Waste
Waste Management in Mahidol Campus, Salaya
Mahidol University has set waste management policy and waste management guideline that apply to both common areas and working areas, in order to build an effective waste management and a good environment, with the goal of becoming a green university in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The university has defined the scope of waste into five categories including solid waste, recyclable waste, compostable waste, household hazardous waste, and infectious waste.
| Types of Waste | Amount of waste (Tons) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Solid waste | 1,007.43 | 697.44 | 1,281.48 |
| Recyclable waste | 1,060.04 | 1,724.40 | 3,597.08 |
| Infectious waste | 6.29 | 7.38 | 18.41 |
| Hazardous waste | 25.69 | 30.15 | 22.53 |
| Food waste | 5.99 | 4.15 | 66.75 |
| Total | 2,105.44 | 2,463.52 | 4,986.25 |
Note: There are not include the amount of waste from university hospitals
1. Solid waste
Solid waste is usually hard to compost and unrecyclable, or not cost-effective for recycling such as snack package, plastic bags, Styrofoam boxes, plastic straws, etc. However, the university provides garbage disposal point all around the campus and provide 6 garbage collection points in common areas to serve as collection point from buildings in university. Furthermore, the institution will collect waste everyday in the early morning to avoid the accumulation of excessive amounts of garbage, which could result in leachate or disease-carrying animals. The Salaya Municipality will be in charge of transferring the waste to a landfill or disposal facility.
2. Recyclable waste
Recyclable waste can be processed and used again such as paper, glass, plastic, aluminum, and metal. In addition, Mahidol University has set the policy on the promotion of plastic reduction and Styrofoam prohibition, as well as promoting waste separation which could lead to a systematic waste management for the university through waste trade under the project on Recyclable Waste Bank which students, staff, and general people can participate.
3. Compostable waste
Compostable waste is easily composed garbage including organic matters, food scraps, etc. In order to effectively manage waste, compostable waste from activities of the university would be materials to produce organic fertilizer and bio-extracted ferment which helps reducing the organic waste of the university while adding value to the waste.
Organic soil fertilizer is produced by crushing raw materials and then putting them through a fermentation process for a month. They are then dried in the sun before being finely ground and stored for three days before being utilized or packed.
Organic waste management at the university will reduce waste and incineration. It also contributes to the creation of value of waste which can be used in the university’s green area to reduce the cost of maintaining green spaces while also produce revenue for the university.
4. Household hazardous waste
Household hazardous waste refers to used materials, deteriorated products, and contaminated that contain elements of hazardous materials or substances that are toxic, flammable, corrosive, radioactive, or pathogenic to living organisms and the environment. There is a large amount of community hazardous waste on the campus such as batteries, cellphone batteries, fluorescent tubes, paint buckets, and spray cans and so on. The mentioned hazardous waste can cause harm or contaminate the environment during storage, transportation, and disposal. The university has isolated this type of general waste to be disposed of by other entities.
5. Infectious waste
Infectious waste is defined as waste contaminated with germs in sufficient quantity or concentration to cause disease. The following guidelines for infectious waste disposal have been established by Mahidol University, Salaya.
