12.2.4 : Policy waste disposal – landfill policy
Policy-Driven Waste Quantification: Accelerating Landfill Diversion
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has established a robust framework through its UTM Waste Policy 2021 to systematically manage, quantify, and minimize the environmental impact of its solid waste stream, directly supporting the principles of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). This policy is explicitly designed to move UTM beyond mere waste collection by implementing mechanisms for rigorous data capture and accountability related to disposal methods.
The policy mandates practices that serve to measure the quantity of waste sent to landfill and the volume diverted (recycled), primarily through the core goal of increasing the waste diversion rate. Waste diversion is defined by the university as any material that is reused or recycled, and is therefore no longer disposed of in a landfill.
Key institutional practices confirm this commitment to measurement:
- Mandatory Waste Audits: The policy outlines the implementation of regular Waste Audits. These audits are the formal, quantifiable tool used to measure the specific breakdown of waste generated across campus, allowing UTM to precisely determine the total weight/volume sent to recycling facilities versus the weight/volume destined for landfill disposal.
- Infrastructure for Segregation and Measurement: The policy supports extensive infrastructure, including specialized receptacles, bin signage, and source separation initiatives (paper, plastic, glass/can), which are preconditions for accurate measurement of the recycled stream.
By enforcing this measured approach, UTM shifts from an unmonitored disposal model to a data-driven strategy. This quantification is critical for tracking performance against targets, ensuring the reduction of its significant daily waste generation (estimated at 15–16 tonnes/day), and actively reducing reliance on landfill disposal in line with national and global sustainability goals.
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