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Cutting GHG Emissions at Student Housing in Central Mexico through Solid Waste Management

Author

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  • Quetzalli Aguilar-Virgen

    (Facultad de Ciencias Químicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Calzada Universidad No. 14418, Mesa de Otay, Tijuana 22390, Mexico
    Sociedad Mexicana de Ciencia y Tecnologia Aplicada a Residuos Sólidos, Calimaya 52227, Mexico)

  • Paul Taboada-González

    (Facultad de Ciencias Químicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Calzada Universidad No. 14418, Mesa de Otay, Tijuana 22390, Mexico
    Sociedad Mexicana de Ciencia y Tecnologia Aplicada a Residuos Sólidos, Calimaya 52227, Mexico)

  • Eduardo Baltierra-Trejo

    (Centro de Investigación en Sustentabilidad Energética y Ambiental del Noreste, Universidad Autónoma del Noreste, Av. Constituyentes 1002, Las Rusias, Matamoros 87560, Mexico)

  • Liliana Marquez-Benavides

    (Sociedad Mexicana de Ciencia y Tecnologia Aplicada a Residuos Sólidos, Calimaya 52227, Mexico
    Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Av. San Juanito Itzícuaro S/N, Colonia San Juanito Itzícuaro, Morelia 58240, Mexico)

Abstract

Solid waste characterisation studies have been conducted at the household or municipal level, but fewer studies have assessed the composition of solid waste within institutions of higher education or university student residences. Studies carried out in universities usually refer to the academic buildings, yet, reports of waste characterisation from student housing and the associated greenhouse gas emissions are scarce. The goal of this work was to present a study case where both equivalent carbon dioxide (CO 2 eq) emissions and waste reductions were successfully attained in student housing after implementation of a solid waste management strategy. Two waste characterisation studies were carried out, before and after a waste management program was implemented to reduce waste generation. The waste generation per capita (GPC) per day was estimated at 1.5 kg for the first study (2014) and 1.1 kg for the second (2015); in addition, 87% of the waste stream was diverted from the landfill through vermicomposting and recycling. The percentage of food waste used for vermicomposting was 2.83%. The CO 2 eq emissions in 2014 were estimated at 12,624 kg CO 2 eq (0.43 kg/capita/day) and 761 kg for 2015 (0.03 kg/capita/day). Appropriate solid waste management was revealed to have a fundamental role in cutting indirect CO 2 eq emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Quetzalli Aguilar-Virgen & Paul Taboada-González & Eduardo Baltierra-Trejo & Liliana Marquez-Benavides, 2017. "Cutting GHG Emissions at Student Housing in Central Mexico through Solid Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-12, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:8:p:1415-:d:107897
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel A. Salas & Paulina Criollo & Angel D. Ramirez, 2021. "The Role of Higher Education Institutions in the Implementation of Circular Economy in Latin America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-27, August.

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