Waste

All waste on campus is taken to a central facility, where it is weighed and the information is recorded in a database. By using QR codes on bins at the building level and on bags at the departmental level, the monthly report can accurately determine the amount of waste generated in each area of the campus. The data is then uploaded to the public website monthly.

In 2024-25, HKUST generated a total of 1,793 tons of waste, a increase of 2% compared to the 1,752 tons of waste in 2023-2024. Compared to the base year (2014-15), waste generated reduced by 46%.

This progress is due to the combination of effective strategies that focuses on four key areas, namely recycling, food waste, compostables, and reductions at source (i.e., preventing waste from entering the campus in the first place). Now we have more than 15 types of materials for recycling ranging from common paper, plastic containers, metal to polyfoam, animal bedding and landscape. We hope to divert as much waste as possible from landfill through this aggressive recycling program. To learn more about the initiatives that lead to the reduction in waste to the landfill please visit ESG report 2023-24 here.

The recycling amount in 2024-25 has increased by around 3% compared to 2023-24. Food waste was the biggest part in the recycling program, occupied 44% among all the recyclables. Wood was the second highest recycled material, representing 17% of total materials diverted from the landfill. Landscape was the third highest recycled material, contributing 15% to the total recycling amount.

The University recycled 502 metric tons of food waste in the year 2024-25, increased by 21% compared to 2023-24.

The University has launched food waste collection and recycling program in September 2016 and began at canteens. Later then, the program has since grown to include Junior Staff Quarters and office pantries. During the 2020-21 academic year, we joined the Source Separation Programme of Food Waste for the Food & Beverage (F&B) trade organised by Hong Kong Productivity Council. They appointed an outside contractor to collect the food waste every day from 11 locations in the campus, together with the help of the canteens, students and staff, metric tons of food waste were diverted to animal feeds and compost.