Although campuses contribute to a sustainable future, they are also significant sources of environmental waste and Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. If campuses develop a Strategic Roadmap. These roadmaps help universities achieve their national and/or global sustainability commitments, while also fostering a profound ecosystem of sustainability on campuses. Universities develop a Sustainable Development Strategy to help meet their sustainability commitments at the national and global levels and foster a strong sustainability ecosystem within their campuses.
While campuses are filled with innovative thinking and learning opportunities, they also contribute to the environment as one of the largest sources of pollution and waste. Colleges and universities typically have large, populated areas of students, faculty, and staff who produce a tremendous number of resources and waste each day due to their daily activities. Because colleges and universities are trusted as the models for creating our future leaders and developing an awareness of sustainability, campuses provide many opportunities for model environmentally responsible behaviour and sustainable living. This article examines how campuses create waste, how that waste generates emissions and how campuses can implement a strategic approach to developing a roadmap to achieve Zero Waste and Zero Emissions in order for campuses to create a sustainable green campus.
A campus is like a small city. There are dorms, dining halls, classrooms, labs, and recreation facilities. Because there are many people in one location, many types of waste are generated every day. Waste includes food waste from dining halls, paper and packaging from academic and administrative operations, plastics and disposables from technology use, electronic waste generated by technology, organic green waste from landscaping, and so on.
The United States alone generates approximately 12% of its national food waste on college campuses. Landfilling produces methane emissions, which are 28 to 36 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 100 years (EPA). In addition to solid waste, college campuses are also energy-intensive. Old/in-efficient buildings use a tremendous amount of electricity for lighting, heating, ventilation, and A/C. Using fossil fuels to generate electricity and power campus transportation systems magnifies their carbon footprint. Carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are generated by campus transportation systems, contributing to the degradation of air quality and climate change.
Waste reduction and emissions mitigation in universities have numerous challenges. These challenges stem from the high turnover of students on campuses, with student populations often shifting every few years, which means that much of the time students are not on campus for a long enough period of time for their behavior to be permanently modified. The vast differences that exist between waste types and volumes (from food waste to hazardous chemicals generated by laboratories) means that there must be highly customized and complex waste management systems developed for each of the different types of waste.
Campus infrastructure issues such as inadequate recycling and composting facilities, inadequate amounts of renewable energy supply, and limited funds also create additional challenges for universities. Furthermore, university policies and procedures typically emphasize the ease of operation over the care of the environment, causing excessive use of single-use plastic products and inefficient energy use. Without visionary leadership and an integrated sustainability plan to direct campus sustainability efforts, these concerns will hinder a university’s ability to meet its environmental goals.
Colleges and universities are like little towns that have a lot of different kinds of garbage because of the large number of people there for a short time. At MNIT Jaipur (Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur), we produce 5.4 tons of garbage per week and 79% of that is organic (like scraps from meals), which gives off methane, which is a greenhouse gas 25 times stronger than carbon dioxide. The consequences of environmental waste from a campus do not just affect the campus itself but can indirectly impact and influence the broader urban systems and the overall sustainability of a nation.
The food scrap, packaging material, plastics, paper, and electronics add to the amount of garbage going into landfills, therefore creating methane gas and damaging our environment now and in the future. When schools do not have sustainable ways to get rid of garbage (i.e. dumping it or not recycling enough), it makes the areas around campuses more polluted and takes away from the ability to reach Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a nation’s ability to meet climate commitments (IPCC, 2023). Local waste management issues affect the larger community because there is a direct relationship between the local level of waste and the national and global sustainability efforts.
Waste from water is an enormous source of waste that results from improper use of a faucet on campus, such as leaky faucet heads and lack of water pressure; and when used properly these taps can be a huge resource. In addition to water waste created in laboratories/research facilities, reducing the amount of water used through proper handling of disposable cutlery used in canteen and when using electronic devices in research centres and labs is critical to reducing campus waste and emissions and should be done properly. Another area of concern for water utilization in mess/research labssettings is in washing disposable utensils and cooling large pieces of equipment. Campuses have the ability to utilize their infrastructure as a support system and develop an effective plan to eliminate landfill waste and GHG emissions.
Various categories of waste will develop from areas (or activities) on campus. For example, hazardous waste will arise from sources such as paint and other solvents used in building renovation activities.. Organic (source) waste includes things such as banana peels taken from food service operations. Horticulture-related areas also produce (source) lawn clippings (green waste) and dead (insect) plant materials that are part of the pollinating habitat. Agricultural plot areas on campus produce (crop) residue after students have cultivated the plot with crops. Since many different types of waste are produced on college/university campuses, there will be no one-size-fits-all solution. Therefore, it is critical to have an integrated and policy supported waste management plan.
And while campuses create daily operational waste, construction, renovation, and maintenance create an even higher volume of waste on a campus level. Construction maintenance or repair activities also generate inert (non-recyclable) waste products such as concrete, steel, and wood from construction or maintenance of the structure. Additionally, construction or operations associated with the construction site generate (using) asphalt road and repair materials. Furthermore, office paper (waste) products will develop from administrative office and library work and office supplies such as (used) answer sheets, previous assignments or papers from staff. Restroom paper or soft waste products will be created when available in restrooms, etc. In addition, if someone orders items online, that type of waste is produced through cardboard boxes, bags (or both).
The integration of waste segregation, recycling, and composting systems that encompass all aspects of waste management is of utmost importance. The Government of India and global institutions committed to sustainable development support the development of sustainable campus communities by utilizing integrated strategies that are based on resource efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, as well as community involvement.
From these case studies, it is evident that by using effective and well-organized planning, being fully committed at the institutional level, and using a phased approach for implementation, campuses have the ability to make substantial decreases in their environmental impacts. Taking what has been learned from these successful model institutions, this roadmap provides a detailed guide for how any campus can use these strategies to make improvements towards achieving a zero waste and zero emissions future.
The Indian “Proven Model”: Pondicherry University
Pondicherry University is an example of a “flagship” university in India with an aggressive phased strategic plan to reduce waste and greenhouse gases by 90% by 2035. This plan was developed from the top down, through committed support from strong leadership, as well as the use of multiple effective strategies, including: Comprehensive source segregation of waste; Extensive composting of organic waste; Implementation of solar energy systems to support campus operations; and Behaviour change campaigns to maintain the momentum among students, faculty and staff. Complete and comprehensive audits and ongoing monitoring are used to improve and maintain accountability. The established policy framework, ongoing engagement with stakeholders, combined with established processes for engaging individuals at the institutional level, position Pondicherry University to be the basis of a model for nationwide and large-scale transformation of Indian higher education institutions to zero waste campuses. This integrated approach emphasises the importance of phased timelines, institutional support through policy, investments in infrastructure and the establishment of community ownership as critical to achieving sustainability objectives.
International Proven Model: Chou Hall, UC Berkeley (USA)
Chou Hall is a university building at the University of California at Berkeley that is considered an excellent example of how to implement zero waste within the academic environment on a university campus. It was among the first academic buildings in the world to receive TRUE Zero Waste certification. To gain TRUE Zero Waste certification, buildings are required to divert at least 90 percent of their waste from landfills and combustion (incineration, etc.) through various methods including: waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting. As Chou Hall continues to thrive as an operational model for zero waste and as a prototype for many new buildings at UC Berkeley, the success of the building is due in large part to the involvement of the entire community. A robust leadership commitment was exhibited by the campus administration, facilities management, faculty, and students from the development phase through the entire operation of the building. Chou Hall functions as a “living laboratory” for sustainability; the principles of sustainability are incorporated not just into the operation of the building, but also into the education of students and student engagement. Student-led initiatives in conjunction with campus-wide waste reduction programs that stem from Chou Hall have extended far beyond this chapter in the development of the building and have shifted the culture of sustainability on the UC Berkeley campus. The case of Chou Hall illustrates that the successful integration of innovative ideas with strong collaboration between various sectors of composing and ongoing educational efforts will allow for the incorporation of zero waste into campus infrastructure and institutional culture.
After campus vision, inventory and goals have been developed, the next step for a campus is to implement the vision, inventory and goals. Road mapping zero waste and emissions achieves a cohesive strategy that provides a phased implementation approach to create a sustainable campus and future. The development of this type of roadmap requires a coherent vision that reflects commitment from both institutional leadership and an institution’s core values. The next step in this process includes an inventory of the types and amounts of waste generated and from where greenhouse gas emissions originate, which enables institutions to develop measurable goals within the framework of established national and international sustainable development commitments. Success requires the full participation and collaboration of all stakeholders (students, faculty, staff, and administration) and a culture of sustainability at institutions through educational efforts and behavioral change campaigns.
Lastly, investing in the infrastructure for waste separation, providing an expansive recycling and composting system, developing the capacity for adopting renewable energy sources, and investing in water conservation technologies creates the operational structure necessary to achieve interim and long-term goals. Continuous monitoring and auditing, as well as the public reporting of results, are all vital components of continuous improvement and accountability for achieving the desired interim and long-term goals.
The case studies of Pondicherry University and Chou Hall at UC Berkeley provide examples of the drastic reduction in waste and emissions made possible by integrated policies, community engagement, and technology. This type of roadmap combines the multiple technological, social, political, legal, economic and cultural dimensions to place a green campus as an innovative and sustainable leader, as opposed to simply being a place of education. A green campus has the ability to inspire the community at large to transform to a zero-waste, carbon-neutral society.
This is consistent with the principles of balance, harmony and purification used in many ancient Indian cultures. Thus, campuses that practice शुभंकरं च पुण्यं वाक्यं (auspicious and pure language), keeping their environment clean, green, and non-toxic, will flourish with knowledge and wisdom. Environments that are both ecologically healthy and educationally dynamic provide a living example of the link between environmental, social, and economic sustainability and create a foundation for future generations to succeed and create a sustainable world. Through systematic coordination, coordinated actions to reduce negative environmental effects and to support the educational purpose of universities will increase our understanding of sustainability on every level.
Research Associate
International Council for Circular Economy