How can you create a zero-waste recycling program for a university campus?

The most important part of waste is wet waste. They are polluting and the heaviest part of waste, but about 90% of them are moisture. By recycling them at the source, the volume and weight of waste is reduced even by 20% or less. Making them smaller also reduces the recycling time. By using plant residues in land leveling operations, I turned tens of hectares of low-quality land into high-quality land. Garbage is similar to plant remains that we can use to develop lands and gardens. You must be surprised, but On a larger scale, it means that the desert lands of countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman can be improved. If we know nature well, we can change the world using science. If you want, we can talk more about this. [email protected]

There are at least five aspects to assess the current situation of waste management. 1. Technical. we must know the composition, quantity, mapping of the waste produced and how the waste is managed from source, processing, utilization to final processing. 2. Financial. what is the available cost allocation for managing waste 3. Legal requirement. we must know the provisions and limitations in waste management. 4. Institutional. Who is the party responsible for managing waste from the source and who functions as a regulator 5. Stakeholders’ participation. what is the awareness, knowledge, and willingness of the community to sort, reuse and recycle.

A avalia??o da situa??o inicial consiste em duas etapas: a gera??o e a destina??o dos resíduos. Na primeira etapa, é necessário realizar o diagnóstico dos resíduos, entendendo em quais atividades/processos s?o gerados e suas respectivas quantidades. Nessa etapa é possível identificar as oportunidades de redu??o e de n?o-gera??o de alguns dos resíduos. Já na segunda etapa, deve-se compreender o cenário da destina??o, verificando quais os tratamentos disponíveis na regi?o, para que se verifique a viabilidade de encaminhar os resíduos para reaproveitamento, reciclagem, compostagem etc.

Lo mas importante para generar un programa de cualquier indole, es conocer su situación actual. Al igual que cuando vas al doctor para que te den un diagnóstico, lo primero son los análisis de laboratorio. Asi que para gestión de residuos en un edificio universitario, lo primero es lo primero: una caracterización de residuos. Segundo, un mapa general de las fuentes generadoras, es decir, en donde hay estaciones de residuos y en donde deberían de haber. Tercero, un mapa del flujo de la generación del residuo hasta su acopio. Teniendo el qué y el cómo, podemos generar un plan de gestión de residuos.

Students are good in conducting surveys as a project. Encourage them to voluntarily self-record the types of waste they dispose of daily over the course of a month. And, ask them how to successfully run a zero waste program in their campus.

Es fundamental que exista un apoyo y respaldo por parte de la Alta Gerencia, para que de esta manera se estructure una política en torno al programa de cero residuos. A partir de allí, las metas y objetivos se trazan conforme las partes interesadas, actores y responsables.

Setting clear and achievable goals is essential for the success of any zero-waste program. Involving a wide range of campus stakeholders ensures that goals reflect the needs and priorities of the entire community. The SMART framework provides a structured approach to goal-setting, helping to ensure that objectives are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound, which increases accountability and facilitates progress tracking. Additionally, regularly communicating progress towards these goals with stakeholders fosters transparency and maintains momentum for the program.

The goals and objectives must be clearly stated in simple language for each stakeholder to understand. The goals and objectives must be communicated or shared to all stakeholders so that each is aware of it.

Para el proceso de establecer metas y objetivos se deberá de tener una notoria evaluación preliminar o evaluación de línea base acorde a los métodos de evacuación situacional, todo ello para convocar opiniones técnicos y administrativos porque se requiere de un respaldo logístico, es decir de las mas altas autoridades de la Institución hasta el personal de sostenimiento y limpieza porque son el pilar en la toma de acciones concretas y serán los que finalmente aporten a las metas y objetivos establecidos

In developing the action plan, all stakeholders must be engaged or involved especially students, and students-leaders in order for each stakeholder to own or take responsibility of the plan and participate in it's full implementation.

The outlined steps for developing an action plan provide a comprehensive approach to addressing waste reduction and diversion. Utilizing the 5Rs hierarchy ensures a holistic strategy that considers various methods of waste management, from prevention to disposal. Implementing waste prevention policies and establishing reuse programs not only reduce waste but also promote sustainability and resource conservation. Improving recycling infrastructure and exploring recovery options demonstrate a commitment to maximizing resource utilization and minimizing environmental impact. Additionally, emphasizing the importance of minimizing disposal highlights the goal of ultimately diverting as much waste as possible from landfills and incinerators.

Dentro del plan de acción es importante hacer proyecciones a corto, mediano y largo plazo con el fin de hacer un seguimiento oportuno y los ajustes que sean necesarios si se llegan a detectar brechas a tiempo.

De acuerdo a las experiencias que se han podido experimentar en los trabajos de campo, se encuentra una grave crisis de apoyo sostenible en el tiempo entre lo técnico y la logística; es decir, podemos desarrollar un plan de acción con métodos y técnicas de control desde la generación en su fuente hasta la segregación de los residuos para su posterior eliminación, sin embargo no se cuenta con una logística de personal y elementos necesarios para hacer sostenible en el tiempo el correcto desarrollo del plan. Para ello, se debe plantear objetivos claros a corto, mediano y largo plazo con un plan de acción concreto (de los muchos que existen) que involucre responsabilidades de cumplimiento a todos los actores del plan

Plan de acción para el desarrollo de un programa de reciclaje en un campus universitario Estudio de factibilidad Identificación de Necesidades y Objetivos Planificación y Organización Definir Metas y Estrategias Asignación de Roles y Responsabilidades Elaboración de presupuesto Educación y Sensibilización Implementación y Monitoreo Revisión y Mejora Continua

Zero-waste recycling program can be achieved through mass behaviour change campaigns, which require systematic monitoring. Campaign needs to build in mechanism to understand what is working and what is not. Shifting habituated and socially embedded practices takes time, multiyears, and campaign should be prepared acccordingly to achieve long term drive and sustain it. Therefore, it is of importance to secure dedicated budget for long term zero-waste recycling program implementation and monitoring

This step emphasizes the importance of not only implementing but also continuously monitoring the action plan to ensure its effectiveness. Project management tools like Gantt charts and checklists provide a structured approach to tracking progress and performance, facilitating efficient project management. Utilizing feedback mechanisms such as surveys and focus groups allows for ongoing engagement with the campus community, ensuring their input is considered throughout the implementation process. Additionally, using indicators like waste diversion rate and greenhouse gas emissions reduction helps measure the tangible impact of the zero-waste program, providing valuable insights for future adjustments and improvements.

Il faut noter la nécessité d'établir un système de suivi évaluation pour suivre l'évolution des activités d'une fa?on régulière. Ce système considérera les objectifs, les valeurs de référence et les valeurs cibles déjà identifiés.

Establish a cross-functional team to oversee the implementation and management of the recycling program. Install clearly labelled recycling bins for different types of recyclable materials (e.g., paper, plastics, glass, metals) in high-traffic areas across the campus, including classrooms, offices, dormitories, and outdoor spaces. Ensure that waste collection and recycling infrastructure (e.g., bins, compactors, collection trucks) are in place and properly maintained.

* Communicating the action plan you designed is the most important step as it ensures the plan application, also it provides early feedback on the plan that might require implementing some modifications. * Communications can be through campaigns for all levels of individuals and stakeholders, you can always start with students in school and involve students from universities as supporters. * Communications shall always start with the easiest and most effective steps that has measurable effect that the students can see within a very limited time frame to be an incentive to proceed. * Communications with stakeholders shall comply with the interest of these stakeholders.

La communication est très cruciale dans ce genre d'action, il faut l'organiser d'une manière régulière pour avoir l'engagement de toute la communauté et assurer sa durabilité. Les moyens de communication différents selon la phase du projet, une compagne de sensibilisation est intéressante au début mais après des évènements culturels, ex: compétition photo, ateliers de peinture...laissent souvent un impact plus grand chez les participants. Aussi bien évidemment le public cible est facteur clé dans le choix des activités et moyens de communication ex : jeunes/adultes, hommes/femmes, communauté locale/ partenaires privés...

Hay que tomar en cuenta una comunicación asertiva y clara para los stakeholders, dar a conocer los objetivos del plan de acción de manera clara y digerible, la clasificación y disposición de residuos es un tema cultural, más allá de educar se de hacer conciencia a través de acciones y resultados tangibles con la disminución de residuos en vertederos, una vez se tenga claro eso ya se puede comunicar.

The fifth step underscores the importance of effective communication and education to garner support and participation from the campus community. Utilizing diverse channels and methods ensures widespread dissemination of information about the zero-waste program, catering to various communication preferences among stakeholders. Incorporating engaging activities such as workshops, campaigns, and competitions fosters active involvement and reinforces commitment to the program's goals. Overall, prioritizing communication and education cultivates a culture of sustainability and encourages collective action towards waste reduction and diversion.

Launch an educational campaign to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and how to properly sort recyclable materials. Provide training sessions or workshops for students, faculty, and staff on recycling best practices and the campus recycling program's guidelines. Use various communication channels, such as email newsletters, social media, posters, and signage, to promote recycling initiatives and share updates on program progress.

A zero waste program on university campus should not be encouraged with a reward system because it is fundamentally a matter of social responsibility. 1. Students learn to value these practices as important in their own right, rather than for external rewards. 2. When students understand the environmental impact and feel personally responsible, they are more likely to continue these behaviors beyond the campus setting. 3. Students who engage in zero waste practices out of social responsibility develop leadership skills and a sense of civic duty, preparing them to be proactive, environmentally conscious citizens.

I will focus on three points: First, review current waste collection and disposal methods. This includes examining the frequency of waste collection, the types of bins used, and the disposal methods for different types of waste. Second, Assess the current recycling program’s effectiveness. Look at the percentage of waste being recycled and the contamination rates in recycling bins. Third, Gather input from various stakeholders, including students, faculty, and maintenance staff. Their insights can help identify practical issues and areas for improvement, don’t forget to conduct surveys or focus groups to understand attitudes towards recycling and waste management.

From my experience of waste recycling, I recommend the following 1. Use treated grey water from STP for gardening 2. Generate biogas from food waste and dry garden waste to cutdown use of LPG 3. Go for rooftop Solar to cut down consumption of utility grid power 4. Reuse RO system’s effluent water for toilets

To create a successful zero-waste recycling program at a university, start by placing labeled bins for easy use. Collaborate with local recycling facilities, run educational campaigns, and introduce incentives for active participation. Engage campus organizations, regularly assess feedback, and adjust the program for a thriving, greener university environment.

A baseline study on the different waste streams can also aid in restructuring the campus waste management and help with awareness topics. For example: if more organic waste is created near food courts, more or bigger organic-waste-bins can be placed in this location.

Commence with the dean's commitment, as this program necessitates sustained funding and long-term execution. Appoint the pertinent department as the program's champion and think tank, with the remaining departments providing support. The primary area shall be the canteen and library, given that most of the general waste is generated here. Zero-waste recycling may be difficult to achieve instantly; therefore, be rational in your approach, begin with a simple pick, establish the support and recycling facilities, and continue to grow toward the ultimate goal of zero-waste.