14.4 – Water sensitive waste disposal

14.4.2 – Action plan to reducing plastic waste

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) is committed to minimizing plastic waste on campus through a structured and impactful action plan aimed at fostering a culture of environmental responsibility and sustainability. The ban on plastic straws at all UKM food premises marks a critical first step in reducing single-use plastics, and this policy is reinforced by a series of educational campaigns designed to raise awareness about the environmental consequences of plastic pollution. These campaigns not only inform but also empower students, staff, and visitors to make conscious choices that align with sustainable living principles. To support these behavioral changes, UKM promotes reusable alternatives such as metal and bamboo straws and eco-friendly cutlery by making these options readily available across campus food premises. 

Furthermore, UKM is expanding recycling facilities to ensure convenient access to proper waste disposal, which is essential for effective plastic waste management. Clear signage and waste segregation guidance accompany these facilities to streamline the recycling process, making it easier for everyone on campus to contribute to this initiative. Partnerships with eco-conscious suppliers are also central to UKM action plan, as the university collaborates with vendors to replace plastic containers, bags, and utensils with compostable and recyclable materials, ensuring sustainable practices are embedded across all campus services. To ensure ongoing improvement and accountability, UKM has implemented a monitoring and reporting system, providing transparent updates on plastic reduction progress to the campus community. Through these comprehensive actions, UKM not only seeks to reduce its environmental footprint but also strives to set a benchmark for other institutions, exemplifying a commitment to sustainable development and inspiring a greener, more responsible future.

1. Malaysia Plastics Sustainability Roadmap 2021 – 2030

In 2021, the Ministry Of Environment & Water published the Malaysia Plastics Sustainability Roadmap 2021-2030, a comprehensive strategy to tackle plastic pollution and transition towards a circular plastics economy. This roadmap emphasizes recycling, reducing single-use plastics, eco-friendly design, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and public awareness to minimize plastic waste. By supporting this roadmap, UKM reinforces its commitment to reducing plastic waste, protecting aquatic ecosystems, and fostering a culture of sustainability on campus. This initiative not only minimizes pollutants but also raises awareness about the impact of plastic on marine life, inspiring students, staff, and the community to adopt practices that safeguard aquatic ecosystems for future generations. This roadmap also aligns with UKM Sustainability Strategic Plan 2030 (page 35), strengthening the management of food, solid and toxic waste. UKM is strengthening its management of food, solid, and toxic waste as part of its commitment to a sustainable campus. This initiative involves implementing guidelines for food waste separation in university cafeterias, ensuring cafeteria operators can effectively manage and segregate food waste for recycling or composting, thus reducing landfill contributions. Additionally, UKM is upgrading its Recycle Center to improve the handling of solid and potentially hazardous waste. By actively involving faculties, centers, institutes, and student associations in these sustainability efforts, UKM fosters a collaborative approach to responsible waste management. These actions reflect UKM’s dedication to reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainable practices across the campus community.

The Malaysia Plastics Sustainability Roadmap 2021-2030 provides various action plans that UKM can adopt to reduce plastic waste on campus, supporting SDG 14: Life Below Water. Here’s how each plan can be applied to UKM’s efforts to minimize plastic waste and protect aquatic ecosystems:

1. Phasing Out Problematic Single-Use Plastics (SUPs): UKM can ban specific single-use plastics on campus, such as plastic straws and disposable utensils, to reduce plastic pollution. By working with campus vendors to provide sustainable alternatives, UKM can prevent plastic waste from potentially reaching waterways, thus protecting marine life (page 42).
   
2. Implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): UKM can encourage suppliers and campus vendors to take responsibility for their plastic waste. An EPR scheme would require these suppliers to collect and recycle the plastic products they introduce, reducing the likelihood of waste leakage into surrounding aquatic environments (page 42).
   
3. Mandating Sustainable Design: By requiring that all products and packaging used on campus be recyclable or biodegradable, UKM can minimize waste. This aligns with sustainable design practices, which reduce the risk of plastics contaminating water bodies and harming marine species if they enter waterways (page 42).
   
4. Improving Plastic Recovery and Setting Minimum Collection-for-Recycling (CFR) Rates: UKM can establish and expand recycling stations across campus, setting targets for plastic collection and recycling rates. Clear signage and awareness campaigns can help improve recycling rates, preventing plastic waste from entering the environment (page 43).
   
5. Increasing Demand for Recycled Materials: UKM can incorporate recycled materials in campus products, merchandise, and facilities. By using recycled plastics, the university promotes a circular economy, reducing the demand for virgin plastic production and minimizing plastic leakage into ecosystems (page 43).
   
6. Training for SMEs on Circular Economy Practices: UKM can conduct workshops for campus vendors, teaching them about sustainable practices and waste reduction. This initiative will enable campus businesses to adopt practices that reduce plastic waste, indirectly supporting marine conservation by limiting plastic pollution (page 46).
   
7. Circular Economy Awards: Introducing an award system for sustainability efforts on campus could incentivize departments and vendors to reduce plastic waste. This approach can create a culture of responsibility and innovation, encouraging sustainable waste practices that benefit both campus and local ecosystems (page 46).
   
8. PLASTICBUSTERS Program: UKM can adapt this program to educate students, staff, and vendors on the importance of reducing plastic waste and adopting sustainable behaviors. Workshops and activities focused on plastic reduction can foster environmental awareness, helping to prevent plastic from reaching waterways (page 46).
   
9. INSPIRE Program: UKM can highlight stories of successful plastic reduction efforts within the campus community, showcasing best practices and inspiring others to join in reducing plastic waste (page 46).
   
10. Communication, Education, and Public Awareness (CEPA): By conducting campus-wide awareness campaigns on the effects of plastic pollution on marine life, UKM can emphasize the importance of responsible plastic use and waste management. Integrating these principles into student orientation and environmental events can foster long-term behavioral changes that align with SDG 14 (page 46).

Through these targeted actions, UKM can effectively reduce plastic waste on campus, minimizing the risk of pollution in surrounding aquatic ecosystems and supporting the broader goals of SDG 14 by protecting life below water.

2. Directive Prohibiting the Use of Plastic Drinking Straws in Food Premises at UKM

The Circular ROSH No. 1/2019 at UKM enforces a prohibition on plastic straw usage across all campus food premises, in direct alignment with SDG 14: Life Below Water, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources. This initiative is crucial in reducing plastic waste that poses substantial threats to both marine and land ecosystems, endangering wildlife and biodiversity. By banning plastic straws, UKM actively minimizes plastic pollution, which can contaminate water sources and harm aquatic life when plastic waste eventually reaches rivers and oceans. This directive extends beyond simply reducing plastic consumption it fosters a culture of environmental stewardship within the UKM community, urging students, staff, and vendors to embrace sustainable alternatives. This policy underscores UKM commitment to protecting natural habitats, safeguarding biodiversity, and promoting responsible waste management, all essential steps in preserving life below water and contributing to a cleaner, healthier environment for future generations.

Source: https://www.ukm.my/rosh/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Pekeliling-ROSH-Bil.-1_2019-Arahan-Larangan-Penggunaan-Penyedut-Minuman-Plastik-di-Premis-Makanan-UKM.pdf

3. Polystyrene-Free Campus Campaign

The document above is a memo from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) announcing the launch of the “Kempen Kampus Sifar Polisterin” (Polystyrene-Free Campus Campaign) with reference number (UKM JCN/224/2), which was initiated in March 2015.  Effective April 1, 2015, all cafeterias and food kiosks on campus are prohibited from using polystyrene or plastic bags for food and drink packaging. This measure encourages a cleaner and more sustainable campus environment. UKM community members are encouraged to dine in cafeterias without using takeaway containers. Staff and students are advised to bring their own containers when purchasing takeaway food or drinks. Cafeterias are required to promote and offer discounts or incentives for customers who bring their own containers. A minimum charge of RM0.20 will be applied to customers who do not bring their own containers, with proceeds going toward covering container costs.

4. UKM Program to reducing plastic waste

UKM Program to reduce the Use of plastic on Campus included a wide range of initiatives aimed at minimizing the environmental footprint of daily campus activities. Students and staff were encouraged to participate in reduced programs, and there was an active movement to replace harmful materials such as polystyrene with eco-friendly alternatives. As part of this initiative, the Sustainability Challenge 2023 featured a ban on polystyrene packaging for food containers, further reinforcing the university’s sustainable practices.

i. Water refillable to reduce plastic bottle
The entire college campus and administrative buildings at UKM are equipped with water purifiers to ensure that all students, staff, and visitors have access to safe, clean drinking water, fostering a healthy and environmentally responsible campus. This initiative not only promotes public health by providing purified water but also actively discourages the use of single-use plastic bottles, particularly within administrative offices. By reducing reliance on plastic bottles, UKM is minimizing plastic waste and supporting its commitment to environmental sustainability. This approach aligns with broader sustainability goals, emphasizing waste reduction and resource conservation, and setting an example for sustainable practices within the campus community. Through these efforts, UKM encourages a culture of environmental awareness and responsible consumption among its members.

ii. Reduce uses of plastic packaging in Campus

As part of UKM’s plastic and polystyrene minimization campaign, the university promotes sustainable alternatives like using tiffin carriers to replace non-eco-friendly packaging. This initiative encourages students, staff, and visitors to bring their own reusable containers, reducing the campus’s reliance on single-use plastic and polystyrene products. By fostering a culture of reusability and eco-conscious choices, UKM aims to decrease waste, lessen environmental impact, and inspire the campus community to adopt sustainable practices that contribute to a greener future.

iii. Disposable drinking water

In 2023, UKM started to cultivate the use of mineral water in paper packaging for every meeting and event, which can simultaneously reduce the plastic waste generated by each responsibility center.

These impactful efforts supported UKM’s goal of achieving 100% implementation of SDG 12 through responsible plastic use policies, promoting recycling, and actively engaging the university community in sustainable waste management practices. This commitment ensured that UKM continued to lead the way in sustainable development, fostering a greener, healthier environment for future generations.