Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) reinforces its role as a Conservation University through the issuance of Circular Letter No. B/28401/UN37/RT.02/2024 on the Obligation of Recycling Waste within the UNNES Environment. This circular establishes a clear and measurable policy for waste disposal, segregation, and recycling, aiming to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and to strengthen environmental sustainability across all faculties and units.
The policy requires every academic and administrative unit to classify waste into organic, inorganic, and B3 (hazardous and toxic materials) categories. Each unit must also ensure proper waste sorting, monitoring, and reporting to the Conservation Development Unit, which oversees campus-wide sustainability implementation. Organic waste—including leaves, grass, and food residues—is collected daily and transported to the Integrated Waste Management Site (TPST), the center of UNNES’s waste processing system.
The TPST UNNES, located in Gang Ki Ageng Gribik, Sekaran, Gunungpati, serves as the heart of UNNES’s circular waste economy. Managed by the UNNES Conservation Development Unit, this facility processes organic waste into compost and Black Soldier Fly (BSF) maggot feed, providing an innovative model that converts waste into valuable products. Compost produced at the TPST is packaged and distributed for both campus landscaping and public sale, while maggots are cultivated as protein-rich animal feed and marketed to surrounding areas such as Semarang, Kendal, and Salatiga.
Beyond organic waste processing, the TPST also supports waste recycling programs by partnering with local waste banks and recycling vendors to handle inorganic materials such as paper, plastic, and bottles. The process includes waste weighing, data recording, and analysis to evaluate the reduction in waste volume sent to landfills. These metrics are then compiled into periodic reports, allowing UNNES to measure and monitor recycling performance quantitatively.
The policy also integrates the 3R principles (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) across all university activities. Faculties are required to minimize the use of single-use plastics, reuse office materials, and encourage eco-friendly alternatives during meetings and events. Students are actively involved through campus-wide clean-up campaigns, environmental education, and community engagement programs that extend sustainable waste management practices to nearby neighborhoods.
According to Prof. Heri Yanto, M.B.A., Ph.D., Vice Rector for Planning, General Affairs, Human Resources, and Finance, the implementation of this policy and TPST operations “reflect UNNES’s serious commitment to sustainability and accountability in managing waste. Every kilogram of waste is now tracked, processed, and optimized to ensure minimal environmental impact.”
Through the synergy between the Circular Letter on Waste Recycling and the TPST innovation, UNNES has successfully transformed waste management into a comprehensive, data-driven, and value-generating system. This integrated approach not only reduces landfill dependence but also supports the university’s long-term mission of achieving a zero-waste campus, reinforcing its position as a national model for higher education institutions committed to conservation and sustainable development.
