Solid Waste Characterization and Recycling Potential for a University Campus in China

Dongyong Zhang,Stephen Morse,Mengge Hao,Sida Chen

doi:10.3390/su12083086

Dongyong Zhang, Stephen Morse + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083086

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Abstract

Waste characterization is the first step to a successful waste management system. This paper explores the trend of solid waste generated on a university campus (Longzi Lake Campus of Henan Agricultural University) in China and the factors that influence the potential for recycling of the waste. Face-to-face interviews were carried out for 12 consecutive months on a campus in central China, and 416 interviewees were questioned. It was found that 7.32 tonnes of solid waste were generated on the campus each day, of which 79.31% were recyclable. The characterization of major waste streams are discussed, and the results are compared with comparable data from five universities in a range of other countries (Mexico, Canada, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Ethiopia). The annual growth of GDP per capita in China over the past five years before the research appeared to play an important role in the increasing of food waste on university campus, and the proportion of food waste is found to have a positive influence on recycling potential.

Highlights

With China becoming the largest municipal solid waste generator in the world [1], solid waste management (SWM) in the country has attracted special attention in recent years
This paper looks at the Longzi Lake Campus of Henan Agricultural University located in central China, and the aim is to investigate the waste characterization and the recycling potential of the solid waste generated on this campus and what factors may be at play in influencing them
The daily solid waste generation varies across the four seasons, on average, 7.32 tonnes of solid waste were generated on the Longzi Lake (LL) Campus each day, which equates to 487 g per student per day (Table 4)

Summary

Introduction

With China becoming the largest municipal solid waste generator in the world [1], solid waste management (SWM) in the country has attracted special attention in recent years. How to deal with the increasing volume of solid waste is an important issue within sustainable development and has become a tremendous challenge for the Chinese government. In December 2018, the ‘No-Waste City’ Pilot Program was passed by the central government of China. It is a city development model embracing concepts of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness, and sharing, and the intention is that it will promote resource utilization and reduction of solid waste at source by forming a green development mode and lifestyle, thereby minimizing the volume of landfill and the environmental impact of solid waste [3]. Beijing, Chongqing, Zhengzhou and other regional governments have drafted waste classification management regulations. The Chinese government plans to build a waste classification system in 46 key cities by the end of 2020 [5]

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