Bridging International Benchmarks and Local Practices: A Framework for Green Campus Waste Management in Pakistani HEIs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62843/jssr.v6i3.737Keywords:
Sustainability, Green Campus, Waste Management, HEIs, UI GreenMetricAbstract
Sustainability has become one of the main criteria in evaluating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), which is officially recognised by ranking systems such as the UI GreenMetric world university rankings and Pakistan's Higher Education Commission Green Campus initiative. Among the six key categories evaluated by UI GreenMetric, waste management is still a crucial but understudied issue, especially for HEIs in developing countries looking for feasible, context-appropriate solutions. The top three universities in the world, as well as the top three universities in Pakistan, are compared in this study based on the 2025 UI GreenMetric world university ranking. The waste management strategy of each university is studied separately, and a within-group comparison of methods of international and Pakistani institutions is conducted. A cross-group comparison enabled identification of the gaps, transferable methods, and contextual restrictions that set high-performing international institutions apart from their Pakistani counterparts. These differences are interpreted in the context of the recognised administrative and resource challenges faced by Pakistani public sector universities and intensified by limited sustainability awareness among stakeholders. Based on these results, the study suggests a phased framework for implementing sustainable waste management practices in Pakistani HEIs. Starting with basic administrative measures and awareness, the recommended phased framework progresses through structured reuse, recycling, and behavioural change strategies and closes with long-term waste circularity targets. The findings aim to support Green Campus efforts and enhance institutional performance in national and international sustainability rankings by providing practical insights for policymakers, sustainability offices, and university administrators.
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