UNS Policies and Practices for Managing Plastic Waste and Food Waste to Reduce Waste Sent to Landfill

Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) is committed to reducing waste generation on campus through policies and practices for the responsible management of plastic waste and food waste. These efforts aim to control the amount of waste generated from the university’s academic and operational activities, increase the reuse of materials that still have value, and reduce the burden of waste sent to final disposal sites (landfills, or TPA). This commitment is reinforced through UNS Rector’s Instruction Number 30 of 2023 on the Management of Waste and Hazardous and Toxic Waste (B3), which serves as the basis for implementing waste reduction, sorting by type, and applying the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle, and composting. In managing plastic waste, UNS encourages reducing the use of single-use materials and adopting more environmentally friendly habits across the university. Restrictions on the use of plastic, paper, and styrofoam are part of efforts to prevent waste generation at its source. This practice is supported by waste sorting and the development of reuse and recycling activities, so that materials that can still be processed are not immediately discarded as residue. Implementation of this policy is expected to raise awareness among the academic community to reduce the use of single-use products and to participate actively in responsible waste management.

File: https://cdna.uns.ac.id/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2025/10/Rectors-Instruction-on-the-Management-of-Waste-and-Hazardous-and-Toxic-Materials-1.pdf 

UNS pays special attention to managing food waste generated from campus canteen activities. This is realized through Circular Letter Number 2300.1/UN27/HK.06/2023 on the Measurement and Processing of Canteen Food Waste at UNS. The policy requires food waste in canteens to be measured before it is processed. This measurement is important for obtaining data on the amount of food waste generated, as a basis for evaluation and for determining more effective reduction strategies. Based on its characteristics, food waste can potentially be utilized through composting or other suitable organic treatment methods, so that the amount of waste that must be discarded can be reduced. This data can also serve as a basis for measuring the reduction in waste sent to landfill. Thus, the success of the program is judged not only by the existence of policies and facilities, but also by changes in waste generation and increased utilization of waste that can be processed.

File: https://cdna.uns.ac.id/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2025/09/Surat-Edaran-tentang-Pengukuran-dan-Pengolahan-Limbah-Makanan-2023.pdf 

Waste management at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) has developed gradually over about one year. The first step was seen on February 26, 2025, when the UNS Waste Bank at the Faculty of Agriculture held an environmental clean-up and training on making compost and local microorganisms (MOL). The activity was held in conjunction with National Waste Awareness Day (HPSN) 2025 under the theme “Collaboration for a Clean Indonesia”, and was made possible through cooperation with PT Pegadaian, the Indonesian Waste-Caring Golden Friends Forum (FORSEPSI) Region XI, and the Surakarta City Environmental Agency.

After that activity, waste management efforts began to be directed toward institutional arrangements. On May 7, 2025, the first coordination meeting was held to develop the UNS Campus Waste Bank. The meeting was led by Prof. Dr. Ir. MMA Retno Rosariastuti (Director of the UNS Waste Bank) together with Prof. Dr. Ir. Murtanti Jani Rahayu, S.T., M.T. (Head of the Subdirectorate of Green Campus and SDGs). The coordination discussed personnel management, mechanisms for converting waste into economic value, the types of waste accepted, outreach strategies, and plans for expanding locations across the campus. The goals were to reduce the amount of waste sent to the Final Disposal Site (TPA), generate renewable energy through biogas, and make the waste bank a learning facility for the community.