Parameters analysis for a sustainable management of solid waste in university buildings

Abstract

Educational institutions and, specifically, university campuses are large energy consumers and waste producers. The impact of university campuses on the local waste management increases with decreasing the size of the city/town where universities are located. Following the growing interest of the scientific community on the research for strategies to improve the environmental sustainability of educational institutions, this paper aims at proposing specific parameters to 1) measure the performance of university buildings in waste management, 2) detect anomalous situations that require improvements and 3) implement ameliorative actions. Specifically, parameters like the per-capita or surface-specific waste generation could help identifying the structures that may require primary interventions. With reference to the case of a medium-size university, the paper points out the advantages of the punctual tariff system for waste management adopted by the local utility company and critically analyses its weak points. Overall, this system offers great opportunities for improving waste management and for cost savings, but requires careful management policies by public institutions.

MSW Management in Universities: Sharing Best Practices

“…• Generic waste bins are still present in many corridors and rooms, and this might induce the users to get rid of their waste without correct separation, • Low SC performance still occurs in university buildings, and this might be related to the fact that about 11% of the students come from municipalities where the waste fractions are collected differently [28]. Besides MSW and its dedicated SC system, UniTrento operates the collection of hazardous waste generated by the several laboratories present in its campuses.…”

“…In some cases, the external areas have been accessed by unauthorized users that deliver their RMSW to avoid paying the waste management tariff, Low SC performance still occurs in university buildings, and this might be related to the fact that about 11% of the students come from municipalities where the waste fractions are collected differently [28].…”