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Resilience and Transformation of University Waste Management During COVID-19: A Case Study of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: Universities are concentrated hubs of waste generation, and the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly reshaped waste management dynamics. This study investigated the resilience and transformation of campus waste streams at Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran, in 2020. Materials and Methods: Monthly physical waste analyses were conducted across seven campus zones (dormitories, faculties, cafeterias, sports halls, and faculty clubs). Waste was manually sorted, weighed, and characterized according to ASTM D5231-92, and key physicochemical parameters (moisture, density, calorific value, and C/N ratio) were measured. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (SPSS) to compare the pre-pandemic, peak-pandemic, and post-peak periods. Results: The results revealed an 81.6% reduction in total waste generation during the lockdown, alongside a major spatial shift. Waste output from academic and commercial areas (cafeteria: 90.8% decrease) collapsed, whereas dormitories became the primary source (49.3% decrease). Compositionally, organic waste increased sharply from 38.7% to 58.9%, whereas recyclables such as paper and cardboard declined drastically from 25.1% to 6.2%. These shifts reduced the calorific value by 25% and increased the moisture content, undermining the thermal treatment potential but enhancing the suitability for biological processing. Conclusion: This study demonstrates how the pandemic acted as both a disruptive shock and a catalyst for transformation. This underscores the vulnerabilities of centralized waste management models while highlighting opportunities for adaptive and decentralized solutions, such as dormitory-level composting, that strengthen resilience and foster a more flexible and crisis-responsive system.

Source: Journal of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development

DOI: 10.18502/jehsd.v10i3.19790

Authors: Parvin Zamani, Masoomeh Bagheri, Mehdi Mokhtari, Ehsan Abouee Mehrizi, Mehdi Sarlak, Masoume Javaheri, Mehran Yazdandoust

Institutions: Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Medical University of Ilam

Language: English

Topic: Municipal Solid Waste Management

Subfield: Waste Management and Disposal

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Sustainable cities and communities, Climate action

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4414611202

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