Waste Management

WASTE MANAGEMENT

We are firmly committed to sustainability and responsible resource management. For this reason, the Environmental Management team, together with the Circular Economy team, annually establishes objectives and indicators for waste management. In this regard, the 2024/2025 academic year sets the goal of proper segregation of organic waste, plastic, and paper.

Each year, these teams define a communication plan for students and staff, the actions of which are aimed at training and raising awareness.

During the 2024-2025 academic year, we developed several actions focused on proper waste management, raising awareness among the university community, and continuous improvement in our internal practices. These actions have not only marked a milestone in our environmental commitment, but also lay the foundation for further progress during the 2025-2026 academic year.

Urban Waste: Awareness-Raising Actions

Reciclos Campaign – Ecoembes

We participated in the Reciclos campaign, an Ecoembes initiative that promotes the recycling of cans and plastic bottles through an incentive system. This initiative fosters the circular economy and the active participation of the university community in sustainable waste management.

Elimination of Waste Containers in Classrooms

A pilot test was conducted in buildings 6 and 11 with the removal of waste containers from classrooms, with the aim of promoting proper waste separation. The initiative is planned to be expanded to the entire university over the coming academic years.

 

Sustainable Waste Survey

A survey was distributed to the university community to understand perceptions and behaviors regarding waste, communicate the annual impact generated, and gather proposals for waste reduction and improved waste segregation. The results have already been analyzed, and based on these, improvement actions are being defined to strengthen sustainable waste management at the University for the coming academic year.

Sustainable Event – First Lego League (Erronka Garbia)

The University has taken a significant step in its commitment to sustainability by having the First Lego League event obtain the "Erronka Garbia" certification from Ihobe (environmental improvement) as a sustainable event. This distinction, awarded for following strict environmental sustainability criteria, not only recognizes the good practices applied during the event but also reinforces the University's active role in environmental education, social awareness, and reducing the environmental impact of its activities. An achievement that demonstrates how innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand in our university community.

Hazardous Waste: Improving Management in Workshops

  • Replacing Impregnated Paper with Rags:In one of the University buildings, reusable rags from the MEWA system have been implemented to replace disposable paper impregnated with cutting fluid. This initiative contributes to the reduction of hazardous waste, promoting more sustainable practices in our academic and technical activities.
  • Cutting Fluid Filtering and Scrap Separation: In some workshops, improvements in waste management have been implemented through cutting fluid filtering systems and improved segregation of metal scrap. This is planned for all workshops next year.

Beyond Common Waste

In addition to everyday waste related to the University's activities (teaching and research), other types of waste are generated, classified as hazardous and non-hazardous.

All waste is managed by authorized waste managers, and the University promotes, in collaboration with them, the recovery or recycling of their waste. Thus, in the 2023-2024 academic year, 100% of non-hazardous waste and 52.94% (52.38% in the previous academic year) of hazardous waste underwent recovery or recycling operations.

Continuous Commitment

These initiatives are part of our long-term strategy to minimize the environmental impact of our activities. We will continue working during the 2025-2026 academic year on new initiatives and on consolidating those already initiated, with the goal of making our campus a benchmark for sustainability, responsibility, and commitment to the environment.