WASTE STRATEGIES

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and their waste strategies

Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

Abstract

The Welsh Assembly Government has a firm promise to a Wales-wide scheme for activity on learning for sustainable development and international citizenship. The scheme calls for Higher Education Institutions in Wales not only to integrate sustainability into educating and study undertakings, but furthermore to put these values into perform by minimising their general asset use to sustainable levels. In this context, the study described here considers possibilities for waste minimisation inside Swansea University, in Wales. Research focuses on the viability of decreasing waste from disposable beverages containers through the advancement of a refillable cup scheme. A alternative trial is engaged to work out employees and scholar preferences, and a affirmative answer in the direction of the use of reusable cups is evident. Knowledge is profited as to the centered leverage of economic inducement on the uptake of this ecological action. Results show that waste minimisation design in the pattern of a refillable cup crusade at Swansea University is really viable, and has every promise of verifying thriving if applied under the recommendations of this study.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT2

ABSTRACT3

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION6

Purpose of the Research6

Context of the research9

Focus of the research10

Objective of the Research12

Limitations of the research14

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW16

Methods of waste management17

Hazardous substances associated with waste management18

UK Waste Management20

Environmental Protection Acts21

Waste Strategy23

The role of universities26

Zero Waste Policy30

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY40

Empirical research41

Choice Modeling42

Ratings44

Ranking45

Designing the choice experiment45

CHAPTER 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION53

Survey response53

Choice experiment data analysis53

Direct enquiry results60

Discussion62

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS65

REFERENCES85

Chapter 1: Introduction

Purpose of the Research

There are over 2 million students and approximately 345,000 employees in Higher Education Institutions (HEI5) in the UK (Higher Education Statistics Agency, 2008), and the higher education sector is set to be influential in the drive towards sustainability. This is because of the numbers of participants that are involved in the sector, the influence it has over society in terms of global academic research, communities and learning, as well as impacting the behaviour, attitudes, and knowledge of future influential generations.

A plethora of international agreements and legislation are driving sustainable practices. Many of these have impacts on UK Higher Education Institutions through compliant UK law, and significant management implications relating to the reduction of environmental and social risks. Calls for action specifically within the Higher Education sector have come from a variety of voices, over a period of years. The Talloires Declaration, composed in 1990, and now signed by more than 300 university presidents and chancellors around the world urged universities to strive to help address environmental problems. In the UK, the Toyne Report (Department for Education, 1993) and the UK government response (Department for Education and Employment, 1996) both recommended an environmental responsibility agenda for higher education.

The UK consists of four constituent countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A devolved form of government has been introduced for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, which has transferred ...