Comparative Analysis
of the Environmental Performance
of Latin American University Campuses:
Methodological Approaches
S. L. Galván, N. G. Faitani, L. V. Sosa, D. N. Lopez de Munain
and R. O. Bielsa
Abstract Latin America has megacities and therefore its higher education
institutions are challenged to teach and research about sustainable development
in very unsustainable contexts such as solid waste management problems. One of
the aspects of sustainable development in university campuses is the sustainability in campus operations. Regarding this issue, solid waste management programs
(SWMPs) are useful tools that show immediate effects. This chapter presents both
a comparative analysis of the environmental performance of Latin American campuses and the monitoring of a particular SWMP by applying case study methodology.
This SWMP was implemented at the campus of the Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento, Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2013, and monitored for three years.
Results showed lack of community participation. This encouraged us to research
new strategies and compare this SWMP with other cases in Latin America by using
an environmental performance indicator for each university studied. Results showed
that the program should be institutionalized, since this would enable the allowance
of human and financial resources. Results also showed that communication plans
are also relevant tools to improve users’ participation. Although these factors were
recognized as necessary, they did not guarantee SWMP success because of the poorly
structured facilities, limited financial resources and barriers that had to be overcome
at individual level.
Keywords Sustainable development · Waste management programs ·
Environmental indicators · Higher education institutions · Latin America · Case
study
S. L. Galván · N. G. Faitani · L. V. Sosa · D. N. Lopez de Munain · R. O. Bielsa (B)
Instituto del Conurbano, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento, J.M. Gutierrez 1150,
1613 Los Polvorines, Buenos Aires, Argentina
e-mail: rbielsa@ungs.edu.ar
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development,
World Sustainability Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15604-6_43
717
of the Environmental Performance
of Latin American University Campuses:
Methodological Approaches
S. L. Galván, N. G. Faitani, L. V. Sosa, D. N. Lopez de Munain
and R. O. Bielsa
Abstract Latin America has megacities and therefore its higher education
institutions are challenged to teach and research about sustainable development
in very unsustainable contexts such as solid waste management problems. One of
the aspects of sustainable development in university campuses is the sustainability in campus operations. Regarding this issue, solid waste management programs
(SWMPs) are useful tools that show immediate effects. This chapter presents both
a comparative analysis of the environmental performance of Latin American campuses and the monitoring of a particular SWMP by applying case study methodology.
This SWMP was implemented at the campus of the Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento, Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2013, and monitored for three years.
Results showed lack of community participation. This encouraged us to research
new strategies and compare this SWMP with other cases in Latin America by using
an environmental performance indicator for each university studied. Results showed
that the program should be institutionalized, since this would enable the allowance
of human and financial resources. Results also showed that communication plans
are also relevant tools to improve users’ participation. Although these factors were
recognized as necessary, they did not guarantee SWMP success because of the poorly
structured facilities, limited financial resources and barriers that had to be overcome
at individual level.
Keywords Sustainable development · Waste management programs ·
Environmental indicators · Higher education institutions · Latin America · Case
study
S. L. Galván · N. G. Faitani · L. V. Sosa · D. N. Lopez de Munain · R. O. Bielsa (B)
Instituto del Conurbano, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento, J.M. Gutierrez 1150,
1613 Los Polvorines, Buenos Aires, Argentina
e-mail: rbielsa@ungs.edu.ar
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development,
World Sustainability Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15604-6_43
717