1. Preamble
Kalinga University is committed to reducing plastic consumption and plastic waste generation as part of its commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible consumption and production. The University recognizes that plastic pollution can persist in the environment, contribute to land and water pollution, and place pressure on waste-management systems. Plastic waste reduction therefore requires action across procurement, consumption, reuse, segregation, collection, recycling and environmentally sound disposal.
The University shall adopt a prevention-first and circular approach, prioritizing avoidance and reduction of unnecessary plastic use, followed by reuse, recovery and recycling wherever feasible. This Policy applies to academic, administrative, residential, food-service, event, construction, maintenance and other campus activities and is intended to guide students, faculty, staff, vendors, contractors and service providers.
2. Principles
The Policy is guided by the following principles:
- Prevention First – Avoid unnecessary plastic before considering end-of-life management.
- Reduction and Reuse – Reduce consumption and promote durable, reusable alternatives.
- Circularity – Promote collection, segregation, recycling and recovery of plastic materials wherever feasible.
- Sustainable Procurement – Consider plastic content, packaging, reusability and recyclability in purchasing decisions.
- Source Segregation – Segregate plastic waste at source and prevent contamination with other waste streams.
- No Littering or Open Burning – Plastic waste shall not be littered, dumped or openly burned on campus.
- Legal Compliance – Campus practices shall comply with applicable plastic-waste and environmental requirements.
- Education and Participation – Promote awareness and active participation of the University community.
- Continuous Improvement – Periodically measure plastic use and improve reduction measures.
3. Objectives
The objectives of this Policy are to:
- Minimize the consumption and generation of plastic waste across the University campus.
- Reduce unnecessary single-use and disposable plastic items.
- Promote reusable, refillable, recyclable and environmentally preferable alternatives where feasible.
- Establish sustainable procurement requirements for plastic products and packaging.
- Strengthen source segregation, collection, storage, recycling and responsible disposal of plastic waste.
- Prevent plastic litter from entering drains, soil, water bodies and surrounding environments.
- Reduce plastic waste generated by canteens, cafeterias, events, offices, hostels and campus activities.
- Encourage vendors, contractors and service providers to adopt plastic-reduction measures.
- Promote awareness, research, innovation and student participation in plastic-waste reduction.
- Maintain measurable evidence of plastic-reduction initiatives for institutional sustainability and SDG reporting.
4. Guidelines
4.1 Reduction of Single-Use Plastic
- The University shall progressively reduce unnecessary single-use plastic items in campus operations, events and food services.
- Plastic cups, plates, cutlery, straws, stirrers, bottles, bags, decorations and other avoidable single-use items should be minimized and replaced with reusable or appropriate alternatives wherever feasible.
- Departments and event organizers shall promote reusable service ware and refill systems for drinking water wherever practicable.
- Where alternatives are unavailable or unsuitable, procurement shall consider the lowest practical plastic footprint while meeting safety, hygiene and operational requirements.
4.2 Sustainable Procurement
- Procurement processes shall consider the necessity, durability, reusability, recyclability and packaging associated with plastic products.
- Preference may be given to products with minimal packaging, recycled content, reusable design or established recycling pathways, subject to applicable standards.
- Vendors shall be encouraged to reduce unnecessary secondary and tertiary plastic packaging.
- Procurement specifications may include plastic-reduction requirements for office supplies, cleaning products, food services, events and other relevant categories.
4.3 Plastic-Free and Low-Plastic Campus Practices
- The University shall encourage plastic-reduced practices in offices, classrooms, laboratories, hostels, canteens and common areas.
- Reusable bottles, containers, bags and service items shall be encouraged.
- Water-refill stations may be provided or expanded to reduce dependence on packaged drinking water where feasible.
- Departments shall avoid unnecessary plastic-based promotional materials and prefer reusable or durable signage for recurring events.
4.4 Food Services and Events
- Mess, canteen, cafeteria and catering providers shall be encouraged to minimize disposable plastic packaging and service items.
- Reusable or appropriate non-plastic alternatives should be preferred for dine-in services where hygiene and operational requirements permit.
- Event organizers shall incorporate plastic-reduction requirements into event planning and vendor arrangements.
- Food-service providers shall segregate plastic waste generated through their operations and ensure appropriate channelization.
4.5 Segregation, Collection and Recycling
- Plastic waste shall be segregated at source and placed in designated collection systems.
- Recyclable plastic shall be channelized to authorized or appropriate recyclers or waste processors in accordance with applicable requirements.
- Plastic waste shall not be mixed unnecessarily with biodegradable waste or hazardous waste.
- Collection and storage areas shall be managed to prevent litter, leakage and dispersal of plastic waste.
- Where relevant, the University shall maintain records of quantities collected, recycled or otherwise managed.
4.6 Prevention of Littering and Open Burning
- Plastic waste shall not be littered in classrooms, gardens, roads, drains, open areas or water pathways.
- Open burning of plastic waste on campus is prohibited.
- Cleaning and maintenance teams shall promptly remove plastic litter from campus areas and drainage systems.
- Repeated or intentional improper disposal may invite corrective or disciplinary action under university rules.
4.7 Vendor and Contractor Responsibilities
- Contracts and service agreements may incorporate requirements for minimizing plastic use and managing plastic waste.
- Vendors and contractors shall comply with university waste-segregation requirements and applicable environmental regulations.
- Suppliers may be required to provide information regarding packaging, take-back arrangements or recycling pathways where relevant.
- Construction and maintenance contractors shall prevent plastic packaging, debris and other plastic waste from being dispersed on campus.
4.8 Awareness and Behavioral Change
- The University shall organize awareness campaigns, lectures, workshops, competitions, exhibitions and clean-up activities related to plastic-waste reduction.
- Students, faculty, staff and visitors shall be encouraged to adopt reusable and low-plastic practices.
- Plastic-free or low-plastic days, campaigns and departmental initiatives may be organized periodically.
- Relevant environmental observances, including World Environment Day and World Cleanup Day, may be used for awareness and engagement.
4.9 Research and Academic Integration
- Faculty members and students shall be encouraged to undertake research on plastic consumption, waste reduction, recycling, microplastics, circular economy and alternatives to single-use plastics.
- Relevant topics may be integrated into teaching, fieldwork, dissertations, projects and interdisciplinary activities.
- The University may support campus-based plastic audits, waste characterization studies and innovation projects.
- Research findings may be considered in improving institutional plastic-reduction practices.
4.10 Documentation and Plastic Audits
- Where feasible, the University shall conduct periodic assessments of major sources of plastic consumption and plastic waste.
- Departments and service providers may be asked to provide information on plastic procurement and waste generation for institutional assessment.
- Progress on plastic reduction, recycling and awareness activities shall be documented.
- Relevant evidence shall support annual environmental, sustainability and SDG reporting.
5. Teacher–Student Participation
Faculty members shall:
- Encourage students to participate in plastic-reduction and waste-management initiatives.
- Integrate plastic pollution, circular economy and responsible consumption into relevant teaching and practical courses.
- Supervise student research, audits and projects related to plastic reduction and recycling.
- Promote low-plastic practices during academic activities and events.
Students shall:
- Use reusable bottles, bags and containers wherever practicable.
- Segregate plastic waste and use designated collection systems.
- Avoid littering and unnecessary single-use plastic consumption.
- Participate in awareness campaigns, plastic audits, clean-ups and research initiatives.
- Report improper disposal or open burning of plastic waste.
6. Monitoring and Review
- Conduct periodic plastic-waste or resource-use audits where feasible.
- Monitor major sources of single-use plastic consumption across campus.
- Review plastic-reduction measures implemented by food-service providers, vendors and contractors.
- Monitor collection and recycling or authorized processing of segregated plastic waste.
- Track awareness activities, participation and measurable reduction initiatives.
- Maintain appropriate records of plastic procurement, waste generation and management where practicable.
- Incorporate relevant progress into annual environmental, sustainability and SDG documentation.
- Review this Policy every three years or earlier if required by changes in legislation, institutional priorities or environmental conditions.
7. Accountability and Transparency
- The Estate Office, Procurement/Administration, Environmental Committee, Green Campus Committee, food-service management and other relevant University units shall jointly support implementation.
- All departments, service providers, vendors and contractors shall comply with applicable University plastic-waste requirements.
- Records of plastic-reduction initiatives, waste audits, recycling and awareness programmes shall be maintained in digital or appropriate institutional form.
- Plastic-reduction targets or progress indicators may be incorporated into annual environmental and sustainability reporting.
- The University may make this Policy and appropriate evidence of implementation publicly accessible through its official sustainability or institutional reporting platforms.
- Non-compliance, including littering or unauthorized open burning of plastic waste, may invite corrective or disciplinary action in accordance with university rules.
8. Approval and Implementation
This Policy on Plastic Waste Reduction shall come into effect from the date of approval by the competent authority of Kalinga University, Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The Policy shall apply to all students, faculty members, researchers, staff, contractors, vendors, food-service providers, visitors and other stakeholders associated with the University.
The Policy shall be implemented through the University's existing procurement, estate management, waste-management, environmental sustainability and campus operations mechanisms. It shall be aligned with applicable Indian environmental laws and rules, including the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and subsequent amendments, as applicable. The Indian framework places emphasis on minimizing plastic generation, source segregation, recycling and environmentally sound management.
