1. Purpose
Kalinga University is committed to promoting sustainable consumption and reducing plastic pollution in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. The purpose of this policy is to minimize the use and generation of plastic waste across the University campus by encouraging reusable, recyclable, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly alternatives.
This policy aims to reduce the University's environmental footprint, minimize dependence on single-use plastics, promote responsible resource utilization, and foster a culture of sustainable plastic-use practices among students, faculty, staff, service providers, vendors, contractors, and visitors.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all academic departments, administrative offices, laboratories, libraries, hostels, cafeterias, guest houses, event venues, residential facilities, gardens, and all other University facilities.
It is applicable to students, faculty members, administrative staff, contractual employees, housekeeping personnel, vendors, service providers, contractors, and visitors participating in University activities.
3. Policy Objectives
The University shall strive to:
- Minimize the procurement and use of single-use plastic items across the campus.
- Reduce plastic waste generation at the source.
- Encourage reusable, durable, recyclable, and biodegradable alternatives.
- Promote responsible and environmentally sustainable procurement.
- Encourage proper segregation and recycling of plastic waste.
- Reduce unnecessary plastic packaging in campus operations.
- Promote plastic-free and low-plastic practices during University events and activities.
- Increase awareness regarding the environmental impacts of plastic pollution.
- Encourage students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders to adopt sustainable consumption practices.
- Support national environmental initiatives and contribute towards achieving SDG 12.
4. Policy Guidelines
4.1 Reduction of Single-Use Plastics
- The use of single-use plastic bags, plastic cutlery, plastic straws, disposable plastic cups, plates, stirrers, and similar products shall be discouraged throughout the University.
- Reusable alternatives shall be promoted wherever practical.
- Departments and administrative units shall minimize the use of unnecessary plastic materials in routine activities.
- Students, faculty, staff, and visitors shall be encouraged to avoid single-use plastic products.
4.2 Reusable Alternatives
- Reusable water bottles, cups, containers, bags, and other durable alternatives shall be encouraged.
- Water dispensers and refill facilities shall be promoted wherever feasible to reduce dependence on disposable plastic bottles.
- Reusable materials shall be preferred for meetings, conferences, workshops, and other University activities.
4.3 Sustainable Procurement
- Preference shall be given to products that are reusable, recyclable, biodegradable, or made from recycled materials.
- Procurement committees shall consider plastic content and packaging while evaluating products and suppliers.
- Excessive and unnecessary plastic packaging shall be avoided wherever feasible.
- Suppliers and vendors shall be encouraged to provide environmentally responsible alternatives.
4.4 Meetings, Conferences and Events
- University events shall minimize the use of single-use plastic materials.
- Reusable crockery, steel or ceramic cups, glass bottles, water dispensers, and reusable serving materials shall be encouraged.
- Event organizers shall avoid unnecessary plastic decorations and disposable materials.
- Digital communication and registration materials shall be encouraged to reduce associated plastic and paper consumption.
4.5 Campus Food Services
- Cafeterias and food vendors operating within the campus shall be encouraged to minimize plastic packaging.
- Reusable or biodegradable serving materials shall be preferred wherever feasible.
- Plastic carry bags, disposable plastic cutlery, cups, straws, and other unnecessary plastic items shall be discouraged.
- Vendors shall gradually reduce unnecessary plastic packaging and adopt environmentally friendly alternatives.
4.6 Plastic Waste Segregation
- Plastic waste shall be segregated from biodegradable and other waste streams at the point of generation.
- Clearly labelled waste collection bins shall be provided at appropriate locations.
- Recyclable plastic waste shall be collected separately and channelized to authorized recycling agencies wherever feasible.
- Mixing of plastic waste with biodegradable waste shall be discouraged.
4.7 Recycling and Resource Recovery
- The University shall promote recycling and recovery of recyclable plastic materials.
- Departments shall encourage reuse of plastic materials wherever safe and practical.
- Plastic waste that cannot be reused shall be appropriately collected and channelized for recycling or authorized disposal.
- Open burning or dumping of plastic waste within the University premises shall not be permitted.
4.8 Plastic-Free Campus Practices
- Departments shall identify activities where plastic use can be eliminated or reduced.
- Plastic-free alternatives shall be encouraged for office activities, academic programmes, events, and campus services.
- Students and staff shall be encouraged to carry reusable bags, bottles, and containers.
- Awareness signage may be displayed at appropriate locations to encourage responsible plastic-use practices.
4.9 Awareness and Capacity Building
- The University shall organize awareness programmes, workshops, campaigns, exhibitions, competitions, and student-led initiatives to promote plastic-use minimization.
- Information regarding this policy shall be disseminated through orientation programmes, notice boards, websites, and other appropriate communication platforms.
- Environmental awareness activities shall highlight the importance of reducing plastic consumption, reuse, recycling, and responsible disposal.
5. Responsibilities
5.1 University Administration
- Approve and periodically review this policy.
- Allocate necessary resources for effective implementation.
- Promote institutional measures for reducing plastic consumption and plastic waste.
5.2 Purchase and Procurement Committee
- Ensure environmentally responsible procurement practices.
- Give preference to reusable, recyclable, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly alternatives.
- Consider plastic content and packaging while evaluating products and suppliers.
5.3 Heads of Departments and Administrative Units
- Implement the policy within their respective departments and administrative units.
- Monitor plastic-use practices and encourage reduction at source.
- Ensure appropriate segregation and collection of plastic waste.
5.4 Faculty, Staff and Students
- Minimize the use of single-use plastic products.
- Adopt reusable alternatives whenever possible.
- Properly segregate plastic waste.
- Participate actively in plastic-reduction and sustainability initiatives.
- Encourage responsible plastic-use practices among peers and colleagues.
5.5 Housekeeping Staff
- Collect and segregate plastic waste according to designated waste streams.
- Ensure that recyclable plastic waste is not unnecessarily mixed with other waste.
- Maintain cleanliness of plastic-waste collection areas.
- Support the implementation of campus plastic-reduction procedures.
5.6 Vendors and Contractors
- Comply with the University's plastic-reduction and sustainability requirements.
- Minimize unnecessary plastic packaging in their products and services.
- Supply environmentally friendly alternatives wherever feasible.
- Cooperate with the University's plastic-waste segregation and recycling initiatives.
6. Monitoring and Compliance
The University shall periodically monitor the implementation of this policy through departmental reviews, procurement records, waste audits, plastic-use assessments, and sustainability evaluations.
The University may assess the consumption of major plastic items and identify opportunities for reducing, replacing, reusing, and recycling plastic materials.
Non-compliance may result in appropriate administrative action or revision of procurement and operational practices in accordance with University regulations.
7. Awareness and Engagement
Kalinga University shall regularly conduct awareness campaigns, training programmes, exhibitions, competitions, and outreach activities to encourage responsible plastic-use practices among all stakeholders.
Departments shall be encouraged to observe relevant environmental events and promote sustainable lifestyle practices, plastic reduction, reuse, recycling, and responsible resource utilization on campus.
Students and faculty members shall be encouraged to participate in plastic-free campus campaigns, cleanliness drives, waste-segregation activities, recycling initiatives, and other sustainability programmes.
8. Policy Review
This policy shall come into effect in 2024 and shall be reviewed every three years, or earlier if required, to incorporate emerging sustainability practices, technological advancements, environmental requirements, and applicable government regulations.
