The Study of waste management of the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Mahidol University

Abstract

The study of waste management of the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Mahidol University aimed to 1) examine the amount of waste and the incidence of incorrect waste disposal, 2) assess the impact of knowledge and understanding on waste segregation, and 3) propose ways to improve waste management efficiency. Data on waste volume and incorrect disposal were collected from all trash bins of the faculty during 2021-2023. An online questionnaire with 10 questions was used to measure understanding of waste segregation in July 2023, targeting a randomly selected sample of 18 students, 18 staff members, and 12 employees.The results found that: 1) In 2021, the total weight of waste was 2,324 kilograms with 1,168 instances of incorrect disposal; in 2022, the weight was 14,284 kilograms with 1,266 incorrect disposals; and in 2023, the weight was 17,546 kilograms with 1,986 incorrect disposals. The recyclable waste amounted to 26 kilograms in 2021, 190 kilograms in 2022, and 756 kilograms in 2023, constituting 1.12%, 1.33%, and 4.31% of the total waste respectively. 2) Regarding knowledge and understanding, 74.38% of the respondents demonstrated adequate knowledge of waste segregation, meeting the set target. 3) The proposed strategies for more efficient waste management include integrating with the technology department to develop applications, using social media to disseminate information, and creating value from segregated recyclable waste. This study aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12, specifically target 12.5, which focuses on reducing waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.