Policy on hazardous waste disposal
15.4.3
SDG15
NCKU’s Policy on hazardous waste disposal
To effectively manage hazardous waste generated by campus laboratories and related facilities, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) has established a comprehensive system for assessment, collection, disposal, and verification, ensuring that waste is handled legally, safely, and transparently. Each unit must first identify the types and quantities of waste and coordinate with the Center for Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety and Health to obtain classification labels and hazard tags, ensuring proper identification during transport and handling.
Waste Collection and Disposal Procedures
During the collection phase, contracts are signed in accordance with the “Standards for Storage, Clearance, and Disposal of Industrial Waste,” and waste is scheduled through the campus disposal system, with reporting of waste generation, storage, removal, treatment, and reuse. At disposal sites, management verifies the documentation; compliant waste is weighed, while non-compliant waste is returned. After processing, the disposal unit issues receipts or quotations and retains records for verification.
Regulatory Responsibility in Waste Management
In accordance with Ministry of Environment regulations, the university, as the waste generator, bears joint responsibility for the actions of contracted disposal agencies; if disposal is improper and due diligence is not exercised, the university must undertake corrective measures.
Joint Disposal Association and Campus Waste Education
To further support proper waste management, NCKU established the Environmental Resources Research and Management Center Joint Disposal Association, a non-profit organization under the government’s “Regulations for the Joint Disposal and Treatment of Business Waste by Educational Institutions.” The association assists schools and their affiliated laboratories across Taiwan in addressing waste disposal needs. Each year, the center organizes three laboratory waste disposal briefings in northern, central, and southern Taiwan to promote and explain the Ministry of Education’s Campus Environmental Protection Waste Management and Environmental Protection Regulations, providing guidance and assistance for regional waste management.
Through these institutionalized policies and programs, NCKU integrates safety, compliance, and environmental protection into its campus operations, demonstrating its commitment to social responsibility and environmental sustainability as a leading higher education institution.
- On-Campus Laboratory Waste Delivery and Classification
NCKU, pursuant to the government’s “Regulations for the Joint Clearance and Disposal Organizations of Institutional Waste,” established the Environmental Resources Research and Management Center Joint Treatment Association to help schools and affiliated laboratories across all levels establish a comprehensive waste management system. Through standardized processes of classification, storage, transportation, and record-keeping, the university ensures proper waste treatment to prevent pollution and hazards. NCKU actively supports regional institutions in implementing laboratory waste management, promoting both educational and environmental sustainability.- 2024 Campus Laboratory Waste Disposal Briefing Session
The Environmental Resources Management Research Center of NCKU University holds three laboratory waste disposal briefing sessions annually in northern, central, and southern Taiwan. These sessions promote and explain the Ministry of Education’s annually announced “Campus Environmental Protection Waste Management and Environmental Regulations,” assisting regional institutions in waste management.- Campus Environmental Protection and Waste Management Instructions
NCKU holds annual seminars on campus environmental protection, waste management, and environmental regulations, inviting industry experts to explain relevant laws and issues such as campus waste disposal. The sessions clearly introduce processes, methods, and classification practices for waste management, aiming to ensure effective implementation of waste disposal and safeguard environmental sustainability from pollution.- NCKU Waste Water Management Regulations for Department Buildings
The NCKU Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety and Health Center oversees the collection and disposal of laboratory wastewater across the campus. In compliance with national environmental regulations, it has established guidelines for managing wastewater from university buildings and laboratories, as well as procedures for handling hazardous laboratory waste. The center also conducts safety and environmental training sessions, providing clear instructions on the classification, storage, and disposal of various types of waste.
- Regulations for the Disposal of Hazardous Chemicals and Their Containers
Since January 2022, NCKU has improved the laboratory waste disposal reporting process, standardizing the classification, cleaning, proper storage, and packaging of chemical wastes, empty containers, and broken glassware, with disposal scheduled monthly or annually. Laboratories must follow safety procedures, use personal protective equipment, and bear the disposal costs. NCKU emphasizes systematic management and regulatory compliance to ensure proper waste handling, prevent pollution, and demonstrate a strong commitment to campus safety and environmental sustainability.