Innovative Solutions to Campus Waste Management Practices: A Project-based Approach in High School in the Philippines

Waste management is a significant issue in high schools. Unfortunately, this issue is not properly addressed by the government as well as most of the schools, leading to an abundance of unnecessary waste and potential health risks for students and teachers. Although there is visibility of various waste management initiatives by urban development departments in the government, there is hardly any concerted initiative for waste management in school campuses. Addressing these issues, the present study presents and investigates various collaborative projects in the Philippines' classroom solid waste management (SWM). The research used purposive sampling and involved the eighth Grade 9 sections of Iligan City National High School, from the different curricula. Students were assigned to collect their own classroom trash and take the initiative on how to manage it. Answers to the questionnaires on students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards SWM before and after the activities were collected and analyzed. Students gave their reflections and recommendations after the activities. Their reflections revealed an increased understanding of the 3Rs, improved consumption habits, and a strengthened sense of social responsibility. This study recommends integrating SWM into the school curriculum, enhancing waste segregation systems, and encouraging student-led projects to implement circular economy initiatives, reducing waste dumping in the environment by changing their mindset. This article will be helpful to bring a radical change among the students to shift their behavior from waste throwing to waste reduction and utilization.