Institutionalize waste minimization governance towards campus sustainability: a case study of Green Office initiatives in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Abstract

Waste minimization in campus sustainability can be an effective showcase of sustainability governance in translating the elusive concept of sustainable development in the context of Higher Education Institution into more tangible outcome of sustainable consumption, reduce environmental effect from campus activities and create conducive campus environmental for behavioral change. As part of the sustainability initiative in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, the establishment of a Green Office reveals the complexity of institutionalizing waste minimization in campuses as well as demonstrate the potential of living laboratory framework as an integrative, transformative and structural approach of the triangulation elements of Higher Education Institutions; teaching & learning, research and operation. The first part of the study begins with the science approach in develop waste profile with its’ strategic implication; i. correction on waste generation 0.83 kg per capita per day in campus instead of 3.47 kg per person per day received from the waste collector in 2011 and, ii. strategize and justify the campus sustainability initiatives based on waste characterization figures; 46% compostable or food waste and 40.6% dry waste or recyclable items (paper 39.7%, followed by plastic packaging 31.8%, plastic bottles 17.2% and aluminum cans 11.3%) in 2011. The Green Office practices designed to minimize dry waste and provide situational and systemic changes for behavior, such as Sustainable Meeting, Saving Paper and Practicing Recycling, resulted in campus paper reduction rates of 30% (2011), 42% (2012) and 58% (2013). The economic sustainability dimension from the total paper reduction consumption is 35, 089 reams, amounted saving of MYR 561.424 or US' 130,563 (2009–2013). The result equivalences with the carbon emission reduction 6047.58 kg and the energy saving amounted 4,414,196.2 GJ/t as an environmental sustainability dimension. The second part of the study, which is more on the social science approach, analyze through the participatory based approach, governance and institutionalization process of waste minimization. The process involves decentralization of solid waste management, established co-production of knowledge and co-implementation as well as effective monitoring. Those aspects contributes to the development of sustainable consumption in general and behavioral changes of the campus society. The study demonstrates and explains in detail the adoption of waste profile data resulted from research has corrected function for better management of waste minimization as to support integrated solid waste management in campus. The result discloses several challenges in introducing such a task by introducing Green Office initiative in systemic approach which reflects in waste data performance and monitoring. The scientific evidence with a combination support top down and bottom up governance approach showcase the successful of waste minimization initiatives in campus sustainability. Furthermore, the study suggests the Green Office awards and certification as to increase the competitiveness of CoR or Green Manager and involves the cleaner services in the process as to sustain the Green Office performance in the long term. This study provides a practical experience and detail process of adaptation waste minimization in the context of campus sustainability which adds to the new dimension of growing body of knowledge in waste management from the perspective of sustainability science.