Design of Integrated Solid Waste Management Systems in University Complexes: A Case Study of the University of Guilan, Iran

Abstract

University centers and complexes can be considered small-scale cities and must design an integrated solid waste management system (ISWM) to minimize residual environmental impacts. An effective ISWM system should consider factors such as waste composition, waste reduction plans, and technical, financial, and administrative feasibility for waste management improvements and adopted strategies. The University of Guilan, as the most significant complex university in the northern provinces of Iran, was selected to evaluate generated waste and design an ISWM. The waste sampling was conducted at six sites over 9 months, from September 2015 to June 2016. The waste composition included food waste (compost), paper and cardboard, plastic, glass, and metals. To assess the significant differences in waste generation across the variables, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed. The results showed that an average of about 479.15 kilograms per day (kg/day) of waste was produced at the University of Guilan complex, which more than 90% could be reduced, recycled, or composted. The highest generated waste was observed from 23 September to October 22, 2015, about 327.9 kg by the students' dormitory, and the lowest related to the end of semester in January and June with 11.57 and 13.75 kg, respectively. The waste production per capita of the university was 114.04 g/person/day on average. The results emphasize the potential of achieving higher waste recovery rates and the challenges that universities and colleges may face in changing to sustainable university waste management. Compostable food waste, plastics, and paper represent three of the most generated types of composition for waste reduction and recycling. The results showed that the production of compost from food waste is the best strategy for solid waste management in the central self-service area, and separation from the source and recycling is the best option for the administrative and educational departments of the University of Guilan.