The campus is a contributor to plastic waste. Referring to research in America, each student produced an average of 640 pounds or 290.56 kg of solid waste each year, including 500 bottles of drinks, 320 pounds or 145.28 kg of paper waste.
In the program titled RecycleMania 2020 competition, there are 300 campuses in America and Canada taking part in the competition to recycle, donate, and process waste. As a result, there were 48.6 million pounds or 22,064,400 kg of waste they re-processed and managed to reduce the use of more than 380 million plastic bottles. In just five weeks, from February 2 to March 7.
There have no data obtained on the amount of waste, especially plastic, from campuses in Indonesia, which is likely to be quite large. Indonesia, according to researcher Jenna Jambeck from the University of Georgia, United States, is the world’s second-largest producer of plastic waste to the sea. China ranks first and the Philippines third.
A large amount of plastic waste from the campus that threatens the environment invited concerns of several students to start a plastic-free movement on campus. The Faculty of Law Universitas Indonesia’s (FH UI) Student Executive Board (BEM) recently released a study welcoming the International Plastic Bag Free Day on July 3.
The study presented the matter of the right to the environment, the regulatory framework for plastic waste, waste problems, alternative approaches to waste management. Also a policy recommendation on reducing plastics at the national level and the University of Indonesia.
“We are pushing to reduce the use of plastics not only in the domestic environment, or in retailers. Also educational institutions, elementary schools to universities. To start implementing the policy of reducing the use of disposable plastics,” said Syaharani, in Bincang Alam, held by Mongabay. July 12th.
Syaharani is the Coordinator of the Political and Social Affairs Division at the BEM Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia in 2020, as well as the author of the study entitled Environmental Disasters: Viewing Disposable Plastic Problems.
Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Kemenristek and Dikti) Mohamad Nasir on June 25 last year signed the Menristekdikti instruction No. 1 / M / INS / 2019 containing a ban on the use of disposable plastic drinking water or plastic bags in the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education. This instruction also applies to the college environment.
From the search, several campuses in Indonesia have recorded a ban on the use of disposable plastic, both from the rector or dean. For example, the University of Lampung through the chancellor’s instruction number 5007 / UN26 / RT / 2019, asked the ranks to limit the use of disposable plastics. Universitas Brawijaya through the chancellor’s instruction Number 1088/2020.
Some student organizations also initiated a movement to reduce the use of disposable plastics. At Airlangga University, Surabaya, the BEM Faculty of Economics and Business introduces the work program of Ijo Royo-royo. Their actions included providing a “People’s Gallon.” gallons of refill drinking water. Students who need enough drinking water to fill in the tumbler. That way, reduce the use of disposable plastic from bottled mineral water.
To utilize plastic waste, UGM students created a tool that was able to turn plastic waste into fuel. Yanditya Affan and Refandy Dwi Darmawan, developed a pyrolysis device, heating plastics without oxygen at a certain temperature. Drops of oil for fuel come as a result.
In 2010, the University of Indonesia established the UI GreenMetric, a ranking effort on the university’s commitment and actions towards greening and the environment. In 2018, there were 719 universities participating, from 81 countries. At least, there are 30 indicators assessing how green a campus is.
In the 2019 ranking released last December, the top five green campuses in Indonesia, University of Indonesia ranked first, followed by the Bogor Agricultural University, Gajah Mada University, Diponegoro University, and the Ten November Institute of Technology.
For the world, the first place is Wageningen University and Research (Netherlands), followed by the University of Oxford (England), University California Davis (United States), University of Nottingham (England), and Nottingham Trent University (England).
The source of the disaster
Syaharani said, the reason why we had to leave disposable plastic, was not only difficult to decompose, but also pollutants.
“Plastics have very long carbon sequences that are very difficult to decompose. If we throw away plastic today, even though we have changed generations, we have children and grandchildren, the garbage can still remain in the same form. It’s still the same garbage as when it was dumped today,” she said.
Starting from the manufacturing process until after use, in every plastic process always causes pollution or environmental pollution. Moreover, plastic is made from fossil fuels.
“The more often we use plastic, we also contribute to climate change.”
Even if decomposed, plastic will only be smaller or microplastic. In the ocean, microplastics can be eaten by fish or birds. Microplastic has the potential to be toxic and can be left behind in humans because it is in the highest food chain.
“Recycling can also be done through incineration, but that is actually damaging because it produces pollution. Also produces ash which is a B3 material. It will be toxic and dangerous if inhaled by humans.” Burning waste, she said, also releases carbon, and contributes to emissions that accelerate climate change.
Plastic on campus, she said, was used for various purposes, ranging from making activity banners, bottles or beverage packaging along with straws, as well as snacks. When students buy something in the canteen there is often a plastic bag container.
Normative
Universita Indonesia, she said, had already enacted the rules for the reduction of disposable plastics and paper through the UI Chancellor’s Decree Number 1308 in 2011 about the policy of reducing the use of paper and plastic in the past.
“But the fact is still at the normative level. There is no implementation on how UI will reduce the use of plastic on campus. This decree itself has not been widely applied in faculties. Still a little. “
She observes, only two faculties namely FEB and Pharmacy have implemented the regulation. Although there is a ban on the use of plastic in FEB UI, Syaharani observed that the use of plastic is still on campus.
“They indeed forbid the use of plastic. In practice there are still like plastic straws, because they are still provided by traders. Students also still have no awareness of reducing the use of disposable plastic. “
Together with the BEM FH UI Study Team, Syaharani also offered a number of recommendations to both stakeholders and students.
The recommendations include the need for clarity of mechanisms and supervision related to the prohibition of disposable plastics, including vendors and ventures.
Roadmap
Regarding the implementation of the minimal reduction in disposable plastics, Syaharani and the team considered, there needs to be a supervisory unit. The team also encouraged the university to provide incentives for vendors and ventures working with universities not to use disposable plastic.
“This incentive can be given by universities. The goal, change behavior. Both students, vendors, or the community within the university. “
Building the system, according to Syaharani, can improve the sorting and waste management system. This is also related to education on how to respond to disposable plastic waste.
“In fact, almost all faculties have trash bins in UI. Only the waste management system in faculties and universities is still far from good words. “
For this reason, she said, a roadmap was needed to achieve plastic-free on a scale and planned campus. Several phases or stages can start with the reduction of plastic straws first. Next, the ban on packaging and plastic cups. Then, do not use plastic at all, both in official academic activities and student affairs.
Improvement of the system in waste management is considered to encourage the habit of not using plastic in campus activities. Including improving waste management, sorting, collecting, and educating waste recycling.
“Plastic recycling will not be effective if the supply or use of plastic continues to increase. After having an effective recycling system, the amount of plastic-handled as much as possible remains. “
Source: https://www.mongabay.co.id/2020/07/21/kampus-sumber-sahah-plastik-syaharani-bagi-ways-cope/
