1. When did the university start separating waste?

We started separating waste in 2016. Before me, Aigerim Daumenova worked on this. Together with curators from Green Campus (now the Office of Sustainable Development) she initiated the waste separation on campus.

The implementation of the waste separation system began in stages. Initially, we collected only plastic beverage containers, paper, and cardboard. To facilitate collection, we placed bins in academic and residential blocks and labeled them with pictures of the types of waste. This was to help students and visitors visually remember the bins' locations and dispose of paper or plastic appropriately. Later, we secured funds to manufacture large containers to collect more separated waste. These were also placed in academic and residential blocks.

Additionally, we coordinated with the cleaning company and janitors, as these workers performed all the work of collecting and transporting waste to the temporary storage warehouse for recyclable materials. A large 40-ton container was chosen for the temporary storage warehouse, which was tightly sealed and contained large bags where workers sorted waste by type.

2. Where does the campus waste go, and who pays for it?

To sell the collected plastic and paper, contracts were signed with companies directly involved in collecting and recycling secondary raw materials.

Currently, contracts are in place with LS Astana LLP for the purchase and sale of secondary raw materials (cardboard, paper) and with ZQ 2021 LLP for the purchase and sale of plastic. These companies sort and process waste into raw materials and resell the processed materials to other interested companies involved in manufacturing various products.

There is also a practice of processing plastic bottles at our university. One of our students, as part of a startup, used our collected plastic, crushed it into granules with a machine they built themselves, and produced raw materials for making products.

We also collect galvanic batteries from all residential blocks and donate them to PromTechnoResource LLP, and we have small quantities of metal containers, which are also collected by ZQ 2021 LLP*.

All collected paper and cardboard are taken to a temporary storage warehouse located behind blocks 44–45, which is a former dining hall of Sembol LLP. Plastic is immediately removed from the waste collection sites by representatives of ZQ 2021 LLP, as metal grids for collecting plastic are installed there.

3. Who collects waste from the containers inside the buildings?

Internal collection of paper and plastic in academic and residential blocks is carried out by the cleaning company staff. The Office of Sustainable Development periodically conducts training sessions for the cleaning company's supervisors on sorting and properly removing waste to the waste collection sites. In turn, supervisors must pass this information to the cleaning staff. There are some gaps in this system because cleaning company employees frequently change, and new workers may not know or have time to learn about waste sorting.

4. How is waste removed from the green and yellow containers outside?

Solid household waste is removed from the NU campus twice a day according to a monthly schedule. Currently, the company «Қызмет Құрылыс» LLP is responsible for waste removal from the NU campus.

According to the environmental legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, waste suitable for recycling cannot be disposed of in landfills. Therefore, contractors for waste removal must first sort municipal waste at sorting lines, and the remaining waste that cannot be recycled is sent to the landfill for disposal.

5. What types of recyclable materials are collected at the university and how often?

As mentioned earlier, the university collects several types of waste: cardboard, paper, plastic, metal containers, and batteries. We have containers for all these types of waste, placed both inside the blocks and outside at the waste collection sites.

Paper and cardboard collected in the blocks accumulate relatively quickly because most students already know that the university supports the waste separation system. So, the block manager, in which a certain amount of paper or cardboard has accumulated, calls or emails to request waste removal. Then, I submit a request for janitors and transport to move the paper or cardboard to the temporary storage warehouse for further transfer to companies.

6. Who collects medical waste?

Medical waste is collected under a contract with UMC CF and in accordance with the medical legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

7. What about waste from the canteens?

The canteen owners have contracts with companies or donate food waste to farmers for animal feed. This issue is controlled by the sanitary doctors of our Service.

8. Is disposable tableware from the coffee shops recyclable?

Disposable tableware used by the coffee shops is labeled, and not all of it is recyclable. In our coffee shops, there are many disposable containers, cups, straws, and lids that are not recyclable. There are also items that appear to be cardboard but are lined with plastic, which makes them unrecyclable.

The Office of Sustainable Development negotiates with the employees and owners of the coffee shops on this issue. We organized training for them and offered loyal options to reduce the use of such tableware.

Since our university has a high traffic of students and guests visiting the coffee shops, the volume of plastic tableware is significant.

9. How is the cleaning staff's work checked?

Each cleaning lady's work is checked by supervisors. However, it should be noted that everyone needs to be aware, starting with students who separate plastic, cardboard, and paper in their rooms, making it easier for the cleaning staff to correctly dispose of the waste in the designated containers.

10. What should we do if we see plastic being thrown away with general waste?

Politely explain that the university adheres to a waste separation system and that each type of waste is collected separately.

More informational campaigns and training seminars about the benefits of waste separation should be conducted. A significant advantage is that in Kazakhstan, secondary raw materials cannot be legally buried in landfills. Using this and by improving the environmental condition at NU, we will gradually, through joint efforts, learn to recognize the importance of environmental responsibility throughout the country.

*Information valid as of Summer 2024.