Solid Waste Management in Higher Educational Institution: An Investigation Using the SWOT Analysis and the Circular Economy Principle Perspective

Solid waste management is essential in every economy and one of the most important by-products of an urban lifestyle, which is growing even faster than the rate of urbanization. The composition of solid wastes varies with income; thus, the low-to-middle-income population generates mainly organic wastes. Solid waste management, which includes recycling, incineration, waste-to-energy conversion, composting, or landfilling, is imperative. The study’s main objective is to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the implementation program for the management of solid waste from the perspective of the cyclic flow of materials in an institution of higher education. Hence, waste characterization and comparison of circular and linear economy approaches to waste management were used. Using questionnaire responses from the staff of Takoradi Technical University and experts from waste management companies, this study assesses the strength, weakness, opportunities, and threat to examine the circularity of waste management of the University. The strength, weakness, opportunities, and threat and analytical hierarchy process analyses showed that the circular economy approach to managing the identified waste components is more sustainable and environmentally friendly than the linear economy approach. The findings showed that a solid waste management action plan is the best strength. Moreover, no segregation (sorting) of waste emerged as the weakness. Additionally, the economic value of solid waste in the world and the existence of domestic and international markets to buy and sell waste proved to be the best opportunity, whereas managing the high volumes of waste due to increasing waste generation represented the most significant threat. Recommendations and limitations are discussed.