Solid Waste Management Practices of Select State Universities in CALABARZON, Philippines

The enactment of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act prompted higher education institutions including state universities and colleges (SUCs) to incorporate ecological waste management in the school system. Thus, this paper aimed to assess the extent of implementation of solid waste management practices in select SUCs in CALABARZON in terms of waste reuse, waste reduction, waste collection, waste recycling, waste treatment, and final waste disposal. Respondents of the study included university administrators, faculty members, non-teaching staff, students and concessionaries for a total of 341. A survey questionnaire was used to gather data from Batangas State University (BatState-U), Cavite State University (CavSU), Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) and Southern Luzon State University (SLSU). Result revealed that solid waste management practices are implemented to a great extent. Among the practices, waste collection got the highest composite mean particularly on the promotion of 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) in the collection of waste. On the other hand, waste recycling and waste treatment obtained the lowest composite mean. In terms of waste recycling, establishing partnership with local or private business for recyclable recovery program was to moderate extent. Waste treatment particularly neutralization of acid bases was also of moderate extent. The study recommended strengthening of public- private partnership (PPP) on the recycling and treatment of wastes.

Keywords – collection, recycling, reduction, reuse, solid waste management