2.2.1 Campus food waste tracking
Metric: Campus food waste
Measure the amount of food waste generated from food served within the university.
Prince of Songkla University (PSU) monitors the amount of food waste generated from food service and food-related activities within the University. In 2025, participating faculties, food centres, cafeterias, markets, and campuses reported waste data using separate waste categories, including dry waste, wet waste, food waste, and recyclable waste.
This monitoring enables the University to distinguish food waste from other waste streams and provides quantitative evidence for planning food-waste reduction, resource recovery, and circular-economy initiatives.
2025 Food Waste Monitoring Results
Based on the consolidated waste records for 2025, PSU recorded:
| Waste category | Amount recorded |
|---|
| Dry waste | 320,189.00 kg |
| Wet waste | 5,361.23 kg |
| Food waste | 108,583.00 kg |
| Recyclable waste | 6,508.30 kg |
Total Food Waste Recorded in 2025: 108,583 kg
This is equivalent to approximately 108.58 metric tonnes of food waste recorded through the participating university units and food-service locations during the reporting period.
The reporting records include food-service locations and university units such as the PSU Agricultural Market, Faculty of Natural Resources cafeteria, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Faculty of Medicine cafeteria, Rong Chang Food Centre, Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Science, PSU Phuket Campus cafeteria, Surat Thani Campus, and other participating university units included in the 2025 waste monitoring records.
Food Waste Separation at PSU Agricultural Market
The PSU Agricultural Market, Faculty of Natural Resources, has implemented a food-waste management programme to manage food waste and residual food materials generated from market activities.
The initiative supports the principles of the circular economy by separating food-related organic waste and returning useful materials to productive use rather than treating all waste as general refuse.
Dedicated food-waste separation bins are provided within the Agricultural Market. Vendors and market users are encouraged to separate food scraps before placing them in the designated containers. This source-separation system supports the identification and collection of food waste for subsequent biological treatment.
238 kg of Food Scraps Separated for Black Soldier Fly Treatment
The Agricultural Market recorded 238 kilograms of separated food scraps from consumption activities. These food scraps were subsequently used as feed for Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae.
The BSF-based treatment provides a biological approach to managing food waste. The process helps divert organic waste from final disposal while generating organic by-products that can contribute to soil improvement and sustainable agricultural practices.
Recovery of Residual Food Materials through EM Production
In addition to post-consumption food waste, the PSU Agricultural Market also recovers residual raw materials generated from food and agricultural product sales.
In 2025, approximately 707 kilograms of residual raw materials, including pineapple peels and lime peels, were used to produce Effective Microorganisms (EM) solution through fermentation.
The resulting EM solution is used for:
cleaning market surfaces;
cleaning sanitation facilities;
supporting wastewater treatment in drainage areas around the market; and
reducing reliance on chemical cleaning products.
This initiative demonstrates how organic residual materials can be redirected into useful applications rather than being immediately discarded.
From Measurement to Circular Food-Waste Management
PSU’s 2025 food-waste monitoring provides quantitative information that can be used as a baseline for strengthening future food-waste prevention and management.
The University’s approach combines three elements:
1. Waste Measurement
Food waste is reported separately from dry waste, wet waste, and recyclable waste, allowing the University to quantify the amount of food waste generated within participating university operations.
2025 recorded food waste: 108,583 kg (108.58 metric tonnes).
2. Source Separation
At the PSU Agricultural Market, dedicated containers are provided for food-waste separation, enabling food scraps to be collected separately from other waste.
3. Resource Recovery
Separated organic materials are redirected into productive uses. Food scraps are treated using Black Soldier Fly larvae, while selected residual fruit materials are fermented to produce EM solution for sanitation and wastewater-related applications.
Together, these practices support more effective monitoring of campus food waste and contribute to PSU’s broader efforts to reduce waste sent for disposal and promote the circular use of resources.
2025 Campus Food Waste Tracking Results
| Indicator | 2025 Result | Description |
|---|
| Total Food Waste Recorded | 108,583 kg | Food waste recorded across participating PSU units and food-service locations in 2025. |
| Food Waste Monitored | 108.58 metric tonnes | Quantitative monitoring provides a baseline for evidence-based food-waste management and future reduction planning. |
| Food Scraps Directed to BSF Treatment | 238 kg | Separated food scraps at the PSU Agricultural Market were used for Black Soldier Fly (BSF) treatment, helping divert organic waste from final disposal. |
| Residual Food Materials Recovered | 707 kg | Residual food materials, including pineapple and lime peels, were used for Effective Microorganisms (EM) production and reused for sanitation and wastewater-related applications. |
| Waste Streams Monitored | 4 categories | Dry Waste, Wet Waste, Food Waste, and Recyclable Waste. |
Supporting Evidence
Campus food-waste monitoring: The 2025 PSU SDG 2 operational report records food waste separately from other waste categories and provides a quantitative basis for campus food-waste tracking.
Food-waste separation and resource recovery: At the PSU Agricultural Market, food waste and residual food materials are separated and redirected to circular resource-recovery processes, including Effective Microorganisms (EM) production and Black Soldier Fly (BSF) treatment.
Supporting waste-separation initiatives: The Faculty of Nursing operates a waste-bank initiative for students living in university residences. The programme promotes waste separation, recycling, and responsible waste-management behaviour, with recyclable waste recorded by material type. While the initiative primarily addresses recyclable waste rather than food waste, it supports PSU’s broader campus waste-management system.