Enhancing Green University Practices Through Effective Plastic Waste Management Strategies

Abstract

Plastic pollution has emerged as a major environmental and public health concern, particularly in the institutional settings where single-use plastics are frequently consumed and improperly discarded. This study investigates the generation, composition and recycling potential of single-use plastic waste across two campuses of Bahria University, H-11 and E-8 in Islamabad. A two-phase Quantification was conducted before and after the implementation of a university-level ban on single-use plastics. The waste was collected over three consecutive days in each phase. It is categorized, weighed, and analyzed to determine per capita waste generation, recyclability and trends in plastic usage. The findings reveal a significant reduction in plastic waste following directive enforcement with the per capita of waste decreasing from 30.94g to 1.8g in H-11 and 1.22g to 1.18g in E-8 campus. The recyclable plastics, particularly PET and HDPE are very dominant, and the non-recyclable items such as Styrofoam and plastic cutlery persisted. The study also evaluated recycling potential revealing that approximately 45% of collected plastic waste could be effectively recycled. These results emphasize the need for continued directive implementation infrastructural support for segregation and recycling. The research also highlights the critical role of sustainable plastic management in advancing green university practices and offers practical recommendations for directive makers, campus administrators and environmental planners. It underscores the importance of multistakeholder engagement in promoting circular economy principles and fostering eco-conscious behavioral change within academic institutions.