Walailak University Waste and Hazardous Material Management Policy and Practices
Walailak University has a policy regarding waste and hazardous material management. This policy was established as a guideline for practice starting in 2019 and has been continuously implemented in 2022. In the same year, this policy was further improved, aiming to manage waste across the entire university comprehensively. This includes general waste, infectious waste, and wastewater, all with the goal of maximizing benefits and minimizing energy consumption. The objective is to create a sustainable environment and organizational culture that is environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and community friendly. The waste management activities are implemented at the department level, with a primary focus on reducing waste generation to the lowest possible level. Emphasis is placed on efficient use of raw materials or production resources. In cases where waste is generated, efforts are made to find ways to reuse or recycle it to the greatest extent possible. This is done while considering the potential for each type of waste and relevant laws to minimize the amount of waste that needs to be treated or disposed of. Waste disposal is considered the last resort.
In 2022, Walailak University aimed to create a clean, safe, and environmentally friendly campus conducive to a high-quality life for its university community. This objective is in line with the “Waste and Hazardous Material Management Policy.” In addition, Walailak University places importance on saving energy and caring for the environment, both terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems, as well as social and economic aspects to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). The university is committed to becoming a sustainable institution and is conscious of the significance of resource use and sustainable waste management for the public.
Currently, the university follows a waste management framework, encompassing waste and hazardous materials.
- All of WU’s offices and facilities must operate under the framework of the Green University Policy on Waste and Hazardous Waste Management for a sustainable society and environment, both terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems. Besides, all of WU’s offices and facilities shall apply the principle of 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle to develop WU as a zero-waste university
- WU’s Center of Waste Management Landscape Architecture and Environment, is responsible for managing general waste, hazardous waste, and wastewater. The center shall also measure the amount of waste sent to landfills and for recycle at WU as a mechanism to monitor WU’s performance on environmental sustainability and waste generation.
3. Waste will be sorted into the following categories:
- Composable waste means waste that can be compostable and used as compost when it decays, e.g., vegetable scraps, food scraps, and animal remains.
- Recycled waste means waste that can be processed into products, materials, and substances, e.g., plastic scraps, glasses, and papers.
- Hazardous waste means waste that is composed or contaminated with substances, secretions, or chemicals such as aerosol cans, engine oil bottles, toilet cleaner bottles, nail polish bottles, etc.
- General waste means other types of waste with properties that are difficult to decompose and not qualified to be reused, such as instant noodle sachets, candy shells, candy bags, plastic bags, etc.
- WU shall strengthen the collaboration in research and innovation and technology development to efficiently manage waste and hazardous waste for sustainability.
- WU shall integrate knowledge of waste and hazardous waste management in textbooks and classroom lessons to raise awareness of sustainability and create a corporate culture to actively take social and environmental responsibility.
The university has developed a system for treating hazardous waste and managing general waste. This includes:
- Creating campaigns and producing video materials for public awareness to foster understanding and stimulate prevention of waste generation. Additionally, informing the public on separating various types of waste and explaining the methods of disposing of each waste type.
- Waste separation by bin color, including green bins for organic waste, blue bins for general waste, red bins for hazardous waste, and yellow bins for recyclable waste. These bins are placed at various locations within the university’s buildings to promote waste separation, reduce the time spent by staff in waste sorting.
- Waste from each bin location is collected and separated into two categories for disposal: recyclable and landfill waste. Also, the university records the daily quantity and weight of waste generated.
- The university manages a wastewater treatment system, and treated wastewater undergoes quality testing before being released into natural water sources or utilized for other purposes.
Additionally, the university has modern laboratories equipped with tools and resources for various scientific disciplines, including physics, biology, chemistry, nursing, physical therapy, medical technology, pharmaceutical science, and microbiology. Hazardous waste from these laboratories, such as chemically toxic substances, heavy metal contaminants, and infectious materials, is collected and appropriately managed by the Center for Scientific and Technological Equipment (CSE). These hazardous waste bins have been properly labeled with the “hazardous chemical symbol” and the process has been appropriately managed and disposed of for over 20 years. Each year, CSE conducts safety training activities in the laboratories for students and staff. These activities aim to impart knowledge and good practices regarding laboratory usage, general laboratory safety protocols, microbiological practices, the use of laboratory animals, emergency procedures for accidents, and fire safety, equipping individuals with a fundamental understanding and correct skills for laboratory work.
Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production