Breaking the Waste Cycle: How Central Mindanao University Cut Waste from 30 Tons to 2 Tons

Cecilia Ortiz Bucayong; Rolito G. Eballe; Bienvenido M. Butanas; Ann K. Maniego; Rubie Andoy Arroyo; Domingo P. Lodevico; Ronley C. Canatoy; Julie Ann Asari Orobia; Jocelyn P. Saniel

doi:10.14710/jsp.2025.29864

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/jsp.2025.29864

Breaking the Waste Cycle: How Central Mindanao University Cut Waste from 30 Tons to 2 Tons

*Cecilia Ortiz Bucayong

- Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences, Central Mindanao University, Philippines

Rolito G. Eballe

- Department of Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, Central Mindanao University, Philippines

Bienvenido M. Butanas

- Department of Physics, Central Mindanao University, Philippines

Ann K. Maniego - Department of Physical Education, College of Education, Central Mindanao University, Philippines

Rubie Andoy Arroyo - Department of Hospitality and Management, College of Human Ecology, Central Mindanao University, Philippines

Domingo P. Lodevico - Department of Food Science, College of Human Ecology, Central Mindanao University, Philippines

Ronley C. Canatoy

- Departement of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Central Mindanao University, Philippines

Julie Ann Asari Orobia - Department of Language Education, Central Mindanao University, Philippines

Jocelyn P. Saniel - BAC Secretariat, Central Mindanao University, Philippines

Copyright (c) 2025 Cecilia Ortiz Bucayong, Rolito G. Eballe, Bienvenido M. Butanas, Ann K. Maniego, Rubie Andoy Arroyo, Domingo P. Lodevico, Ronley C. Canatoy, Julie Ann Asari Orobia, Jocelyn P. Saniel

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

BibTex Citation Data :

@article{JSP29864,
    author = {Cecilia Bucayong and Rolito Eballe and Bienvenido Butanas and Ann Maniego and Rubie Arroyo and Domingo Lodevico and Ronley Canatoy and Julie Orobia and Jocelyn Saniel},
    title = {Breaking the Waste Cycle: How Central Mindanao University Cut Waste from 30 Tons to 2 Tons},
    journal = {Journal of Sustainability Perspectives},
  volume = {5},
    number = {2},
    year = {2025},
    keywords = {},
    abstract = {This study examines the effective waste management program at Central Mindanao University (CMU), which dramatically reduced its monthly waste generation from 30 tons to just 2 tons. The implementation of key strategies such as the Ban on Single-Use Plastics and the Color-Coded Sacks Policies, integrated into a broader framework aligned with sustainable development goals (SDGs), was crucial for this reduction. As the university transitioned back to in-person classes post-COVID-19, the campus population increased significantly from approximately 11,000 to 17,000, intensifying waste management challenges. In response, CMU established the Office of Environmental and Safety Management (OESM), which effectively tackled these issues by instituting structured policies that not only drastically reduced waste but also enhanced sustainability practices across the campus. The program's success was further amplified by robust community engagement and collaboration with local government, illustrating that a culture of environmental consciousness can effectively meet immediate waste management needs even in the absence of advanced technology. The study highlights how strategic planning and cooperative efforts can lead to significant environmental improvements, positioning CMU’s program as a benchmark for eco-conscious management. It aligns with global zero-waste best practices and demonstrates significant impacts on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.},
   issn = {2797-7137},   pages = {219--231}  doi = {10.14710/jsp.2025.29864},
    url = {https://ejournal2.undip.ac.id/index.php/jsp/article/view/29864}
}

Citation Format:

Abstract

This study examines the effective waste management program at Central Mindanao University (CMU), which dramatically reduced its monthly waste generation from 30 tons to just 2 tons. The implementation of key strategies such as the Ban on Single-Use Plastics and the Color-Coded Sacks Policies, integrated into a broader framework aligned with sustainable development goals (SDGs), was crucial for this reduction. As the university transitioned back to in-person classes post-COVID-19, the campus population increased significantly from approximately 11,000 to 17,000, intensifying waste management challenges. In response, CMU established the Office of Environmental and Safety Management (OESM), which effectively tackled these issues by instituting structured policies that not only drastically reduced waste but also enhanced sustainability practices across the campus. The program's success was further amplified by robust community engagement and collaboration with local government, illustrating that a culture of environmental consciousness can effectively meet immediate waste management needs even in the absence of advanced technology. The study highlights how strategic planning and cooperative efforts can lead to significant environmental improvements, positioning CMU’s program as a benchmark for eco-conscious management. It aligns with global zero-waste best practices and demonstrates significant impacts on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.

Fulltext

Article Metrics:

Article Info

Section: Original Articles

Language : EN

In Vol 5, No 2: December 2025

Recent articles

A Model for Sustainable Development in Higher Education: Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development in Egypt Energy Efficiency and Carbon-Neutral Knowledge, Attitudes and Perception (KAP) across the Campuses of Lagos State University (LASU), Nigeria Sustainability Initiatives at Shaqra University: A Holistic Approach to Environmental Responsibility More recent articles

Bashir, A., Khan, S., & Rehman, T. (2019). Sustainability initiatives in South Asian universities: Evaluating the effectiveness of campus-based environmental programs. Journal of Environmental Management, 242, 247–256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.03.053
Nguyen, T. H., Le, M. T., & Tran, H. Q. (2020). Solid waste management practices in Vietnamese universities: Issues and interventions. Waste Management & Research, 38(4), 357–366. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X20914568
Reyes, R. J., & Tabunda, A. (2018). Urban waste governance in the Philippines: Lessons from Quezon City’s Zero Waste Program. Environmental Policy and Law, 48(2), 121–129. https://doi.org/10.3233/EPL-180067
Agyepong, A. O., Barimah, A., & Nyarko, S. (2021). Institutional theory and its relevance for organizational sustainability practices in higher education. Journal of Cleaner Production, 312, 127697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127697
Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2019). Completing the picture: How the circular economy tackles climate change. https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/completing-the-picture
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications
North, D. C. (1990). Institutions, institutional change and economic performance. Cambridge University Press
Philippine Congress. (2000). Republic Act No. 9003: Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2000/ra_9003_2000.html
Ranta, V., Aarikka-Stenroos, L., Ritala, P., & Mäkinen, S. J. (2018). Exploring institutional drivers and barriers of the circular economy: A cross-regional comparison of China, the US, and Europe. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 135, 70–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.08.017
Scott, W. R. (2014). Institutions and organizations: Ideas, interests, and identities (4th ed.). SAGE Publications
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications
OECD. (2021). Behavioural Insights for Environmental Policy: Lessons from Around the World. Paris: OECD Publishing
World Bank. (2023). What a Waste 2.0 Update: Solid Waste Management in a Changing Climate
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2021). Global Waste Management Outlook Update. Nairobi: UNEP
Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB). (2023). Philippine Solid Waste Management Status Report 2020–2023

Last update:

No citation recorded.

Last update:

No citation recorded.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

In order to be accepted and published by Journal of Sustainability Perspectives, the author (s) who submit a manuscript should complete the review process. Journal of Sustainability Perspectives articles are distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

The copyright of received articles is assigned to the author (s). The author (s) have the right to the articles that have been published. The Editorial Team of Journal of Sustainability Perspectives and the Author(s) strive to ensure that no errors occur in the articles that have been published, both data errors and statements in the articles. Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
The journal allows the authors to hold the copyright and retain publishing rights without restrictions.
Authors can enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) before and during submission, as it can lead to productive exchanges and earlier and greater citation of published work.