La Trinidad, Benguet — Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) has demonstrated its commitment to land-sensitive waste disposal through a clear and actively implemented policy on hazardous waste management, covering everything from laboratory chemicals and electronic waste to busted bulbs, during Academic Year 2024–2025.
The college’s policy is anchored on College Memorandum No. 8, s. 2019, which established strict procedures for the disposal of unserviceable and hazardous assets, including busted bulbs, computer parts, and laboratory chemicals. Under this policy, disposal is conducted only through DENR-accredited waste haulers under the supervision of the Pollution Control Officer (PCO). This ensures that hazardous materials are never improperly released into the environment.
The policy is further reinforced by College Memorandum No. 8, s. 2019 and College Memorandum No. 4, s. 2023, which outlines environmental standards that extend beyond campus walls. These standards apply not only to students and employees but also to suppliers, contractors, concessionaires, and partner agencies, ensuring that all parties engaged in disposal, maintenance, or construction follow environmental guidelines and do not contribute to improper waste handling or pollution.
CCDC’s processes are fully aligned with national regulations. The college’s Contingency and Emergency Plans are aligned with DENR Administrative Order 2004-36 and RA 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act), with emergency response protocols led by the PCO. In 2024, CCDC submitted Self-Monitoring Reports (SMRs) under RA 6969, demonstrating full compliance with DENR requirements for hazardous waste handling, documentation, and storage inspections from Q1 to Q4. The reports confirmed that all storage facilities passed inspection, with no reported violations or improper waste accumulation.
On the ground, the college implements proper handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials. Broken fluorescent bulbs, outdated computers and electronic components, and laboratory chemicals are safely stored in a designated area and monitored by the PCO. All chemical waste and e-waste are labeled, inventoried, and stored in controlled areas, and the college works with a licensed waste management company to transport hazardous waste to authorized treatment facilities.
The college’s Waste Tracking and Management Program ensures institution-wide accountability, covering all departments, laboratories, and administrative units. Through quarterly monitoring, CCDC measures the volume of waste generated, stored, treated, and recycled, including specific hazardous waste streams such as waste electrical and electronic equipment (M506) and used vegetable oil (I102). Annual internal audits complement DENR self-monitoring, verifying that waste is measured and tracked across all operational areas and that recycling and reduction efforts are expanded yearly.
These practices are embedded in the college’s organizational structure, with environmental management falling under the Office of the Vice President for Administration, which includes the Sustainable Development and Linkages (SDL) Office and the Pollution Control Officer. This ensures that sustainability policies are integrated from procurement to final disposal.
CCDC’s hazardous waste disposal framework directly supports SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and contributes to SDG 15 (Life on Land) by preventing land contamination and protecting ecosystems from toxic pollutants.
