CHAPTER # 4

Environmental Education

1] Describe what environmental education is all about;

2] Enumerate the different causes and effects of

pollution on human life in particular, and on our
environment in general.

3] Discuss the strategies and guiding principles of the

ecological waste management programs that will be
implemented in school –community.

Environmental education and the Green Philippines Programs have been

introduced in the Philippine Educational system many years ago, but they
have never been properly and strongly implemented to ensure functional
environmental application and significance.

A] The Goal of Environmental Education

The goal of environmental education is to mold an environmental literate

responsible citizenry who will ensure the protection and the improvement and bring
about sustainability, social equity, and economic efficiency in the use of the country’s
natural resources. People must develop a sympathetic attitude towards the diversity
and sustainability of resources on earth for the survival and stability of life.

B] Definition of Environmental Education.

Environmental Education is contextualizing environmental issues within the

physical, biological, social, economic, historical, and cultural imperatives of the
Philippines.
 It is a process of teaching, learning and helping people to acquire understanding,
skills and values that make them active and informed citizens for the development and
maintenance of an ecological, sustainable, and socially just society.

C. Environmental Education Objectives:

These specific objectives of environmental education can be attained in terms of

the learner’s awareness, knowledge, attitudes, skills, and participation in the resolution
of environmental problems, issues, and concerns. The learners must consider the
environment in its totality –natural and built, technological, social, economic, political,
cultural, historical, moral, and aesthetic.

Environmental education must be:

1] Action –oriented. It should involve finding solutions to real environmental problems

and issues.

2] Experiential it should use a variety of approaches and environments.

3] Future –oriented. It must be concerned with the present and future gene

Rations.

4] Globally oriented – it must consider the whole earth as one ecosystem.

5] Holistic. It must deal with the natural and man – made aspects of the environment.

6] Interdisciplinary. It must relate to all disciplines.

7] issue-oriented. It must deal with local, regional, national, and global perspective.
D] Environmental Problems, issues, and Concerns in the Community

Environmental problem developed and developing countries worldwide are

among the most import ant concerns facing people and their governments. These
problems include population growth; poverty; deforestation; pollution of water; air; and
soil; waste disposal and loss of species.

There are risks associated with all of these problems that affect almost every
activity in life. There are risks of environmental degradation and over exploitation of
natural resources brought about by the ever-increasing human and animal populations.
The risk that “Mother Earth “is facing is not only a local problems but also a global one.

These environmental problems have become issues for all of us to solve and be
concerned about.

The Clean Air Act (taken from the Primer on Clean Air Act of DENR)

Republic Act No. 8749, otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act, is a
comprehensive air quality management policy and program that aims to achieve and
maintain healthy air for all Filipinos . The guiding principles of the Clean Air Act (CAA)
provides that the state shall:

 Protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful
ecology in accord with rhythm and harmony of nature.
 Promote and protect the global environment while recognizing the primary
responsibility of local government units to deal with environment al
problems.
 Recognize that the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and environment
in primarily area-based ; and
 Recognize that a clean and healthy environment is for habitat and
environment in primarily area-based and
 Recognize that a clean and healthy environment is for the good of all and
should therefore be the concern of all.

Coverage of the Clean Air Act.

 All potential sources of air pollution (mobile, point, and area sources) must
comply with the provisions of the law. All emissions must be within the
air quality standards.
 Mobile Sources refer to vehicle like cars, trucks, busses, jeepers, tricycles
motorcycle, and vans.
  Point sources refer to stationary sources such as industrial firms and the
smoke stacks of power plants hotels, and other establishment.
 Area of sources. Refer to sources of emission other than those mentioned
above.
 These smoking include burning of garbage, and dust form dust from,
construction unpaved ground and so forth.

What can the CWTS do to help clean AIR?

CWTS students can conduct information campaign on how the communities can
help clean air. They can help educate the people in the community by relaying to them
the following suggestion to help clean the air.

1] For vehicle owners/motorists

 Maintain vehicle by changing oil regularly ( every 5.000 kilometer

mileage)
 Keep the engine well –tuned based on the owner’s manual.
 Keep tires properly inflated.
 Plan trips and observe proper driving habits.
 Remove unnecessary things from the trunk. Don’t overload and
travel only at the speed required by traffic regulations and road
 conditions,

2] For counters:

 Try talking to the jeep/bus/tricycle drivers about the high health

risks
 Patronize mass transit such as buses and trains (MRT. LRT) if
possible.
 Share a ride, if possible.

3] For office works;

 Reduce use of air=conditioning

 Make sure the lights are energy efficient.
 Use company vehicles wisely
 Use natural lighting by opening windows and curtains;

4] AT Home
 Use low unit –bulbs or energy saving light.
 Limit the use of air conditioning
  Do not burn garbage.
 Avoid using aerosols
 Properly dispose of refrigerant, refrigeration equipment and
used coolant.

Solid Wastes /land Pollution

Land pollution refers to the presence of any solid waste in land in such quantity
of such nature and duration, and under such conditions that are injurious to human
health and to the existence of plants and animals.

Solid waste disposal is an issue in all countries. Most countries produce millions of tons
of household wastes and industrial toxic wastes from factories, industries and hospitals.
These waste pollutes the air, soil, and water, because most countries and communities
do not have safe means of disposing them. When solid waste are burned. Toxic gases
spread into the air, air pollution.

Some wastes are dangerous to public health because acids and non-
decomposable organic materials seep through the soil. Thus contaminating the
drinking water and polluting farmlands’ smell. Solid wastes take up space and produce
unpleasant smell.

Waste garbage can be divided into four categories

 “Throw –away and disposable society”

 Over population of the earth
 Over –production of packaging materials, bottles, diapers and other non-
degradable materials.
 Lawn clipping which makes up above a fifth of all garbage in landfills bag””
 Medical wastes or infectious waste (“red bag)
 Tires that are designed to last their durability burning tires that create
harmful fumes
 Household wastes, both degradable and non-biodegradable, thrown
everywhere.
Solid waste and its Disposal

Waste end up in only three places – on the ground, in the air, and in the following
places:

 Landfills which are sanitarily designed to reduce the amount of waste that
leaks out into the environment. It protects the environment from pollution
and uses the methane produced in the landfill to generate electricity.
Water dissolves pollutants out the garbage forming a solution known as
leach ate.
 Incinerators which reduce solid waste by burning; however, this is the
source of flies, ashes, gases, and particulate matter emitted into the air.
 Oceans where 5o millions tons of waste a year are discharge 300
kilometers off-shore. However disease –causing organism s and heavy
metals have destroyed numerous fish varieties.

Effective Ways of Recycling and reducing Non –biodegradable and

Biodegradable Wastes.

Nature of Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Waste

Biodegradable wastes or organic wastes such foods, wastes lawn clippings,

plant and animal wastes, and the like are usually compostable. And can be
reused as feeds, fermentable fuel and fertilizer .Non-Biodegradable wastes (such
as metals, plastics, glass and so on) are factory returnable and can serve as
potentials sources of livelihood projects ranging from basketry to wood craft.
 Commonly recycling, reusing, and reducing, these biodegradable and
noon-biodegradable wastes are effective ways to reduce the waste disposal
problem. These ways utilize less of the earth’s already depleted natural
resources... Through recycling, and reusing of materials, less energy is used,
thus resulting in less pollution than extracting and processing raw materials...

The four Rs of Waste Management: A guiding for CWTS Students

The most cost-effective way to manage waste is to do something at the

source generation. The sources of generation are the households, offices, or
institutions. Waste Management activities such as sorting of waste and recovery
can best done at these points.

The following are practical tips that should be at the core of any ecological waste
management

REDUCE-

Avoid wasteful consumption of goods. Begin by asking the questions: “Do I really
need it? In doing so, waste can be minimized and our natural resources can be
conserved. Conservation is like charity that begins at hood me.

REUSE-

Whenever practicable, reuse useful items instead of throwing them away. It

would greatly help if reusable goods are patronized.
RECYCLE-

Waste can be valuable resource. Items that are useless or of very little value to
someone who wants to dispose of them may have significant value to others, The
process of sorting out and using these wastes into something beneficial is called
recycling.

Simple and Effective Ways of Practicing the 4Rs (Personal Waste

Management)

 Avoid over –packed goods.

 Avoid disposable goods such as throw –way razors. Pens, diapers,
and even disposable cameras.
 Buy food and bulk, Patronize products whose contents are refillable.
 Buy durable products.
 Practice composting (e.g yard clippings and leaves)
 Patronize recycled and recyclable goods. There are different kinds of
plastics.
 Patronize products that are made from renewable, rather than
nonrenewable resources.
 When buying products, such as shampoos and other toiletries,
choose those with a little packaging as possible. Avoid products that
use numerous and unnecessary layers of plastics, cardboard and
Styrofoam as they will only add to the garbage you throw out
 Products with cardboard packaging which comes in brown, gray, or
those that specify that they are made from recycled materials. Avoid
white ones, which are almost always not recycled.
 Recycle paper. It is one way of saving the trees. Use the reverse side
of used paper as scratch pad. Used papers can be sent to recycling
centers. There may be one in your neighborhood. Share your
magazines, newspaper and comic books with your friends.

The 4RSs of Ecology: Strategy in Attaining Ecological

Sustainability in a School‘s Community –based Projects.

The school or community can suffer from the same pollutions

problems as homes. A school or community administrator has many
needs to attend to but in spite of these, he must be able to “green up “
the environment by sponsoring and supporting the cleaning , greening
and beatification, program in compliance with the Green Philippines
Programs.

When it comes to attaining ecological sustainability the “Four Rs “

reduce, reuse, recycle, and repair have to be learned and practiced in
the communities and schools by the community officials , residents ,
students, teachers, as well as concerned parents in solving the “
garbage overload”

To reduce

Means to reasonably limit or conserve the use of material s for more

important projects.

To reuse

is to “use again” the materials that are reusable, recyclable, and non –
biodegradable.

To recycle

is to reuse the materials after they were reprocessed either into new
products or similar functional products.
 To repair

is to reconstruct restructure and reinstall equipment /appliance

gadgets that are still repairable to its functional state.

Few Ways to Reduce Garbage Overload

In School / Universities

1] Take launch to school in reusable containers; use lunch boxes and

heavy duty plastic containers. These containers are better than disposable bags,
plastic wrap and waxed paper,

2] Work with the Parent-Teacher Association, student –accredited

organization and the student council to identify ways by which your school can
reduce the amount of garbage it produces.

 Stop using disposable throw-away-dishes cups, and utensils for

regular school meals. Use proper products and not plastics.
 Prefer fresh –cooked foods and meals to “fast food” type meals.
 Put separate garbage cans in the cafeteria / canteen for organic
degradable waste like leftover food, paper, and for non –degradable
waste materials.
 Set up paper recycling operation to collect used paper and old
newspaper from classrooms and
 Repair and resell broken desk, chairs, and other equipment to
salvagers and charities.
3] Undertake class projects like information dissemination about the
amount of garbage the school commitment to the environment.

4] Get involved in PTA and school board meetings to air your ideas and
lobby support for sound environment al management.

5] Urge your local newspaper to run editorials that encourage greater

school commitment to the environment.

6] Network with other parents, students, and teachers concerned about

environmental issue.

7] Conduct a campus –wide environmental audit.

8] Urge Student government or council to pass resolutions supporting

environmentalism.
 9] Organize a teach –in project during Earth Day.

10] Hold a film festival related to environmental issues.

In the Office: what you can do:

1] Use less paper. Utilize your computer and word processor more.

2] Recycle your own waste paper into message pads and internal memos.

3] Encourage your company /school to buy recycled stationary and

envelopes.

4] Set up an inter-office arrange with paper recycle for the easy and regular
pick-up of paper to be recycled.

5] Recycle newspapers.

6] Avoid throw –away containers.

In your Community: How communities can promote recycling

1] Organize neighborhood associations into a strong coalition of recycling

advocates, and take your concerns to community council meetings.

2] Ask the city council to appoint a task force to determine how much
money the community can save in recycling instead of dumping.

3] Publicize the results of the task force findings in local newspaper and
radio and television.

4] Urge the community to create a recycling program.

5] Implement the recycling program immediately,

Shop Talk -10 Golden Rules

1] Buy local products.

2] Always take your own shopping bag.

3] Avoid “disposable “items

4] Buy organically grown fruits and vegetables

5] Look for minimum packaging.

6] Avoid aerosol sprays.

7] Buy products in reusable or returnable containers.

8] Avoid plastic packaging.

9] Support shops that offer products friendly to the environment.

10] Buy both recycled and recyclable products.

Down –to- Earth Home Hints – The ten Rules

1] Make your non-toxic cleaner.

2] Avoid using pesticides in the home,

3] Read Labels Carefully

4] Use all cleaners moderately

5] Keep your toiletries simple.

6] Avoid over-packed cosmetics and cleaners

7] Learn which additives are harmful and avoid them.

8] Choose biodegradable plants

9] Avoid aerosol cleaners.

10] Do not buy products that have not been tested on animals.

Use it again, Recycle: Ten Golden Rules

1] Separate your garbage for recycling

2] Compost your food scraps.3] Use things until they are really worn out.

4] Buy milk in a glass bottles instead of cartoons.

5] Be away of the disposable tag on product –how can you dispose of them.

6] Avoid plastic

7] Buy recycled paper

 8] Reuse envelopes, plastic bags and containers

9] Take your own shopping bag or basket

10] Choose biodegradable packaging.

Why recycle?

1] It saves energy

2] It saves resources

3] It saves money

4] It saves space
5] It creates jobs.

6] It reduces pollution.

Preparing to Recycle;

To make the most of your waste for recycling, separate and treat them
in the following days:

1] Food scraps – Separate food scraps I n a container with lid and

deposit them regularly into you compost heap for organic fertilizer production.
2] Glass-Return bottles or glass containers to manufactures of the
products.
3] Paper- Newspaper and other paper products are suitable for recycling
and reusing.
4] Steel cans –Rinse can to remove food scraps and squash them flat or
reuse them as a containers or flower pots.
5] Metal – Keep all forms of scrap metal –its
 CHAPTER WEB VIDEO
LINK

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Sonia Gasilla-De La Cruz , National Service

Training Program ( CWTS & ROTC )