve as repository for segregated
discards that can be reused or recycled, as well as a place to turn
biodegradable discards such as food and yard waste into fertilizer or soil
conditioner.
discards that can be reused or recycled, as well as a place to turn
biodegradable discards such as food and yard waste into fertilizer or soil
conditioner.
“The annual pre-school opening makeover naturally focuses on improving the
classrooms and other common areas where pupils spend most of their time,”
observed Ochie Tolentino, Zero Waste Campaigner of the EcoWaste Coalition.
classrooms and other common areas where pupils spend most of their time,”
observed Ochie Tolentino, Zero Waste Campaigner of the EcoWaste Coalition.
“In this year’s Brigada Eskwela, we hope volunteers will also get assigned to
spruce up the school MRF or to construct one if there is none yet,” she said.
spruce up the school MRF or to construct one if there is none yet,” she said.
MRFs are generally consist of a redemption area for the recyclables, a
composting area for the biodegradables, an ecology garden and a display
area for recycled or repurposed items from discards.
composting area for the biodegradables, an ecology garden and a display
area for recycled or repurposed items from discards.
Functional MRFs, the group noted, can play a very important role in instilling
environmental consciousness and responsibility among the members of the school
community, particularly on the ecological way of managing wastes.
environmental consciousness and responsibility among the members of the school
community, particularly on the ecological way of managing wastes.
“By sorting discards into few categories and keeping them clean and segregated
at the MRF, students are taught about the value of practising the 3Rs (reduce,
reuse, recycle) to prevent and reduce waste and conserve resources,” Tolentino
said.
at the MRF, students are taught about the value of practising the 3Rs (reduce,
reuse, recycle) to prevent and reduce waste and conserve resources,” Tolentino
said.
“The school can later sell the collected recyclables to junk shops, providing
the school with extra income that can be put to good use such as for school
improvement projects,” she added
the school with extra income that can be put to good use such as for school
improvement projects,” she added
“Hopefully, they can bring this learning home and encourage their respective
families to make waste segregation a habit,” she pointed out.
families to make waste segregation a habit,” she pointed out.
Tolentino
underscored the need for schools to have a composting system that will cater to
their needs.
underscored the need for schools to have a composting system that will cater to
their needs.
Depending on the volume of waste organics generated and the availability of
materials and space, the school can adopt a practical system for composting
their biodegradable wastes such as food and garden wastes.
materials and space, the school can adopt a practical system for composting
their biodegradable wastes such as food and garden wastes.
“There is no
need for fancy composting bins. You can practically use whatever
container is available to compost your biodegradable discards from broken
pails, clay pots, old drums and rice sacks or through pits and windrows,” she
said.
need for fancy composting bins. You can practically use whatever
container is available to compost your biodegradable discards from broken
pails, clay pots, old drums and rice sacks or through pits and windrows,” she
said.
The EcoWaste Coalition reminded school administrators and teachers to actively
promote the implementation of the Department of Education Order No. 5, Series
of 2014.
promote the implementation of the Department of Education Order No. 5, Series
of 2014.
Among other things, the said directive states that “every school shall
practice waste management principles, such as (waste) minimization,
specifically resource conservation and recovery, segregation at source,
reduction, recycling, reuse and composting, in order to promote environmental
awareness and action among the students.”
practice waste management principles, such as (waste) minimization,
specifically resource conservation and recovery, segregation at source,
reduction, recycling, reuse and composting, in order to promote environmental
awareness and action among the students.”
“We look forward to supporting DepEd’s efforts under the Duterte
administration to nurture a waste-free and toxic-free learning environment for
all Filipino children,” the group said.
administration to nurture a waste-free and toxic-free learning environment for
all Filipino children,” the group said.
-end-