Graduate School – “Waste not, want not.”

This was the central focus of a lecture given Feb. 18 by Ms. Arlene Gonzales, instructor at the CAFSD Department of Environmental Science, at the Graduate School Audio-Visual Room.

Thirty graduate students and four faculty members benefited from Gonzales’ lecture on “Solid Waste Management from Local and International Perspectives” organized by Dr. Aris Reynold V. Cajigal and his class on Environmental Science for Teachers. Dr. Lily Ann Pedro, Dr. Rosabel Acosta, Prof. Aleli Martin, and their students from the MAEd- Biology, Physics, and Mathematics programs who are elementary and high school teachers also attended the lecture.

Gonzales stressed in her lecture that source reduction and reusing are the most effective ways of managing the rapidly increasing magnitude of solid waste being generated. She shared her professional experiences, both local and international, on the environment-friendly and sustainable practices on solid waste management. She also discussed the health effects of some plastic materials that are commonly used at home and school.

One attendee commented: “Actually it’s my first time to hear about the plastic codes. I was so fascinated with her talk because it informed me about the different plastic materials that are safe to use and those that are to be avoided. It is very timely.”

The attendees appreciated the information presented in the lecture as these will guide them in leading their respective schools and communities toward proper solid waste management.