Silliman University in Dumaguete City is currently looking to become a ‘zero waste’ university.

“We are producing about 400 million tons of plastics a day–much more than what was being produced 50 years ago,” said Dr. Jorge Augustin Emmanuel, who recently gave a lecture at the school on the impact of plastic on the environment. “The waste that we are producing today will be affecting our great great great grandchildren 50 years from now.”

Among the initiative suggested for the university include refraining from the use of plastic water bottles, straws, and plastic bags.

“We are [going] into damage control,” said university president, Dr. Betty Cernol-McCann.

She affirmed, the school will look to “bring about changes in the way we deal with plastics and other wastes.”

Meanwhile, SM City Bacolod, in partnership with the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PRRFCI), will be holding a SWEEPWalk today, July 7, which seeks to reduce the amount of plastic in the environment.

“We want to engage more people in Bacolod to be aware of our solid waste management and to act and reduce the flow of plastic to the ocean,” said PRRFCI Executive Director Dave Albao. “We are coming together to face our shared challenges.”/WDJ