SOUTH AFRICA – In 2023, Stellenbosch University (SU) achieved significant environmental milestones by diverting more than 1,000 tonnes of waste from landfills across three of its five campuses and recycling over 10.4 tonnes of e-waste.
This impressive effort places SU at the forefront with a 74% diversion rate, surpassing the 50% average of other universities through its robust recycling and composting programs.
Guided by its first Environmental Sustainability Plan (SUESP), SU aims to achieve zero-waste-to-landfill by 2028 and a net zero campus environment by 2050.
“Since the recycling facility was built, SU has successfully reduced its waste-to-landfill. We currently send only 26 percent to landfill. SU’s goal is to get to zero waste-to-landfill by 2028,” says John de Wet, SU’s Environmental Sustainability Manager.
In pursuit of net-zero goals, the University has invested heavily in energy, water, waste, and biodiversity initiatives across all its campuses.
These initiatives include a three-bin sorting system, installation of water-saving devices, grey water systems, water-wise landscaping, and photovoltaic panels on five buildings to cut carbon emissions and utility costs.
To reach its net zero target, SU must reduce its carbon emissions from 85,241 tCO2e to as close to zero as possible.
“Waste is one of the elements in this journey, and SU’s diversion-away-from-landfill rate is currently at an impressive annual average of 74 percent – well above the 50 percent average reported by other universities,” explains De Wet.
Recently, to support Global Recycling Day and Goal 12: responsible consumption and production, SU’s Facilities Management teamed up with the UNASA (United Nations Association of SA) student society, Wasteplan, and eWASA (EPR Waste Association of South Africa) for an e-waste recycling drive on the Stellenbosch campus.
“We want to create awareness of the significance of keeping e-waste out of landfill sites,” said Christine Groenewald, SU’s Environmental Sustainability Coordinator: Engagement.
The drive collected 62kg of e-waste, including keyboards, kettles, charging cables, old phones, and batteries.
Other notable achievements include the Green Building Council of South Africa certifying 18 buildings on the Stellenbosch campus and the City of Cape Town awarding 5-star and 3-star ratings to the Tygerberg and Bellville campuses for effective water management.
Tygerberg’s strategies reduced potable water consumption by 30 percent, while Bellville’s new deepwater lake and reverse osmosis plant minimized reliance on the City’s water supply.
SU’s Sustainable Development Impact Hub (SDG/2063 Impact Hub), established in late 2021, recently released its second Sustainable Development Annual Report (2022/2023) titled “A Sustainable Africa: Partnerships for Progress.”
Corina du Toit, Program Manager at the Hub, highlights that the report demonstrates SU’s significant impact on sustainability through partnerships and collaboration, aligning with the 17 SDGs and 20 AU Goals, and driving progress locally, nationally, and throughout Africa.
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