Riziel M. Sarmuyan-Sagun^{1, 2,}, Ramil S. Rodriguez³

Waste management should start in the four corners of the classroom to fully equip learners with the stewardship for the environment. This study evaluates existing strategies for school solid waste management, led by members of the Youth for Environment in School Organization (YES-O) at a public school in Quirino for the School Year 2023-2024. Employing a descriptive-inferential research design, the study aimed to identify the effectiveness of existing strategies in terms of sex as variable. Using purposive sampling based on students' involvement in school environmental organizations, 32 YES-O student members were selected as respondents, and the adapted and modified Effective Existing Solid Waste Management Strategies questionnaire [5] was employed. Results showed that existing effective strategies of the school were deemed to be effective and highly effective in waste segregation, reuse and recycling, collection and transport, composting organic materials, and information, education, and communication campaign. Meanwhile, in terms of sex, responses showed significant differences, particularly in the provision of success stories that motivate public participation in recycling and waste reduction as well as distribution of educational materials for local adaptation. These findings underscore the need to locally manage waste using strategies in educational environments and the importance of exploring gender-sensitive approaches to facilitate effective waste management practices.

YES-O, Youth for Environment in School Organization, Solid Waste Management, Existing Waste Management Strategies, Gender-sensitive Waste Management