Institutional solid waste management, its characterisation and potential for recycling: A case study of University of Venda, South Africa

Abstract

The generation of waste remains a fundamental aspect of human living and the mismanagement of it manifests as a great plaque in the composite environment. The management of solid waste is highly tedious because it involves inter-disciplinary measures coupled with lots of skills and expertise. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015 flagged the all-inclusive responsibility of world leaders to team up against difficulties that must be collectively addressed if mankind is to get by on this planet. South Africa is focused on the full execution of the UN sustainable development goal (SDG) 2030 which is in harmony with South Africa's national development plan (NDP) with critical focus on sustainable waste management practices. There are challenges in the South African waste management sector, prompting both missed financial chances and superfluous negative environmental effects. This study addresses the problem of solid waste management in a South African tertiary institution with the aim of proposing a sustainable waste management strategy for the University. Through field survey, stakeholders’ interview and personal field assessment, the solid waste profile of the institution was established and characterized. The waste generated across selected activity areas was collected from the designated waste bins and hand sorted into categories using the ASTM D5231-92 standard method (ASTM, 2008). The results showed that students generate waste in the halls of residences at an average of 1.7 kg /capita/day. The results also revealed that the average percentage of all recyclables and compostable in the institution’s solid waste is 69% and 26%, respectively. A sum of R7,360,847.00 was estimated to be realizable per annum if all recoverable waste from the selected activity areas are harnessed. A solid waste management strategy has been proposed which can be applied to this institution as well as similar institutions in the developing countries for a sustainable environment.