EcoWaste Urges Eco-Friendly Brigada Eskwela 2025 Practices

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The EcoWaste Coalition has called on all participating schools and volunteers to observe environmentally sound practices during Brigada Eskwela 2025, which officially begins on June 9.

The group emphasized that an eco-friendly Brigada Eskwela can prevent pollution, reduce health risks, and support sustainable community action as schools prepare for the opening of academic year 2025–2026 on June 16.

“We enjoin our schools across the country to conduct this unique expression of the ‘Bayanihan’ spirit in the most eco-friendly manner possible to avoid garbage and pollution, which may pose health and environmental risks during and even after the Brigada Eskwela,” said Aileen Lucero, national coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition.

To promote this, the group issued 20 practical reminders grouped into five categories—plastic reduction, solid waste management, toxic exposure prevention, lead-safe painting, and anti-smoking compliance.

The first set focuses on reducing single-use plastics by encouraging volunteers to bring reusable containers and avoid PVC tarpaulins and disposable plasticware.

Cleaning tools made of plant-based materials are also preferred to minimize plastic waste.

In terms of solid waste management, the Coalition urged participants to practice proper segregation, compost biodegradable waste, and avoid open burning to prevent toxic emissions such as dioxins and fine particulate matter.

The group also recommended sprucing up the school’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and clearly labeling segregators for recyclables, compostables, and special waste.

On toxic substance avoidance, the group warned against hazardous cleaning chemicals like muriatic acid and unsafe mixing of bleach with ammonia or acids.

It also called for mercury-safe handling of busted fluorescent lamps and advised a switch to certified mercury-free LED lights.

For painting, EcoWaste stressed the use of certified lead-safe paints and advised against dry sanding or scraping of old painted surfaces to avoid spreading lead dust, which is especially harmful to children and pregnant women.

It directed the public to lists of certified lead-safe paints and products with high lead content at www.ecowastecoalition.org.

Personal hygiene practices such as washing hands before eating and changing clothes before going home were also advised to minimize toxic exposure.

Finally, the group reiterated the importance of tobacco control during the school clean-up period, urging strict compliance with DepEd policies and Republic Act No. 9211, which prohibits the sale of tobacco products within 100 meters of schools and other areas frequented by minors.

The Coalition noted that these practices align with existing DepEd policies, including Department Order No. 5 (s. 2014) on ecological waste management, Order No. 4 (s. 2017) on lead-safe paint, Memorandum No. 111 (s. 2019) banning e-cigarettes, and Order No. 6 (s. 2021) on school building standards.

“An ecological Brigada Eskwela will also contribute to the advancement of the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment,” the EcoWaste Coalition concluded.