Sustainable waste management refers to an approach in which waste is evaluated at the highest level by going through recycling and recovery processes without harming nature. In this way, the negative effects of waste are minimized and natural resources are protected.
In the waste collection center established at Ondokuz Mayıs University, glass, paper, plastic, metal and hazardous wastes (waste batteries, waste vegetable oil, etc.) are temporarily stored and recycled within the scope of Integrated Solid Waste Management. There are 6 Waste Temporary Storage Areas and 1 Waste Bringing Center in our university.
Our university established the Zero Waste Management System in accordance with the Zero Waste Regulation, which came into force after being published in the Official Gazette dated 12.07.2019 and numbered 30829, and was entitled to receive the "Basic Level Zero Waste Certificate" on 29.07.2020. Work is being carried out at OMU within the scope of the "Zero Waste" project covering Turkey. Expired paper waste in the university's archives is taken by a licensed company located within the borders of Samsun province, recycled and brought into the economy. Food leftovers from the cafeteria are collected and delivered to the animal shelter. Waste vegetable oils are collected by a licensed company and sent for recycling. Sources of hazardous waste are hospitals and laboratories. Medical waste generated in the hospital is sterilized in the Medical Waste Sterilization Facility located in Samsun Regular Solid Waste Storage Area, within the framework of the Integrated Environmental Information System - Waste Management (MoTAT) of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, in accordance with the Regulation on Control of Medical Wastes, and then it is shredded and stored regularly in the field. It is stored at the temporary waste collection site near the hospital before sending it to the municipality's landfill. Hazardous waste generated at laboratory scale is collected in separate labeled containers and sent to the temporary waste storage unit. Electronic waste is collected by the university and sent to the Machinery and Chemical Industry Institution. Waste batteries are collected in special boxes in all units for recycling.