Category 3 Waste (WS)
The University carries out activities and projects to manage and reduce waste within the university as shown in Figure.
- There is a campaign to reuse scraps of paper and reduce the use of plastic and foam.
- The University teaches and suggests how to sort waste: general waste, biowaste (food), toxic waste, and recyclable waste.
- The University provides information and technology in meetings, coordination, and administration to reduce the use of paper; for example, the use of i-Office, e-Meeting, and HU Connect (a mobile application).
- The Waste Bank was established.
- The fabrication of waste materials to reduce the amount of waste and generate income for offices or to reuse or substitute without buying new things; for example, old calendars could be used for the blind alphabet, signboards, and meeting boards; old tires could be used as plant pots and benches; used paper that was printed on both sides could be used for making vases and lamps. Moreover, used paper is gathered and sold and added to department’s budgets.
- The university organized the Phra-Pa recycled waste project together with the Bang Riang Municipality, Kuan Niang District, Songkhla Province. By sorting recycled waste and donating it to the Phra-pa recycled waste project, money was collected to maintain temples and educational funds for students.
- The university joined the “E-Waste, the University Challenge” together with Advanced Info Service Ltd. (AIS) by raising awareness of staff, students, and nearby communities to participate in proper e-waste disposal. Hatyai University provides e-waste trash receptacles at 5 buildings. At the end of the month, Advance Info Service Ltd. picks up e-waste at the university and disposes of it properly following international standards.
The University carries out over three activities/projects to reduce paper and plastic use as shown below:
1. The University formulated a policy to be a “Digital University” to encourage people to reduce the use of paper by using i-Office and e-Meeting, e-Project to reduce paper used in the project-approval processes, and e-HR to decrease paper for the leave-approval process and work evaluations. The Digital University systems.
2. The University encourages staff to set up a group for Quality Control Cycle (QCC); for example, changing the size of the exam envelope to reduce costs and minimizing costs for examinations (decreasing the thickness of exam papers, reducing answer sheets, and reusing old envelopes). Previously, each envelope was reused twice a year but they are now being used 6 times a year. Figure 3-3 illustrates the project.
3. The University adopted policies to encourage staff and students to use cloth bags instead of plastic bags and to bring their tumblers and bottles instead of plastic containers to meetings. The University also bans the use of foam. Moreover, the University made videos to raise student and staff awareness of the conservation of the environment.
4. ECOLIFE Application is used to record the amount of reduction in the use of single-use plastics; e.g., plastic spoons and forks, plastic tumblers, plastic bags, and straws within the University. Students and staff have to scan a QR Code to refuse plastic use from all shops in the University, including the 7-Eleven in front of the University.
5. Hatyai University conducted online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic wave from March to July 2020 via Google Meet, Zoom, and other video conferencing. Teaching materials and media were delivered via Google Drive, other clouds, and various online channels.
6. Staff meetings and Human Resource training were held online using platforms such as Google Meet and Zoom to reduce travel and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Meeting files were uploaded via e-mail and Google Drive to the participants to reduce the amount of paper consumption.
7. Reports were submitted via e-mail and urgent notifications were sent through Line Groups or other social media platforms.
8. The university stored document files in electronic forms such as PDF or graphic files. Files were shared electronically instead of printed. An electronic exam library was established.
9. The University personnel used both sides of paper and the University also set up a point where used paper was in a common space so all staff could use both sides of the paper.
10. All staff of Hatyai University print documents on used paper as a draft document instead of printing on new sheets paper and also the resolution of ink was reduced. Staff uses small sheets of folded cover paper for fax documents. Envelopes are reused and resent to recipients by covering with the addressee information with one-sided used paper and readdressed. Staff also separated paper before leaving it in the trash.
11. “My Cup” was an activity to promote the reduction of plastic cups. Beverage stores on campus created loyalty cards to promote “My Cup” by collecting scores for discounts. “Bring your own cup” was also a campaign.
12 A public relations campaign to use cloth bags instead of plastic bags was conducted.