UNNES Reduces Plastic Waste by 12.87 Tons in 2025 through Integrated Waste Management and Recycling at TPST
SEMARANG – Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) continues to strengthen its commitment to environmental sustainability through systematic plastic waste management at its Integrated Waste Processing Facility (Tempat Pengolahan Sampah Terpadu or TPST). In 2025, UNNES recorded 28.62 tons of plastic waste, consisting of 1.73 tons of hard plastic and 26.89 tons of soft plastic. This represents a reduction of 12.87 tons, or approximately 31.02 percent, compared with the 41.49 tons of plastic waste recorded in 2024.
The reduction reflects progress in the university’s efforts to minimize single-use plastic consumption, improve waste segregation, and strengthen recycling practices across campus.
Plastic Waste Collection and Processing at TPST
Plastic waste generated from academic buildings, administrative offices, canteens, and other university facilities is collected and transported to the TPST for sorting, weighing, recording, and further processing.
In 2025, UNNES recorded 1.73 tons of hard plastic waste. Materials with high economic value were separated and sold to third-party recycling businesses, allowing reusable resources to enter recycling supply chains. Hard plastic materials unsuitable for recycling were separated for residual waste treatment.
Meanwhile, 26.89 tons of soft plastic waste were generated, primarily from single-use food and beverage packaging consumed by the university’s academic community. Most recyclable soft plastics were shredded into smaller pieces and prepared as marketable raw materials for plastic recycling industries. Materials that could not be recovered were directed to residual waste management. Through these activities, UNNES promotes material recovery while reducing the quantity of plastic waste requiring final treatment.
Strengthening Waste Processing Infrastructure in 2025
An important development in the university’s waste management programme was the inauguration of its expanded Integrated Waste Processing Facility on 24 February 2025. The facility’s area increased from 940 square meters to 1,540 square meters, providing additional space to support waste processing activities and more systematic resource management.
The expanded TPST also serves as an educational facility for environmental research, student internships, and practical learning on sustainable waste management.
The development reinforces UNNES’s commitment to improving waste management infrastructure and supporting circular economy practices within its campus environment.
Reducing Plastic Waste through Institutional Policies
The university first introduced Rector’s Regulation No. 21 of 2019 concerning the Prohibition of Single-Use Plastics. This policy established an institutional foundation for reducing disposable plastic consumption and encouraging reusable alternatives. The policy was subsequently strengthened through Rector’s Regulation No. 125 of 2024, which replaced the 2019 regulation and expanded the university’s efforts to restrict single-use plastic products, including plastic bottles, shopping bags, food packaging, and disposable utensils.
These institutional measures encourage students, lecturers, administrative staff, campus vendors, and visitors to reduce disposable plastic consumption and adopt more sustainable alternatives. Together with improved waste segregation and recycling practices, the policies support the university’s efforts to reduce plastic waste generation.
Supporting Circular Economy and Sustainable Campus Development
The management of plastic waste at TPST demonstrates UNNES’s efforts to integrate environmental conservation with resource recovery and responsible waste treatment. By separating economically valuable plastic materials, processing recyclable plastics into marketable raw materials, and monitoring residual waste, UNNES promotes a circular approach to managing inorganic waste. The reduction of plastic waste from 41.49 tons in 2024 to 28.62 tons in 2025 represents measurable progress in reducing the quantity of disposable materials entering the campus waste management system.
Through institutional regulations, expanded waste processing facilities, and continuous monitoring, UNNES reinforces its identity as a Conservation University and supports Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), particularly efforts to reduce waste generation and promote recycling and sustainable resource management.