Zero Waste Management Process: A Case Study of Chula Zero Waste Project of Chulalongkorn University

Abstract

Currently, the amount of waste in Thailand is on the rise. In 2023, Thailand generated 73,840 tons of waste per day. Educational institutions are also places where many students and staff utilize the facilities. The Chula Zero Waste project recognizes the importance of waste management and aims to reduce the amount of waste at Chulalongkorn University. As a result, the project has collaborated with various faculties to reduce waste, successfully decreasing the waste by 530.66 tons in 2024. This led to the objective of studying the waste management process of the Chula Zero Waste project.

The study found that the Chula Zero Waste project utilizes four types of waste bins: general waste, recyclable waste, food waste, and ice disposal bins. The average daily waste volume is approximately 4 tons for general waste, 0.83 tons for recyclable waste, and 0.3 tons for food waste. An analysis comparing the number of bins to the daily waste volume in each faculty revealed that a general waste bin is filled to about 30% of its capacity, a recycling bin to approximately 6%, and a food waste bin to around 6.1%. These findings are consistent with the project's once-daily waste collection cycle. The project’s waste management process comprises six steps: waste generation, collection, sorting, transportation, storage, and disposal. Key issues identified include improper waste segregation and non-compliance of general and recyclable waste storage areas with legal requirements. According to regulations, waste storage areas must be enclosed rooms with waterproof walls and drainage systems for wastewater.