Assessing Campus Waste Management for Sustainability: A Case Study of Hasanuddin University, Indonesia (Unhas)

Abstract

This study examines the current waste management system at Hasanuddin University (Unhas), Indonesia, as the institution transitions from a conventional collect–dispose approach toward a more integrated and sustainability-oriented model. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and field observations, and were analyzed thematically following Braun and Clarke’s framework. The findings identify four interrelated challenges that constrain system performance: fragmented institutional coordination, weak source-segregation behavior among waste generators, limited technical capacity for composting and material recovery, and the absence of an embedded environmental culture across campus units. Despite these constraints, the study reveals tangible opportunities for circular improvement, including scaling up composting operations, strengthening waste bank integration, enhancing environmental literacy initiatives, and leveraging behavioral interventions such as bin-removal policies to improve waste discipline and campus cleanliness. The key contribution of this study lies in the development of a multidimensional waste governance model specifically tailored to Indonesian public higher education institutions. The proposed framework integrates regulatory, institutional, financial, empowerment, and technical dimensions as a coherent strategy for implementing Integrated Solid Waste Management at the university level. By advancing a governance-oriented and context-specific approach, this study provides practical and theoretical insights to support circular campus transitions. It strengthens the role of higher education institutions in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11 and Sustainable Development Goal 12, particularly within the Global South.