A FIVE-peso discount for meals P60 and above will be given to Ateneans who bring their own baunan (meal boxes) to school starting August 4. If they bring their own glasses they will also get a P2 discount for their drinks, except those already in cans or bottles.
The Ateneo Environmental Management Coalition (AEMC) announced this in a forum held July 18 at the Colayco Pavilion. The forum, aside from informing students on the amount and nature of waste produced by the Loyola Schools, also dispelled rumors on the proposed “Bring your own baunan” and “No tambay” policies, which have been circulating through email.
Environmental Science Instructor Abigail Favis said August 4 to October 31 will be a transition period for the “Bring your own baunan” (BYOB) policy.
During this period, students are encouraged to bring their own meal boxes, before the policy’s full implementation starting November 3. After the transition, styrofoam, paper, and plastic eating materials will be totally eradicated.
The “Clean As You Go” (Claygo) policy will also be more strictly implemented in the caf, since personnel will not clean tables after diners have eaten. An automated dishwashing system will be provided for those who wish to wash their lunch boxes in the caf.
Trash tales
During the forum, Environmental Science Society members David So (V BS Ps MSE) and Herwin Jerome Unidad (V BS Ps MSE) reported that most of the wastes collected on campus were biodegradable or reusable.
Their report said that out of the total wastes collected in campus, 34% are recoverable, 53% are compostable, and 13% are residuals.
Recoverable wastes include glass jars and plastic bottles that can be reused. Compostable wastes are biodegradable, and include leftover food and yard wastes. Residuals, meanwhile, cannot be utilized further, and must be buried in landfills.
These data served as the foundation for the policies drafted by the AEMC.
A green lifestyle
Rob Roque (II BS Ch MSE) said the primary policy to be implemented is BYOB. Roque is the Sanggunian’s point person for these policies.
“Blue and Gold, AMPC, Manang’s, and JSEC cannot use disposable containers anymore—that means no more styrofoam, no more paper box, no more plastic spoons and forks, and no more plastic cups,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
He added that these will be replaced by reusable containers, like porcelain or plastic plates. For takeout orders, diners will have to bring their own food containers.
During the forum, Favis also said that standard food servings will be followed, whatever the sizes of the diners’ meal boxes. “Lunch kits” will also be available in the Loyola Schools Bookstore, said Roque.
Ann Janelle Sangalang (II BS HSc), who was present at the forum, said that at first, she thought diners were supposed to bring meal boxes both for dine-in and takeout.
“When I found out that utensils will be provided inside the caf, it was okay. This will save more money and save the environment,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.
“No tambay”?
Joy Ann Concepcion (IV AB Lit Eng) said the “No tambay” policy doesn’t exist. Concepcion is the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo (COA) Vice President for Special Projects.
COA Health and Environment Cluster Head Vivienne Erica Zerrudo (IV BS ES) said the term used was inappropriate and that this policy only applies during peak hours of the day.
“When there are so many people in the caf, at least be courteous enough that if you are not eating, give way to those people who will eat,” she said.
During the forum, the AEMC also asked students for their suggestions on how to reprimand students who may not clean their tables after eating, in accordance to the Claygo policy.
Next in line
Weeks before the forum, an email about the cafeteria policies circulated among students. The email contained raw data from an AEMC meeting, and was not meant to finalize any guideline nor launch the project, said Concepcion.
“What they released was something raw, so the reactions that we got [were] understandably raw,” she said.
During the forum, Vice President Ma. Assunta Cuyegkeng, Ph.D, said the AEMC also plans on having a “Starbucks-like ambiance” for the AMPC—tables and chairs will be provided outside the caf, to accommodate more diners. Another project in line involves the Loyola Schools’ wastewater treatment.
With a report from Duey T. Guison
Its about time blue turns green.
Also, I would like to know what institution or company would be handling and constructing the project on wastewater treatment facility.