Waste management and plastic reduction at UPES

SegregationColour-coded bins for four waste streams

E-wasteLicensed recyclers, stored up to 180 days

PlasticsSingle-use plastics phased out

RecordsMonthly waste records by stream

Overview

UPES runs a structured waste management system on both campuses, so that waste is segregated at source, stored safely, recycled or composted where possible and disposed of through authorised agencies. An action plan and an advisory on disposable items set out how the university is phasing out single-use plastics.

Segregation at source

Colour-coded bins: green for biodegradable waste, blue for non-degradable waste such as paper, metal and glass, white for plastic waste and black for domestic hazardous waste such as batteries and expired medicines.
Segregation at source is mandatory for everyone who generates waste, sanitary waste is wrapped before disposal, and construction and demolition waste is stored separately.
There are designated areas for construction and demolition waste, e-waste and battery waste.

Storage, recycling and disposal

Waste is stored in ventilated, clean areas with protective equipment, handwashing stations, drainage and CCTV monitoring.
E-waste is stored for no more than 180 days and hazardous waste for no more than 90 days before it is handed to licensed vendors.
Biodegradable waste is composted on site or processed through authorised vendors, and non-degradable and plastic waste is recycled through authorised recycling partners.
Detailed records of waste quantities are kept for tracking and compliance.

Cutting single-use plastics

Plastic straws, stirrers, cups, carry bags and polythene wrappers have been restricted in dining halls, cafes and vending outlets, with biodegradable or compostable alternatives in their place.
Students and staff are encouraged to carry reusable bottles, mugs and containers, water refill stations are provided across campus, and glass bottles are used in meeting rooms.
Purchasing favours vendors that use minimal or recyclable packaging, and departments are asked to avoid over-packaged or single-use plastic items.
Awareness campaigns, workshops and student-led drives, with student representation on green committees, help change habits.

Waste records, Bidholi campus

Monthly records of waste collected on the Bidholi campus, by stream (kg).

Year	Non-degradable	Biodegradable	Food waste	Total
April 2022 – March 2023	22,109	10,222	5,449	37,780
April 2023 – March 2024	32,499	15,878	6,954	55,331

Photographs

A Plastic Free Campus sign on the UPES campus — A Plastic Free Campus sign.

Glass water bottles on the table of a UPES meeting room on the Kandoli campus — Glass bottles instead of plastic in a meeting room, Kandoli campus.

Reusable glass water bottles at UPES — Reusable glass water bottles.

An e-waste manifest (Form 6) for UPES e-waste handed to Bharat Oil and Waste Management Ltd, April 2023 — An e-waste manifest (Form 6) for e-waste handed to an authorised recycler, April 2023.

Source: records of the UPES Administration and Technical Services departments.