Environmental obstruction through deforestation, air, water and soil pollution and careless waste disposal are the issues confronting Mother Earth and these were brought to the fore in the recent devastations wrought by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in the country.

So much talk, so much publicity, so many rallies and campaigns but so little has been done to help save Mother Earth. In fact, no significant change has taken place in our climate, soil and water.

Massive tree planting is our ambitious move to improve the air that we breathe. But how can the tree seedlings survive if the soil, water and air they need are polluted?

Through recycling our garbage and other waste materials, we can contribute in lessening pollution, says Annie Pascual Guerrero, environmentalist, an active advocate of Zero Waste Management Program and founding president of Center for Culinary Arts; Culinary Education Foundation and Cravings Group of Restaurants.

Guerrero does waste segregation and recycling in her culinary schools, restaurant and even in her community in Loyola Heights, Q.C. She emphasizes that waste disposal primarily does not mean burning or throwing our refuse indiscriminately. Plastics and styro products produce poisonous fumes when burned. They are non-biodegradable or do not disintegrate or decompose even after a long time.

“We must learn to reuse and recycle our garbage and dispose them through proper segregation,” Guerrero suggests. “There is even money in recycling and segregating,” she adds.

Recycle, be practical! Here are some tips to lessen the garbage problem and minimize pollution:

•Used plastic cups, styrophore trays/boxes or tin cans may be used as pots for plant cuttings or any seeds. Bore the bottom, put pebbles and fill with garden soil.

• Do not throw plastic bags away. Use them as planters for bigger specimen like grafted fruit trees, bougainvillas and small species of palms. These are convenient for moving plants around or repotting plants in the future.

• Wooden boxes used to pack fresh fruits like pomelos and oranges will make good planter boxes. Line the bottoms and sides with plastic sheets or polyethylene sheets. Pierce the sheets with an ice pick and screw driver for water drainage. Fill the bottom layer with rocks, pebbles and sand. Position the plant in the center then fill with garden soil.

• Do the same with old pails and basins. Fruit tree or vegetable seedlings grow well on these containers.

• Styrophore chips and balls used as shock absorbers for electronic equipment, appliances and toys can be mixed with charcoal bits, fern chips and coconut husk for orchid potting-media.

• Styrophore melted with rugby can be used as sealer of cracks on clay pots or jars.
• Wood shavings, ashes from burnt firewood, table scraps, fruit and vegetable peels, animal manure, rotten food and other biodegradable waste materials can be buried in compost pits. It is a good organic pressing on the soil.

• Do not burn dry leaves, mowed grass and paper. Add them to the compost pit.

• Used motor oil can coat wooden benches and posts for water proofing to prevent rotting of wood.

• Do not burn plastic, rubber styrophore and old batteries. They emit poisonous gas.

• Use animal manure for fertilizer, a good source of nitrogen. In a clay jar or “banga”, half-fill it with pig manure, add water up to 2-3 inches below the rim. Cover with dark cloth and allow to ferment for 6 to 10 weeks or until the liquid turns brown. Let all solid particles settle at the bottom.

• Coconut shells and husk are good orchid media.

• Give away used papers to market vendors so they can use it as wrappers.

• Sell magazines and empty bottles (plastic and glass) to junk collectors.

• Newsprint and mimeograph papers can be used for paper mache. Or use them as scratch papers.

• Recycle old notebooks. Bind clean pages together and have another notebook!

• Patronize commercial establishments that use recyclable or biodegradable materials for packaging or serving their products.

• Support farmers who grow vegetables organically grown which are safer to eat.

• Plastic bottles and cans can be used to store water for plants during hot weather. Empty disposable dextrose plastic packs may serve as water containers too.

• Use big transparent plastic bags as “growing chambers” for cuttings like roses, mums, dahlias, etc. Place a pot with moistened soil inside. Fill the bag with air and close it tight. Do not allow moisture to come out. Then, place it undisturbed in a cool place for several weeks. Check the soil occasionally to prevent drying. If leaves come out, transfer the plant to a brighter but not too sunny area until the rooted cuttings are ready to be replanted. Farmers call this as “kulob” system.

• Save the water used for rinsing clothes and use this to flush the toilet or water the plants.

• Use natural insect repellent plants like citrosa, eucalyptus, marigold and other strongly scented ones or make your own natural insecticide by mixing a tablespoon of “siling labuyo” juice, powdered detergent soap and kerosene in a liter of water. Spray on plants infected with aphids, mealy bugs, and ants.

Save Mother Earth now. It’s the only one we have!