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S. L. Galván et al.
at the UNGS were adequate to allocate the resources, always scarce, to the areas
where it is feasible to improve the environmental performance more quickly. This
way of evaluating the amount and composition of the waste allows distinguishing its
spatial variation (Felder and Petrell 2001) and understanding the mechanisms and
behaviors of waste generation (Baldwin and Dripps 2012; Aderina et al. 2017).
In relation to the destination of the recyclable waste separated by the implementation of the SWMP, an interesting approach is that of the UM, where its recycling
potential was determined in the region where the campus is located, i.e. the percentage of waste for which there is a recycling market, because some recyclable waste
does not have a local market and transport costs are high.
This approach is interesting because, although from the physical, chemical or
biological point of view most of the materials can be recycled or composted, they
may not be so from the economic or technical point of view. Likewise, estimating the
percentage composition in volume of the waste generated is valuable information to
know the particular management needs of each program (Baldwin and Dripps 2012),
for example, to determine the space needed for storage and/or number of trash cans
that need to be installed.
In the implementation of the SWMPs, the designation of specific areas and the
allocation of human and financial resources are also important, as in the cases of
the UM and UCh, which have specific areas, and the UA, which has designated
personnel. In contrast, the UNGS has no resources allocated to its program. This
coincides with the findings of Aleixo et al. (2018a), who suggested that the lack of
management and staff support is one of the barriers or obstacles to sustainability in
HEIs.
Regarding the dissemination activities, these should also be appropriate for the
specific public, taking into account that HEIs should allow non-formal education
for sustainability (Aleixo et al. 2018b). The continuity of the initiatives should be
guaranteed with a clear and transparent framework, with a defined long-term environmental plan for their institutionalization and with the support of the authorities
to achieve the success of the projects (Zhang et al. 2011; Lozano 2006).
Despite the efforts of the UNGS in this regard, the results of the implementation of the communication indicator showed that the institution has shortcomings
in communication as compared with the UA, UCh and UM. Both the UA and UM,
in addition to activities to exchange experiences and mass communication activities
by different means, train staff and users continuously, which is relatively accessible when counting on the appropriate institutional support. So, and in line with that
reported by Leal Filho et al. (2015) and Aleixo et al. (2018b), the barriers to overcome during the process of “greening campus” are mainly budgetary, added to the
ignorance of how to carry out the process and resistance to institutionalization.
Regarding the dissemination of the results of the SWMP, the case of the UA stands
out, because it is an institution that publicly reports all the activities carried out in
the framework of the project, from the number of items purchased (trash cans, waste
bags) to the number of talks and/or workshops given.
S. L. Galván et al.
at the UNGS were adequate to allocate the resources, always scarce, to the areas
where it is feasible to improve the environmental performance more quickly. This
way of evaluating the amount and composition of the waste allows distinguishing its
spatial variation (Felder and Petrell 2001) and understanding the mechanisms and
behaviors of waste generation (Baldwin and Dripps 2012; Aderina et al. 2017).
In relation to the destination of the recyclable waste separated by the implementation of the SWMP, an interesting approach is that of the UM, where its recycling
potential was determined in the region where the campus is located, i.e. the percentage of waste for which there is a recycling market, because some recyclable waste
does not have a local market and transport costs are high.
This approach is interesting because, although from the physical, chemical or
biological point of view most of the materials can be recycled or composted, they
may not be so from the economic or technical point of view. Likewise, estimating the
percentage composition in volume of the waste generated is valuable information to
know the particular management needs of each program (Baldwin and Dripps 2012),
for example, to determine the space needed for storage and/or number of trash cans
that need to be installed.
In the implementation of the SWMPs, the designation of specific areas and the
allocation of human and financial resources are also important, as in the cases of
the UM and UCh, which have specific areas, and the UA, which has designated
personnel. In contrast, the UNGS has no resources allocated to its program. This
coincides with the findings of Aleixo et al. (2018a), who suggested that the lack of
management and staff support is one of the barriers or obstacles to sustainability in
HEIs.
Regarding the dissemination activities, these should also be appropriate for the
specific public, taking into account that HEIs should allow non-formal education
for sustainability (Aleixo et al. 2018b). The continuity of the initiatives should be
guaranteed with a clear and transparent framework, with a defined long-term environmental plan for their institutionalization and with the support of the authorities
to achieve the success of the projects (Zhang et al. 2011; Lozano 2006).
Despite the efforts of the UNGS in this regard, the results of the implementation of the communication indicator showed that the institution has shortcomings
in communication as compared with the UA, UCh and UM. Both the UA and UM,
in addition to activities to exchange experiences and mass communication activities
by different means, train staff and users continuously, which is relatively accessible when counting on the appropriate institutional support. So, and in line with that
reported by Leal Filho et al. (2015) and Aleixo et al. (2018b), the barriers to overcome during the process of “greening campus” are mainly budgetary, added to the
ignorance of how to carry out the process and resistance to institutionalization.
Regarding the dissemination of the results of the SWMP, the case of the UA stands
out, because it is an institution that publicly reports all the activities carried out in
the framework of the project, from the number of items purchased (trash cans, waste
bags) to the number of talks and/or workshops given.