INTEC launches the interactive resource “From Waste to Value” to promote the circular economy in its university community
SANTO DOMINGO. - The Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), through its Environmental Management Center (CEGA), developed the educational resource “From Waste to Value: A Path Towards a Circular Economy”, an initiative aimed at strengthening the proper separation of solid waste and fostering a more responsible environmental culture within the INTEC community.
The project was developed with the support of Extended Reality Laboratoryintegrating innovative tools that combine environmental education and technology. As a central part of the experience, the resource incorporates interactive content in augmented reality (AR) accessible via QR codes located at strategic points on campus.
By scanning the codes, users can dynamically visualize how waste, when properly sorted, can be reintegrated into new productive life cycles, demonstrating its potential as a resource within a circular economy model. This initiative aims to transform the traditional perception of waste and promote consumer co-responsibility in the sustainable management of materials. It also provides a tangible understanding of why proper waste separation is essential.
Diana Corrales, coordinator of CEGA, stated that in 2025 alone, INTEC recovered 1,414.0 kilograms of paper, 1,021 kilograms of cardboard, and 90 kilograms of plastic (HDPE and PET), materials that were reused and prevented from ending up in landfills. These actions not only contribute to optimizing waste management on campus but also help reduce the institution's carbon footprint by decreasing the demand for virgin raw materials and the emissions associated with their production.
Likewise, Pamela Michel, in charge of Disaster Risk Management, presented the results of the institutional campaign Change the Chip, in 2025 thanks to this initiative 178.000 500 ml bottles were avoided in our Institution.
In addition to the augmented reality content, “From Waste to Value” includes a trivia about waste classification or with a Educational game about the proper use of recycling stationsdesigned to facilitate learning in a playful, participatory and accessible way.
The initiative was supported by INTEC Ecological, a group that continues to play a key role as a multiplier of environmental awareness actions within the university.
With this resource, INTEC maintains its commitment to sustainability, educational innovation and the promotion of responsible practices, driving a more conscious, circular university model aligned with current environmental challenges.