Villar wants waste recycling included in school curriculum

Solving the problem of garbage and floodings should start with the early education of school children.

This was the gist of a bill filed by Senate President Pro-tempore Manny Villar that calls for the inclusion of waste recycling classes in schools in all levels.

"Learning how to re-use and recycle our garbage is the only way to solve the country’s gargantuan garbage problem. That is why it would be best to educate our youth on the virtues of recycling at an early age," said Villar.

The problem of undisposed garbage, says Villar, has led to other problems such as floods due to clogged canals and waterways and the outbreak of various diseases.

Villar said that if it is not feasible to create a new subject under the curriculum, then the matter of recycling wastes should be included in other existing subjects.

"It is important to teach young school-children the advantages of recycling and the ways and means to recycle all kinds of waste as part of our long-term strategy to solve the garbage problem," said Villar.

Recycling, he points out, has the potential to reduce by as much as 80% the total garbage produced by the country.

The same bill also mandates schools around the country to use paper and other materials containing at least 15% recycled materials in all their projects, activities and venture.