15.4.2 Policy on Plastic Waste Reduction
UNS Institutional Policy on Plastic Waste Reduction on Campus
Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) has established institutional policies on reducing plastic waste on campus as part of its commitment to environmental sustainability. These policies provide formal directions for the university community to minimize the use of plastic products, particularly single-use plastics, in campus activities. Through rector-level regulations, UNS integrates plastic waste reduction into its institutional environmental management framework and supports the protection of terrestrial ecosystems in line with SDG 15: Life on Land.
1. Circular Letter on the Prohibition of Single-Use Plastic Products
UNS established an institutional policy on plastic waste reduction through Circular Letter No. 29/UN27/SE/2020, which prohibits single-use plastic drinking water packaging and plastic bags on campus. This policy specifically addresses two common sources of plastic waste on campus: disposable drinking water packaging and plastic shopping bags.
By restricting these single-use plastic products, UNS provides clear institutional direction to prevent unnecessary plastic consumption and reduce plastic waste at its source. The circular establishes restrictions within the university environment and encourages the academic community to adopt alternatives to disposable plastic products.
2. Rector’s Instruction on Paper and Plastic Usage Reduction
Building on this earlier policy, UNS issued Rector’s Instruction No. 28 of 2023 concerning the Program for Reducing Paper and Plastic Usage. This institutional instruction directs university leaders, lecturers, administrative staff, and students to reduce paper and plastic consumption in university activities. In particular, it encourages the academic community to minimize single-use plastic products and adopt more sustainable practices in academic, administrative, and research activities.
The instruction complements the 2020 circular by establishing plastic-use reduction as a shared institutional responsibility across the university. It provides a broader policy framework to encourage reduced plastic consumption and promote environmentally responsible practices among all members of the UNS academic community.
Reference: Rector’s Instruction No. 28 of 2023 – Program for Reducing Paper and Plastic Usage
3. Supporting Evidence of Policy Implementation
UNS’s plastic waste reduction policies are reflected in institutional practices across campus activities. According to the university’s documented waste reduction initiatives, the use of single-use plastic bottled water is restricted during meetings, seminars, and lectures. Faculty-level circulars also support these restrictions, extending the policy framework to individual faculties. Members of the academic community are encouraged to bring their own tumblers and reusable bags as alternatives to disposable plastic products.
UNS also supports these policy objectives by providing practical alternatives and facilities that help reduce plastic consumption. Through the Sebelas Maret University Drinking Water Supply System (SPAM UNS), free drinking water dispensers are available at strategic campus locations to encourage the use of personal drinking bottles. In addition, the university provides point-based plastic bottle collection machines and promotes reusing plastic bottles and containers in academic activities, including plant nursery practices. These measures demonstrate how UNS translates its institutional commitment to plastic waste reduction into practices within the university environment.
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Conclusion
Through Circular Letter No. 29/UN27/SE/2020 and Rector’s Instruction No. 28 of 2023, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) demonstrates its institutional commitment to establishing and implementing a policy to reduce plastic waste on campus. These policies provide formal directions to restrict single-use plastic products and reduce plastic consumption across university activities. Their implementation is supported by faculty-level restrictions, the provision of alternative drinking water facilities, plastic bottle collection systems, and reuse practices within academic activities.
By integrating institutional regulations with practical measures across the university environment, UNS promotes shared responsibility for reducing plastic waste at its source. These efforts help prevent plastic pollution, maintain environmental quality, and protect terrestrial ecosystems, supporting SDG 15: Life on Land.
SDG 15 Indicator
Supporting Land Ecosystems Through Education
Supporting Land Ecosystems Through Action
Land Sensitive Waste Disposal
Summary of UNS Institutional Policies on Plastic Waste Reduction
Policy Document | Year | Main Policy Provisions | Scope of Application | Relevance to Plastic Waste Reduction |
Circular Letter No. 29/UN27/SE/2020 on the Prohibition of Single-Use Plastic Drinking Water Packaging and Plastic Bags | 2020 | Prohibits single-use plastic drinking water packaging and plastic bags on campus. | University environment and activities involving the university community. | Establishes specific restrictions on common single-use plastic products to prevent plastic waste generation at its source. |
Rector’s Instruction No. 28 of 2023 concerning the Program for Reducing Paper and Plastic Usage | 2023 | Directs university leaders, lecturers, administrative staff, and students to reduce paper and plastic consumption and minimize single-use plastic products. | University leaders, lecturers, administrative staff, and students across university activities. | Expands the institutional approach to plastic waste reduction by integrating reduced plastic consumption into academic, administrative, and research activities. |