Text by: Charmaine Lingdas

Photos by: UPCD

In a groundbreaking move towards sustainability, the University of the Philippines College of Dentistry (UPCD) is positioning itself as a leader in Green Dentistry through their conduct of the first Waste Audit on May 24, 2024, in collaboration with the international NGO Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), marking a significant step towards eco-friendly dental practices.

The Waste Audit, the first of its kind by a dental academic institution in the country, was spearheaded by UPCD Dean Michelle Segarra who also serves as the Vice-President of Health Care Without Harm Asia. The UPCD team, including the Executive Committee, Section Heads, alternate section heads, and key non-academic personnel, participated actively in the audit. 

“Green Dentistry, also called eco-friendly dentistry or environmentally-friendly dentistry, focuses on reducing waste production, conserving energy, eliminating hazardous toxins, and decreasing pollution in the practice of dentistry,” explained Dean Segarra. Her long-standing involvement with HCWH and her background in Occupational Health have driven her to champion this cause. “We first became aware of the toxic wastes produced in dental offices, such as mercury in dental amalgam, and identified inefficiencies in our waste segregation.”

“The College is a member of the Global Green and Healthy Hospital organization. GGHH has 10 agenda or objectives, but we will target two areas first, and these are waste and energy,” she added.

Prior to the audit, the HCWH team conducted an orientation on May 14, emphasizing the importance of proper waste segregation and disposal. The actual waste collection took place on May 22 and 23, culminating in the detailed audit on May 24.

“UPCD is the first dental academic institution, not only in the country but perhaps globally, to embark on a waste audit,” noted Mr. Ramon San Pascual, Executive Director of HCWH. He noted that most healthcare waste audits are typically conducted by medical hospitals.

The Waste Audit also included a specific focus on plastic waste, a pressing environmental issue. Preliminary observations revealed significant amounts of plastic waste from packaging and used gloves, as well as improper segregation of general and infectious wastes. 

The Future of ‘Green Dentistry’

Dean Segarra highlighted the comprehensive approach UPCD is taking to transform into a Green Dentistry institution. She emphasized that knowledge and awareness is the key so that they can start correcting their practices and implement strategic plans that include training and regular audits. 

“Once we have the final report from HCWH, we will start with an awareness campaign, training of all constituents of the College regarding proper waste segregation and disposal and provide the necessary supplies and materials such as color-coded trash bins, liners, etc so that the college can comply with proper waste segregation as per the DOH Healthcare Waste Management Manual.” 

She added that an Energy Audit is also on the horizon to address their high electric bills, with potential solutions including the installation of solar panels and the replacement of non-inverter air conditioners and non-LED lights.

Feedback from the UPCD community has been positive. “For the staff who participated, the Waste Audit was an eye-opener and a welcome project,” Segarra shared. Involving students and staff through awareness campaigns and training is a critical component of UPCD’s strategy to maintain sustainable practices.

“Dentistry is not just about treating diseases of the oral cavity. We practice the Hippocratic Oath, First Do No Harm. When we practice our profession, treating our patients, we should also be prudent that we are not doing any harm to the environment. Any toxic wastes, including plastics, when released into the environment can affect the health of the community.”

With this pioneering step, UPCD sets a precedent for dental institutions worldwide, demonstrating that the dental profession can play a vital role in protecting the environment, while providing top-notch healthcare. #

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) staff and UP College of Dentistry staff during the conduct of the waste audit