The issue of solid waste is a concern in all sectors, including education. Our challenges involve institutional changes, addressing cultural paradigms, as well as the need for innovation and commitment to implementing the 5Rs (Rethink, Refuse, Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse).
At Facens University Center, we seek to minimize waste generation and implement sustainable management practices such as reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting. We continuously strive to improve our processes, encouraging awareness and participation of the university community in sustainable waste management.
At Facens University Center, responsible waste management is an ongoing commitment. Each year, we advance in developing new solutions and improving our Solid Waste Management System (SGRS). Our goal is to divert as much solid waste as possible from landfills, encouraging the 5Rs on our campus.
» External waste bins distributed across campus.
At Facens, we diverted from landfills:
63.2% of all solid waste generated in 2024;
69.7% of all solid waste generated in 2023;
67.2% of all solid waste generated in 2022;
In 2024, 7,061 kg of solid waste was recycled, returning to production chains.
In 2024, wediverted a smaller proportion of waste from landfills compared to the previousyear. This reduction is explained by an essential restructuring process in ourwaste management infrastructure, carried out with the aim of aligning with theZero Waste concept. Two main factors account for this result:
Review of collection flows: we introduced changes in disposal points and the standardization of selective collection, which led to operational adjustments that temporarily affected diversion rates;
Implementation of new monitoring strategies: the adoption of new process flows and the adjustment of existing ones, together with updates to campus infrastructure, helped us correct inconsistencies and adapt to new waste management providers.
This restructuring is part of a strategic institutional movement to make Facens University Center the first higher education institution in Brazil to be certified Lixo Zero by the end of 2025. The actions carried out in 2024 were fundamental to establishing solid foundations of control, traceability, and engagement, ensuring that progress from 2025 onwards occurs in a consistent and measurable way.
Despite the temporary reduction in the diversion rate, we reaffirm our commitment to sustainability and continue to invest in environmental education, process innovation, and strategic partnerships to increase waste diversion and strengthen the campus’s role as a national reference in responsible solid waste management.
In 2024, we implemented:
More precise and accurate monitoring processes;
Significant improvements in infrastructure, with the standardization of our collection and source segregation system;
Construction of our solid waste management center.
» Electronics collector, sponge and can tab collector, and cigarette butt collector.
» Structure of the waste management center under implementation.
Waste management overview:
We rely on partners such as CORESO – Cooperativa de Reciclagem de Sorocaba, Gestão Verde, GreenEletron, IESA, Poiato Recicla, and Veolia for the proper disposal of waste.
Since 2022, we have adopted measures to reduce paper consumption at Smart Campus® Facens. We prioritize the use of the virtual learning platform for assessments, assignment submissions, and e-books in Facens University Center courses.
As a result, we achieved an 80% reduction in paper consumption in academic activities.
In 2024, we continued our actions to eliminate plastic use at Smart Campus® Facens. We used biodegradable plastic bags and replaced plastic cups and straws with paper cups and straws.
We also distributed to our students and staff:
1,276 mugs;
146 reusable bottles;
1,130 100% biodegradable plastic bags.
» Gardening team working at the campus composting site.
We managed to reuse 763 kg of food waste.
In 2024, we began maintenance of our biodigester. Although this represented an improvement point in our system, the reuse of organic waste was significantly impacted.
We were able to reuse 63.6% of our organic waste through the composting system.
We are continuously seeking new solutions, and our goal for 2025 is to resume reusing 100% of our organic waste.
» 3rd-semester Agronomy Engineering students carried out corrections and improvements to the biodigester at Facens University Center, as part of the UPX – Energias Renováveis curricular project.
Throughout 2024, we held 8 events and published 19 articles on the Facens Blog to raise awareness in our community about issues related to sustainability initiatives.
In partnership with the Marketing Department, the Sustainability team and the Solid Waste Management System Working Group joined forces to plan and execute the campaign “Facens Rumo ao Lixo Zero” (Facens Towards Zero Waste), aimed at engaging staff, faculty, students, and all visitors on campus in the correct disposal of waste. The campaign began in September 2024 and has covered topics such as:
The importance of waste separation;
Collection points at Facens (highlighting new collection bins);
Overview of recycling in Brazil;
Benefits of recycling waste;
Facens Rumo ao Lixo Zero;
The journey of waste;
Combating food waste / correct disposal of organics for composting;
Disposal of kitchen sponges and can tabs.
Some examples of materials and content from the “Facens Rumo ao Lixo Zero” campaign that we published:
