Evaluation of Current Laboratory Waste Management: A Step Towards Green Campus at Amirkabir University of Technology

Abstract

One of the main challenges to achieve sustainability at universities is to set an integrated waste management system. Laboratories of universities are significant producers of a wide range of waste streams, including hazardous wastes requiring special management to dispose of in a safe, efficient and ecologically sound method. This chapter mainly aims to investigate the current waste management in the laboratories of Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT) based on a study conducted in June 2012 as well as determining the major challenges in the pass of implementation of such waste management systems. According to the results, it was determined that the laboratory waste stream at AUT had a considerable potential risk and also recycling potential. Moreover, reported experiences showed that the scarce attention had been paid to laboratory waste management at AUT because of some barriers including, lack of economic resources, lack of enough personnel, lack of policies and regulation to support and supervise the environmental activities, lack of environmental awareness and practical experience, lack of incentives and motivation to draw attention to environmental issues, lack of clear performance measures for environmental activities, resistance to change behaviour, lack of coordination, and uncertainty about ultimate fate of collected waste.