Atılım University realizes waste management is essential in reducing its environmental footprint and providing a safe and healthy work environment for teaching and non-teaching employees, students,  and  visitors.  The  University  ensures  that  all  campus wastes  are disposed  of  responsibly  through proper  waste  segregation mechanisms at  the  source  and converting it into value-added environment-friendly products if possible. The policy considers ensuring that all waste generated within the university is managed and disposed of safely and efficiently by the zero-waste action plan for Turkish  universities; and demonstrates our commitment to implementing and delivering the best waste management practices, thereby reducing the negative environmental impacts arising from the waste.

The Policy highlights implementing an effective and responsible waste management and disposal process that  meets  all  the  environmental  regulations  for  a  sustainable  society. Waste management plays an important role in the global cleanliness and  environmental sustainability goal, along with human health and resource conservation. Waste management and  waste  disposal  process  is  the  generic  term  given  to  the whole  spectrum  of  activities associated  with  waste  including  its  generation,   segregation,   storage, handling, and transportation from the point of source to the place of disposal conducted by the Directorate of Auxiliary Services at Atılım University. The university considers a zero-waste approach by embedding  circular  economy  thinking  into  waste  prevention,  reuse,  and  recycling  with resources.

Atılım University aims to reduce the unnecessary use of raw materials, implement the reuse of products, and reduce annual total waste production across all waste streams, whilst reducing waste to landfill through recycling and composting. Atılım University is committed to transforming lives and serving the society through pursuit of excellence in teaching, innovation, lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, and outreach services. The policy provides the framework for the University to manage its material resources more effectively, through increased efficiency, cost savings, lower environmental impact and associated supply chain, and carbon reductions.

Policy Implementation

Atılım University implements the policy to promote waste as a resource, encouraging reuse  and  recycling  in  line  with  the  waste  hierarchy.  The  University  shall  have  adequate arrangements, facilities, infrastructure, requisite logistics, and disposal/ recycling infrastructure, and all students, and staff shall ensure to make use of these facilities to help dispose of and recycle as much waste as possible. Atılım University manages its waste and disposal process through the  circular  economy  principles  based  on  the  European  Union  and  the waste  hierarchy system,  and ensures  appropriate  procedures  are  in  place  to  manage  all waste streams. The University adopts and applies the hierarchical approach to waste in order to reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover waste products in preference to the disposal of waste to landfill. Atılım University members take reasonable steps to adhere to the waste hierarchy system and consider all options with emphasis being put on prevention and reduction, the last resort being disposal.

Policy Scope

The scope of the waste management and disposal policy supports the aimed emphasis on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals no. 3, 9, 11, 12, 14, and 15. The scope of this policy shall cover solid wastes (paper, plastic, electronic, organic, medical, raw material, hazardous waste) produced, and applies to everyone at the university campus. It shall apply to all staff and students residing at the campus, as well as the guests of the university, and others visiting the campus. Atılım University suppliers, providers, and waste disposal firms are also responsible, and are required to commit to the policy.

Policy Statement

Atılım University is committed to managing the waste produced on the MOG campus of the university in an environmentally-safe and lively manner in line with current environmental conditions; and recognizes the critical role of waste management in developing a sustainable environment. The University is enthusiastic to promote positive change and ensure that all campus activities regarding waste management principles and practices are organized in the sense of being committed to further reducing its impact on the environment by ensuring its waste is managed effectively and sustainably.

Atılım University shall ensure that the waste management activities for all waste streams comply with relevant procedures and aims to maintain zero landfill waste disposal. The University has created a green campus as a decent instance among foundation universities with a commitment to environmental sustainability with clarity in its adoption and consumption of sustainability.

This policy aims to promote the concept of “Zero Waste”, a crucial agenda under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change in Türkiye, in order to reduce the impact of various waste generated in the campus on the environment and human health through its philosophy of the 5R -- Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle -- at university campuses. In this regard, Atılım University recognizes the importance of meeting requirements and managing  its  waste  responsibly,  reducing  the  volume  of  waste  sent  to disposals, and maximizing reuse and recycling where possible.

Policy Objectives

Atılım University is to enhance the quality of higher education life and well-being for staff and students, making the MOG Campus a desirable place to live and study through the key objectives below:

• Aiming to reduce the amount of waste generated and the associated environmental impacts by applying the principles of the waste management hierarchy

• Providing facilities to ensure safe handling, effective segregation and secure storage of waste on all campuses
• Setting specific objectives and targets concerning minimizing waste, improving recycling rates and reducing disposal to landfill
• Providing appropriate training and induction for staff and students around waste practices and site-specific requirements
• Using furniture reuse schemes for clearances and making refurbishment efforts to reduce waste production from project studies
• Reducing the amount of unnecessary single-use plastic and other disposables used on campus sites, in collaboration with suppliers such as catering contractors
• Reducing negative environmental impacts and waste costs by ensuring that waste and resource use are considered in the procurement process
• Working with firms and suppliers to reduce waste production and increase the amount of recycling taking place on each site
• Ensuring that sufficient training and awareness programs are in place for staff and students to promote environmental awareness and encourage waste minimization
• Continuing to work with relevant internal parties to implement improvements regarding waste management such as our student union, and staff
• Avoiding or limiting the use of environmentally-damaging substances, materials, and processes; and disposing hazardous materials if produced
• Minimizing waste generation at source and facilitating repair, reuse, and recycling over the disposal of wastes in a cost-effective manner
• Ensuring the health and safety risks associated with the generation, handling, storage, and off-site disposal of waste are minimized for staff and students
• Implementing initiatives that divert full of organic waste from landfills, undertaking composting on campus
• Investing in the  expansion  of  recycling  opportunities  on  the  University  campus  and transforming waste into value-added products.
• Monitoring and  auditing  waste  management  and  waste  disposal  process  by  data  to reduce waste and increase the recycling process annually
• Ensuring that waste management is performed by all waste legislative requirements in line with the certification and plan for future legislative changes