THE JOURNEY TO AN EVER GREENER UNIVERSITY

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SDG 12 (RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION)

De La Salle University truly prides itself on being a green campus. Rooted in God’s mission to protect the environment, Agenda 2 of the University Sustainability Policy (p. 7) formalizes the pursuit of sustainable practices such as circular economy, efficiency, and green productivity. Such implementations include campus waste management, waste recycling, and regulations on proper handling and disposal. These are strategic contributions of DLSU to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, Responsible Consumption and Production.

Thanks to the Supply Chain Management Office, ethical sourcing is present from the very beginning of the DLSU procurement process. These measures are codified in the University procurement policy, manual, and guidelines on bidding and negotiation (p. 2). Effective since 2017, the Laboratory Hazardous Wastes Management Plan strictly enforces the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) regulations on the proper handling of hazardous waste. Hazardous wastes such as oil, acid, alkali, reactive chemicals are documented and registered by respective laboratory coordinators and the campus pollution control officers (PCOs) for the DENR-EMB. Researchers, laboratory technicians, and the Building and Grounds Management Office (BGMO) coordinate labelling and safely transporting the waste. The policy ensures that all hazardous waste is processed for disposal in a timely manner. Partner organizations UDENNA Corporation, Oriental Motolite and Marketing Company, and Philippine Business for Social Progress provide vital hazardous waste processing services to accomplish this, particularly for used lead acid batteries.

Furthermore, the General Policy on Ecological Management of Solid Waste of 2020 established comprehensive solid waste reduction and management throughout the University. In the academic year (AY) 2023-2024, 38.97% of total waste generated on campus (17.32 metric tons) was recycled, including 2.57 metric tons of inorganic waste and 4.18 metric tons of organic waste. This vast improvement from previous years can be attributed to the waste minimization hierarchy of the policy, which prioritizes waste reduction and recovery over disposal to landfill. This involves lessening single-use materials and packaging through programs like the single-use plastic ban, and waste segregation in all DLSU premises. The University conducts regular waste analysis and characterization studies to improve every stage of waste management, from segregation protocols to bin design and placement. This includes daily measuring of total waste generated and recycled in the Manila, Laguna, and BGC campuses. Waste diversion and recycled waste collection services are utilized for paper, glass, organics, construction material, appliances and electronics.

Organic, inorganic, and hazardous wastes are measured at campus materials recovery facilities by the BGMO and monitored by the PCOs through the University Sustainability Office (USO). Inorganic recyclable materials are then turned over to DENR-accredited recyclers or junkshops (collectors). Beginning in 2024, recyclable plastic waste is instead turned over to social enterprise Evergreen Labs Philippines, recycling them into construction materials. DLSU is the first school partner of the social enterprise. Organic waste is treated through the bokashi composting method and recycled as fertilizer for the DLSU Laguna Campus and local farmers through The Soilmate Collective, Inc. (SoilMate). This organic recycling operation is an ongoing, cross-sectoral accomplishment with SoilMate and the NGO World Wide Fund For Nature Philippines.

In line with the waste minimization hierarchy, DLSU continues to ban the use of single-use plastics on campus from 2021. This includes materials such as styrofoam, plastic straws and stirrers, pet bottles, sachets, etc. Students and staff are also encouraged to bring their own reusable food containers, water bottles, and utensils to replace single-use materials.

The Sustainability Hubs of the Manila and Laguna campuses also collaborated on an e-waste donation drive beginning October 2024. Project E-Waste: Ating E-Tama, Ating E-Collect provided on-campus means and education for DLSU students, faculty, and staff to responsibly dispose of various used electronics and associated electronic waste. The program also raised awareness about the effects of lead exposure and e-waste on the environment and different sustainable recycling practices.

More details about University contributions to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) are documented in DLSU annual sustainability reports along with all progress following the University Sustainable Development Policy and the UN SDGs. Throughout AY 2023-2024, DLSU and partner organizations made great strides in advocating for and applying ethical procurement and waste management, using recyclable materials, and repurposing waste for agricultural and construction purposes. These steps bring DLSU closer to becoming an ever greener, more sustainable university.

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Written by Davi Garcia
Edited by Gabrielle Ongkiko

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