Waste Disposal and Recovery

 

 

Waste Management 

Our university emphasizes waste classification and disposal, categorizing campus waste into general industrial waste and hazardous industrial waste. For general industrial waste and recyclable materials, 12 sorting stations are set up on campus, with daily transportation to a large recycling center, where the waste is handled by contracted, certified environmental companies. In 2023, the total amount of general industrial waste was 400.7 tons, with waste data managed by responsible personnel using forms. Hazardous industrial waste, including waste liquids, pharmaceuticals, empty bottles, medical waste, and laboratory waste, totaled 38.42 tons. Improper disposal of laboratory waste can negatively impact the environment, so waste liquids, pharmaceuticals, and empty bottles are processed by the Resource Recycling Plant at the Environmental Resources Research and Management Center of National Cheng Kung University. Medical waste and laboratory industrial waste are handled by certified companies under the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). In 2023, waste was reduced by 30.76 tons compared to 2022, achieving a waste reduction rate of 6.05%.

 

Waste Category

Type of Waste

Total Waste (Metric Ton)

2021

2022

2023

General Industrial Waste

General Trash

515.14

478.29

400.7

Hazardous Industrial Waste

Laboratory Waste Liquid

15.97

22.02

16.92

Laboratory Waste Pharmaceuticals and Empty Bottles

3.36

3.83

3.65

Medical Waste

0.63

2.28

1.79

Laboratory Industrial Waste

10.06

7.68

16.06

Total Hazardous Industrial Waste

28.41

30.01

38.42

Total

543.55

508.3

477.54

Waste Reduction Rate (%)

15.49%

6.49%

6.05%

 

 

Waste Reduction Measures

Organizing "Lohas" (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability) Dining Events

Encourage the use of personal utensils and eco-friendly cups by offering a point collection system in the student cafeteria. Students can accumulate 10 points to redeem products worth 100 TWD.

Ban on Single-use and Melamine Tableware

The university has also signed contracts with food vendors to ban single-use and melamine tableware, replacing them with washable tableware to reduce single-use waste.

Introduction of Electronic Document System

Since 2022, the university has implemented an electronic document system, reducing paper usage by 130,000 sheets annually.

Reusing Donated Second-hand Items

Cheng Shiu University holds annual charity sales, where faculty, staff, and students donate items from their homes that are in good condition but unused. Consumers can purchase these items at a low price, promoting reuse and achieving resource recycling. In 2023, six charity sales events were held, and the university plans to involve student clubs in future events.

 


 

Laboratory and Chemical Management  

Our university adheres to legal regulations for the use of toxic and chemical substances by applying for the necessary approvals and establishing an online chemical management system to monitor and control the flow and usage of these substances. When purchasing chemicals, users must log into the system, complete the required forms, and obtain approval from the Environmental Safety Unit before proceeding with the purchase. For toxic substances, quarterly online reporting of procurement and usage records is required to ensure compliance with regulated quantities. The university regularly compiles and updates the number of hazardous machinery and equipment in use on campus and annually commissions certified inspection companies, in compliance with Ministry of Labor regulations, to monitor hazardous work environments, ensuring the safety and health of faculty, staff, and students. In 2023, a total of 98 laboratories were audited, and 91 hazardous operations were re-identified and assessed. The university's laboratories currently contain 1,497 entries of hazardous chemicals as per Ministry of Labor regulations and 59 types of toxic and concerned chemical substances as regulated by the Ministry of Environment, with the chemical control mechanism continuously in operation.