The Water and Environmental Studies Institute at An-Najah Holds a Training Course in Waste Management
On April 12th, the Water and Environmental Studies Institute (WESI) at An-Najah University in cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the United States Consulate General in Jerusalem organized three specialized workshops about solid waste management in schools for the teachers and health and environment officials in schools.
The three workshops were held in Nablus, Ramallah and Hebron over three days in which more than 320 teachers participated. Experts from the WESI as well as two experts from the United States also attended the event.
In his speech, Professor Marwan Haddad, Director of WESI, stressed the effective management of wastes in schools and its relationship with the protection of the environment, public health and economy. He also emphasized that this is a joint responsibility that must be held equally between the school, the student and the family.
Professor Haddad also explained the importance of collecting, treating and recycling greywater in schools to be used to irrigate the school’s garden and the surrounding green areas; he mentioned the techniques used in this respect and the Palestinian expertise involved in such process.
American experts, Brett Jacob and Joshua Frankel who work in the field of waste recycling and educating the students in the private sector in the city of Eugene, Oregon in the United States explained the American experience in sorting, reusing and recycling solid waste in schools and focused on the practical aspects of the process depending on their experience in this field.
Mr. Atef Abu Jaish, the environmental expert at WESI, explained the different ways of collecting, sorting and disposal of solid waste as well as explaining the work of the integrated management and its technical aspects.
Professor Haddad explained the work and structure of the environmental clubs, in addition to the role of health inspectors in schools in the activities and work of such clubs. Videos were displayed which showed examples of the various activities of some of the environmental clubs working in the region as well as the world.
