Approaching sustainability and circularity along waste management systems in universities: an overview and proposal of good practices
Ramona Giurea
Marco Carnevale Miino
Vincenzo Torretta2 
Elena Cristina Rada- 1Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Sibiu, Romania
- 2Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
In recent years, the importance of sustainability and circularity in waste management systems has become increasingly evident. As the world grapples with the environmental consequences of excessive waste generation, it has become crucial to find innovative and sustainable solutions. Universities, as centres of knowledge and research, play a vital role in achieving sustainability and circularity in waste management. The key contribution of this study is to provide: 1) a systematic review of the existing literature concerning sustainable waste management systems (SWMS) implemented in universities; 2) an analysis of the studies presented in this paper identifying applicable approaches and sustainable practices to provide novel guidelines by including waste management system in a circular and sustainable model within universities. Through research, collaboration, education, implementation of sustainable practices, and support for entrepreneurship, universities can strongly contribute to the development and implementation of sustainable waste management practices. As the world continues to face the challenges of waste generation, universities will continue to be at the forefront of finding innovative, sustainable, and circular solutions.
1 Introduction
In recent years, the global community has become increasingly aware of the environmental challenges we face, particularly about waste management. In the world, more than two billion tons of solid waste were annually produced. This value is expected to increase to 3.4 billion tons in 2050s mainly due to the consumer society of the last century (Dinis et al., 2022; Yao and Zhou, 2023). With new limits on waste landfilling and waste production still growing, there is a pressing need for sustainable and circular waste management systems (Ferronato et al., 2019; Rada et al., 2021; Giurea et al., 2022; Ma et al., 2023; Wilson, 2023). Universities, as centres of knowledge and innovation, have a crucial role to play in achieving these goals. They are often compared to small towns because of their size, population and activities that take place on campus. They can accelerate the transition to a sustainable waste management system (SWMS) since they can promote waste minimization and raise awareness of sustainable waste management strategies; indeed, their staff have the necessary expertise and work with a wide range of stakeholders (Zhang et al., 2011). The universities are nowadays included also in rankings that consider sustainability through indicators that can include waste management (Baricco et al., 2018; Boiocchi et al., 2023; Gomez-Marcos et al., 2023).
Traditionally, waste management systems have followed the linear economy model, where resources are extracted, manufactured into products, and ultimately disposed of as waste. This linear approach not only contributes to waste growth but also puts a strain on natural resources and the environment (Sariatli, 2017; Lag-Brotons et al., 2020; Rada, 2023). A decrease in natural resource consumption and waste generation can be achieved through the implementation of a circular economy and production systems (Macarthur, 2012; Giurea et al., 2022; Yazdani and Lakzian, 2023). This shift in perspective has led universities around the globe to rethink their waste management practices and approach sustainability and circularity in a more proactive manner. It is time for universities to step up and take the lead in adopting sustainable waste management practices (Jakimiuk et al., 2023; Kundokrub et al., 2023). Circular economy is conceptually related to sustainability as it offers a framework for achieving sustainable development by rethinking the traditional linear approach of “take-make-dispose” (Geissdoerfer et al., 2017). Waste management is a pressing issue that affects the environment, public health, and economies worldwide (Cocarta et al., 2009; Cobo et al., 2018; Broz et al., 2023; Chen et al., 2023). Sustainability within the three dimensions (economy, ecology and society) can be achieved through circular economy that promotes the idea of a closed-loop system where resources are recycled, reused, or regenerated to minimize waste and reduce negative environmental impacts while maintaining the economic growth with the aim of preserving natural resources and human well-being (Pla-Julián and Guevara, 2019; Rada, 2023). Therefore, by focusing on sustainability, universities can ensure that their waste management systems are not only environmentally friendly, but also economically and socially responsible. Together, these two concepts work hand in hand to create a more sustainable and circular approach to waste management in universities. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations aim to address various global challenges and create a more sustainable and equitable world by the year 2030 (United Nations, 2015). One crucial aspect of achieving these goals is waste management (Elsheekh et al., 2021; Di Foggia and Beccarello, 2023) that encompasses waste reduction, recycling, and the responsible disposal of waste. This is an integral part of sustainable development as improper waste management can have severe environmental, social, and economic consequences (Cocarta et al., 2009; Rebehy et al., 2017; Kundariya et al., 2021; Abubakar et al., 2022). The SDGs highlight the importance of sustainable waste management, with Goal 12 specifically focusing on responsible consumption and production (United Nation, 2015).
This work aims to present an overview about possible sustainable approaches that can be implemented in universities for a circular waste management. Based on the literature review, several actions have been proposed in order to improve the quality of the collected materials and promote the subsequent reuse of waste in a circular economy perspective. The results will be helpful for 1) the scientific community, for studying and developing new actions for sustainable waste management, and 2) the technical stakeholders (namely university managers) for implementing actions to improve.
2 Methodology and approach
2.1 Aims of the work
The scope of the paper is to provide a systematic review of existing literature on sustainable and circular waste management systems in universities. Based on these results, several best practices for a more sustainable management are proposed. The current research aim is gathering information about sustainable waste management practices in different universities. This insight could be used as a starting point for designing and structuring the waste management in universities, specifically where this system is not yet fully developed in agreement with SDGs and Circular Economy indications. In proposing best practices, complex social factors as well as environmental concerns were considered. In this work, feasibility evaluations from an economic and technological point of view were not into consideration. This first step helped identify relevant keywords to be explored in the second literature review phase.
2.2 General approach
To pursue the goal of this paper, identify and collect relevant literature was necessary. Therefore, the method applied in this paper is oriented to map the state of the art of the topic and identify trends of research in literature through the characterization of bibliometric parameters (José de Oliveira et al., 2019). The framework of the method has been adapted according to the needs of the research for a better analysis of the collected data.
Three-step method has been used to collect and analyse relevant data from the existing literature adapting a methodology already used in previous studies (Levac et al., 2010; Abubakar et al., 2022). Figure 1 summarizes the structure of the research activity. The approach involved three steps: 1) Scoping, 2) Defining research strategy and 3) Organisation and analysis of relevant papers.
FIGURE 1. Flow chart of the research.
For a better comprehension of the concept “sustainable waste management system” following approaches of the key components will be presented concerning sustainability and circularity along waste management systems in universities (Table 1).
TABLE 1. Key components of the present paper concerning SWMS.
2.3 Documents selection
The database used for this study was Scopus®, considered the largest database of abstracts and citations from peer-reviewed research literature in numerous fields (Fahimnia et al., 2015). Only studies published in English were selected. The bibliographic search was carried out from 2017 to early 2023, with the strategy for finding keywords that defines the most suitable combination to fulfil the purpose of the research. The following keywords were used for data collection: “waste management system,” “higher education institution (HEI),” “university,” “campus,” “sustainability,” “circular economy.” Six combinations of these keywords were used, as follows: 1) “waste management system” AND “higher education institutions (HEI)”; 2) “waste management system” AND “university”; 3) “waste management system” AND “campus”; 4) “waste management system” AND “circular economy” AND “higher education institution (HEI)”; 5) “waste management system” AND “circular economy” AND “campus”; 6) “waste management system” AND “circular economy” AND “universities” (See Table 2 Start search results). Finally, the articles were selected by reading the abstracts to identify those that developed or have implemented a waste management system with approach on sustainable development and circularity within university.
TABLE 2. Applicable approaches and sustainable practices for waste management systems in a circular and sustainable university model.
After the selection in Scopus®, 58 papers were identified, and 22 documents were selected for the subsequent bibliometric and content analysis. For instance, documents that at the same time 1) did not describe implementations or outlooks about waste management system with a focus on sustainable development and circularity, 2) did not analyse these systems from a critical perspective, and 3) did not report new approaches on sustainable waste management in universities were excluded.
3 Results
In this section, the main findings about sustainable waste practices and their associated impacts on the environment found in literature analysis have been summarized and presented. In order to present the results neatly, the selected works have been grouped into two categories: 1) published before 2020, and 2) published after 2020.
3.1 Literature published before 2020
Hannon et al. (2019) focused on the importance of academic collaboration through “living labs” research theory and practice to support the co-generation of innovation in a “university and host city-community” context. According to their study, the role of “living labs” facilitates education and research to drive progress towards future zero waste cities (Hannon et al., 2019).
Michael and Elser, (2019) studied the employee value and opportunity costs and found that asking all employees to manage their office waste has considerable costs to the university, suggesting the implementation of good practices. They pointed out the existence of a fourth bottom line applied to sustainability-related decisions in universities: education and engagement (Michael and Elser, 2019).
Kusumawanto and Setyowati, (2019) applied the green engineering principles in waste management system to support the sustainable development, minimizing the waste generation. They also promoted the importance of a proper management of university campus waste selecting processing technology based on the main types of waste (Kusumawanto and Setyowati, 2019).
Indirapriyadharshini et al. (2019) evaluated the feasibility of intra-institutional integration of solid waste management through small-scale onsite composting pits. They found that the program for segregation and recycling on a university campus is feasible and some alternatives for the potentially recyclables wastes are discussed (Indirapriyadharshini et al., 2019).
A zero-waste campus was proposed by Yusoff, (2018), adopting projects such as in-house composting centre, food waste segregation scheme, research composting emission and waste characterization, anaerobic digestion, used clothes collection program, wood waste separate collection, e-waste collection and drop-off recycling collection. A diagnosis of chemical and special waste produced in universities have been carried out by Pacheco et al. (2018). They also proposed methodological procedures to acquire and extract response data from a broad and diverse set of special waste generators in a university (Pacheco et al., 2018).
Shankar and Khandelwal, (2017) developed a strategic plan for sustainable waste management on a university campus through the characterization and analysis of waste samples collected from academic buildings, hostels, mess, shopping complex and residential areas for beneficial utilization. They found that potential benefits such as biogas generation from organic waste, resource optimization through 3R concept from paper, plastics, cardboard, glass, and metals can be derived by adopting a suitable waste management strategy (Shankar and Khandelwal, 2017).
3.2 Literature published after 2020
Talballa and Gichuru (2023) reported about the initiative of Qatar University to move from a make-use-dispose linear economy to a make-use-reuse/recycle circular economy formulating The University Zero-Waste Initiative Vision Action Plan. This plan included: creating governance and monitoring structure, developing a waste measurement and prevention system, using a communication strategy to engage campus users, and promote a culture of innovation. Many practical actions, such as reduce the use of paper stimulating the spread of digital systems and the recycling of food waste as fertilizer after dehydration, were implemented (Talballa and Gichuru, 2023). Sawalkar et al. (2023) reported that the universities can make their resources more circular by following the strategies of reducing, reusing, and recycling (3R).
Jaglan et al. (2022) pointed out that source separation strategies need awareness campaigns and education in which universities can play a key role. LCA is being used to analyse the present MSW management of the university (Jaglan et al., 2022).
Owojori et al. (2020) analysed practices on recovery and recycling solid waste (e.g.: bins, for recyclable, compostable, and trash at the academic and administrative buildings, food waste from the kitchen and cafeteria transforming in waste compositions, etc.) at university in a low-middle income country. The characterization of the waste generated and waste separation at source to measure the level of contamination of potentially recoverable materials has been also reported on as a key aspect of a good management. The partnering with the local community for the collection of food scraps and pre-consumer food waste was also proposed (Owojori et al., 2020).
Hadzi-Nikolova et al. (2022) focused on the partnership with the community, promoting the role of universities in the context of increasing awareness by the local population and hospitality enterprises for separation, collection, and composting of the organic waste. Shooshtarian et al. (2022) reported about the research collaboration with industry experts to facilitate knowledge transfer between research institutes and the industry.
The research collaboration within community to investigate plastic waste recycling system, with the aim to find out to what extent the current performance fulfils the future scenario established by the European Commissions, was analysed by (Foschi et al., 2021).
Ramdan et al. (2023) evaluated the waste management practice, waste generation and characteristics of the solid waste management system in universities focusing on the general knowledge of solid waste management, awareness, and personal behaviours.
Also Putrantomo et al. (2021) took into consideration to overcome barriers in solid waste management in universities by implementing an “Environmental Management System”. Five main potential barriers are identified: lack of commitment from the management of the stakeholders; lack of financial resources; lack of expertise on EMS; organizational; lack of engagement from student, staff, and faculty (Putrantomo et al., 2021).
Vasconcelos et al. (2021) focused on the perception of sustainability by university students and studied how the university decision-makers could improve the sustainable practices to increase the students’ engagement. The interaction between formal and informal waste management actors in this context are well described by (Chikowore and Kerr, 2023).
Ramasawmy and Nagowah, (2023) found that a “Smart Waste Management” system, meaning waste monitoring system suggesting the integration of internet of things and machine learning for real-time monitoring of the bins and the waste predictions, could facilitate the university to take proactive measures.
User friendly application model for chemical waste inventory and management at the engineering laboratories were promoted and developed by Jammoul et al. (2023). This highlighted the importance of using technological tools in waste management.
Nguyen et al. (2021) carried out a waste audit to evaluate the total emission and characteristics of the solid waste generated by a university campus. Simultaneously, the 3R program was applied for assessing the status of a waste management practice system. This same system at source proved to raise the awareness of students toward environmental protection (Nguyen et al., 2021).
4 Discussion and proposal of good practices
This section presents a guide for consolidating research directions from the reviewed literature and provides elaborations of recommendations with examples specific to developing a more sustainable and circular waste management system within universities. Achieving this goal requires a combination of different approaches and best practices.
By integrating these approaches and best practices, universities can create a more sustainable and circular waste management system, contributing to environmental conservation and promoting a responsible waste management culture among students, staff, and community. To develop and achieve sustainable and circular waste management systems within universities and to create innovative guidelines, the approaches reported in Figure 2 and detailed in Table 2 could be adopted and promoted.
FIGURE 2. Main proposed directions for waste management systems in a circular and sustainable university model.
In the context of universities, these concepts mean implementing waste management systems that prioritize the reduction of waste generation through practices like waste prevention, recycling, composting, and the use of renewable materials. It also involves promoting awareness and education about waste management among students, staff, and the wider university community. Sustainability and the CE can further encourage universities to collaborate with local communities, businesses, and waste management authorities to develop innovative solutions and technologies for more sustainable waste management practices. By adopting these principles, universities can strive towards a more sustainable and circular approach to waste management that aligns with broader sustainability goals.
The following are suggestions for future research on this subject to extend the findings. Relevant aspects from the literature are included below to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic:
• Green Purchasing: Green purchasing refers to the practice of making sustainable and environmentally conscious purchasing decisions. It involves considering the sustainability and circularity aspects of products and services, especially with regards to waste management systems in universities. There are many ways on how green purchasing can be integrated into waste management systems in universities, focusing on sustainability and circularity e.g. sustainable procurement policy, supplier selection, product assessment, green cleaning supplies, paperless practices (Fachrudin, et al., 2019; Naz et al., 2020). Encourage the procurement of sustainable and environmentally friendly products. Prioritize suppliers who focus on reducing packaging waste, offer environmentally friendly alternatives, and promote recycling and take-back programs (Khan et al., 2022).
• Upgrade waste management infrastructure: Waste management infrastructure in universities typically includes a combination of strategies and facilities to reduce, reuse, recycle, and dispose of various types of waste generated on campus e.g. recycling programs waste sorting facilities, hazardous waste disposal, composting systems (Zhang et al., 2011). Investing in efficient and effective waste infrastructure is crucial for the success of a sustainable waste management system (Esmaeilian et al., 2018). This can include installing compactors, balers, and other waste management equipment to properly handle and manage waste on campus.
5 Conclusion
In conclusion, integrating practical and innovative sustainability and circularity findings into waste management systems in universities can have several benefits. These include reducing the environmental impact of waste generated by the campus, showcasing the institution’s commitment to environmental stewardship, and serving as role models for students and the broader community. Additionally, integrating innovative waste management practices can lead to cost savings and improved resource efficiency. Correspondingly adopting efficient waste segregation, (e.g., implementing a comprehensive recycling program with separate bins for different types of waste, including paper, plastics, and e-waste, can ensure that valuable resources are recovered and reused) and recycling practices (e.g., initiatives to reduce single-use plastics on campus by providing alternatives such as reusable water bottles and offering water refill stations), universities can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and promote the reuse of valuable resources. Can also be implemented sustainable procurement policies that prioritize environmentally friendly and sustainable products and technology-driven solutions such as smart waste bins and waste-to-energy systems can further optimize waste management processes. Additionally, universities can encourage research and development activities that focus on developing new methods for waste reduction and conversion. By continuously adopting various management practices to approach sustainability and circularity in waste management systems, universities can contribute significantly to creating more sustainable and circular waste management systems.
Universities have a vital role to play in achieving sustainability and circularity along waste management systems. Through education, research, collaboration, and advocacy, universities can drive significant change and contribute to a more sustainable future. These results are valid in universities where there are research and dissemination activities and/or educational programs that deal with aspects of environmental protection but are potentially also applicable in those educational structures that do not present research activities or whose teaching activity does not specifically deal with topics related to environmental protection. In this sense, the implementation of actions aimed at minimizing the production of waste and increasing the percentage of waste destined for recycling is potentially feasible in all educational contexts. By harnessing their intellectual resources and fostering partnerships, universities can be at the forefront of the transition towards a more sustainable and circular approach to waste management. Overall, universities should strive to integrate sustainability and circularity principles into waste management systems through a combination of infrastructure, awareness, education, collaboration, and innovation. By implementing these approaches and best practices, universities can develop a more sustainable and circular waste management system, reducing their environmental impact and preparing students for a future driven by sustainable practices. However, it should be noted that before any implementation a feasibility study should be carried out from an economic and technological point of view to evaluate the best solutions on a case-by-case basis.
Data availability statement
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
Author contributions
RG: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Resources, Validation, Visualization, Writing–original draft. MCM: Data curation, Investigation, Validation, Visualization, Writing–review and editing. VT: Validation, Visualization, Writing–review and editing. ER: Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing–review and editing.
Funding
The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.
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Keywords: sustainability, circular economy, waste management, separate collection, material recovery, sustainable development
Citation: Giurea R, Carnevale Miino M, Torretta V and Rada EC (2024) Approaching sustainability and circularity along waste management systems in universities: an overview and proposal of good practices. Front. Environ. Sci. 12:1363024. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1363024
Received: 29 December 2023; Accepted: 15 February 2024;
Published: 01 March 2024.
Edited by:
Silvia Fiore, Polytechnic University of Turin, ItalyReviewed by:
Daniela Gavrilescu, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași, RomaniaGiovanni De Feo, University of Salerno, Italy
Copyright © 2024 Giurea, Carnevale Miino, Torretta and Rada. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Elena Cristina Rada, elena.rada@uninsubria.it