An-Najah National University : Minimization of disposable items use policy

Minimization of Disposable Items Use Policy

1. Policy Statement

An-Najah National University (ANNU) is committed to minimizing the purchase, distribution and use of disposable and single-use items throughout its operations. The University shall prioritize prevention, reduction and reuse to conserve resources, reduce waste and support responsible consumption under Sustainable Development Goal 12.

Durable, reusable alternatives shall be the default wherever practicable and safe. Substituting one disposable material for another, or providing recycling facilities, shall not replace efforts to avoid unnecessary consumption.

This policy establishes university-wide requirements for procurement, administration, catering, events, teaching, research and outsourced services.

2. Purpose

The policy aims to:

Reduce unnecessary disposable-item consumption and the associated environmental impacts.
Promote durable, reusable, refillable, repairable and returnable products.
Embed waste prevention into procurement decisions and supplier contracts.
Reduce paper consumption through digital administration and communication.
Establish responsibilities, measurable indicators and reporting requirements.
Ensure that reduction measures protect health, safety, accessibility and research quality.

3. Scope

This policy applies to all University campuses, faculties, departments, centres, laboratories, administrative offices and University-managed facilities.

It applies to staff, students, visitors, contractors, suppliers, campus vendors, outsourced service providers and organizers of activities on University premises. It also applies to University-funded activities outside campus, where ANNU controls purchasing or service arrangements.

Relevant operations include:

Procurement, deliveries and storage.
Catering, dining outlets and food services.
Conferences, meetings, ceremonies and student activities.
Teaching, research and laboratory activities.
Office administration, printing and communications.
Cleaning, maintenance and other contracted services.

4. Definitions

Disposable or single-use items: Products intended to be used once, or for a short period, before being discarded, regardless of whether they are made from plastic, paper, cardboard, wood, metal or other materials.

Examples include disposable cups, plates, bowls, cutlery, straws, stirrers, takeaway containers, bags, individual sachets, packaging, printed event materials and certain laboratory or cleaning consumables.

Reusable items: Products designed for repeated use and, where necessary, safe cleaning, maintenance or refilling.

Essential disposable items: Single-use products necessary to meet infection-prevention, health, safety, accessibility, emergency-response or validated technical requirements when suitable reusable alternatives are unavailable.

5. Waste-Prevention Hierarchy

University decisions shall follow this order:

Avoid: Eliminate unnecessary products, packaging and distribution.
Reduce: Minimize the quantity and frequency of consumption.
Reuse: Select durable, refillable, repairable or returnable alternatives.
Recycle or compost: Recover materials through suitable, available collection and treatment systems.
Dispose safely: Use authorized disposal routes for residual waste.

A product’s recyclability, biodegradability or composability shall not, by itself, justify its purchase where prevention or reuse is feasible.

6. Operational Requirements

6.1 Procurement and Packaging

Departments and purchasing staff shall:

Assess whether an item is necessary before purchasing it.
Priorities reusable and durable products based on suitability, expected lifespan and total cost of ownership.
Avoid unnecessary individually wrapped products and excessive packaging.
Prefer bulk purchasing, refill systems and returnable packaging where safe and appropriate.
Request suppliers to minimize packaging and offer take-back arrangements where available.
Include relevant disposable-item reduction requirements in tenders, purchase specifications and contracts.
Record purchases of priority disposable items to support annual monitoring.

Routine purchasing of avoidable disposable items shall be reduced and progressively phased out where suitable reusable alternatives are available.

6.2 Catering and Food Services

University-operated and contracted catering services shall:

Use washable, reusable cups, plates and cutlery for dine-in services wherever practicable.
Provide reusable or returnable food containers where operationally feasible.
Avoid automatic distribution of disposable cutlery, straws, stirrers, bags and individual sachets.
Supply necessary disposable accessories only upon request or for an approved operational need.
Support refill drinking-water arrangements where water quality and hygiene requirements can be maintained.
Permit personal reusable cups and containers where compatible with food-safety requirements.
Maintain suitable cleaning and storage arrangements for reusable serviceware.

Where disposable alternatives remain necessary, selection shall consider material use, local recovery options and safe disposal.

6.3 University Events and Activities

Organizers of University-funded or University-hosted events shall:

Plan for disposable-item reduction before placing orders or engaging service providers.
Use reusable serviceware wherever practicable.
prioritize electronic invitations, registration, programmes, certificates and feedback forms.
Avoid unnecessary printed handouts, promotional products and individually packaged materials.
Reuse signs, banners, display materials and name-badge holders where feasible.
Communicate these requirements to caterers, vendors and external organizers.
Provide appropriate waste collection arrangements for unavoidable residual materials.

6.4 Digital Administration and Paper Reduction

Departments shall use digital documentation, communication and approval processes as the default, subject to legal, accessibility and operational requirements.

Where printing is necessary, departments shall minimize print quantities, use double-sided printing where suitable and avoid unnecessary duplication.

6.5 Teaching, Research and Laboratories

Teaching and research units shall assess opportunities to reduce disposable consumables through improved planning, shared resources, appropriate stock management and validated reusable alternatives.

Reduction measures shall not compromise laboratory safety, infection prevention, sample integrity, regulatory compliance or research quality. Items designated for single use shall not be reused contrary to applicable safety requirements or manufacturer instructions.

6.6 Cleaning and Maintenance

Cleaning and maintenance services shall prioritize durable tools, reusable cleaning materials and refill or bulk-dispensing systems where compatible with hygiene, chemical safety and manufacturer requirements.

7. Essential Exceptions

Disposable items may be used where necessary for:

Infection prevention and clinical care.
Laboratory safety and validated research procedures.
Disability-related or other accessibility needs.
Emergency response.
Legal or regulatory compliance.
Demonstrable operational circumstances where a suitable reusable alternative is unavailable.

Departments shall document recurring exceptions, including the item, justification, responsible unit and opportunities for safe reduction. Responsible managers shall review these exceptions annually.

Immediate health, safety and accessibility needs shall take precedence over reduction requirements.

8. Suppliers, Contractors and Outsourced Services

Suppliers, campus vendors, caterers and other outsourced service providers shall comply with the relevant requirements of this policy.

University contract managers shall:

Communicate the policy during procurement and contracting.
Include appropriate reduction, packaging and reporting requirements in new or renewed contracts.
Request information on priority disposable items supplied or consumed.
Review compliance and require corrective action where necessary.

The requirements shall apply to contracted activities on University premises and other services provided on behalf of ANNU within the University’s contractual control.

9. Responsibilities

University Administration shall oversee implementation, designate the coordinating office and provide appropriate resources.

The designated sustainability coordinating office shall coordinate guidance, consolidate annual data, review progress and recommend improvements.

Procurement and contract-management units shall incorporate the policy into purchasing specifications, supplier arrangements and contract reviews.

Facilities and service managers shall support reusable systems, suitable cleaning arrangements and appropriate waste collection.

Department heads and event organisers shall implement the policy, maintain relevant records and address non-compliance.

Staff and students shall avoid unnecessary disposable items, use reusable alternatives where appropriate and follow applicable safety requirements.

10. Monitoring, Targets and Reporting

The University shall maintain annual records for priority disposable-item categories using procurement records, supplier information, departmental returns and waste audits where available.

Monitoring shall include:

Quantities purchased or consumed by item category.
Expenditure on priority disposable items.
Changes in consumption against a documented baseline.
Uptake of reusable and refillable alternatives.
Compliance of relevant catering and supplier contracts.
Recurring exceptions and corrective actions.

The coordinating office shall establish a baseline using the earliest sufficiently complete and reliable reporting year. University Administration shall approve measurable annual reduction targets for priority categories based on this baseline and operational feasibility.

Where data permit, reductions shall be reported both in absolute quantities and relative to relevant activity levels, such as meals served or event attendance.

Annual reporting shall identify the reporting period, data sources, limitations, progress against targets and actions for the following year. Verified findings shall inform the University’s sustainability reporting.

11. Education and Awareness

The University shall provide practical guidance and awareness activities on disposable-item reduction, responsible procurement, reusable alternatives and correct waste separation.

Relevant staff, event organizers and service providers shall receive guidance appropriate to their responsibilities. Students shall be encouraged to support reduction initiatives through societies, volunteering and campus activities.

12. Compliance and Corrective Action

Managers shall address non-compliance through documented corrective actions, including purchasing changes, revised service arrangements, staff guidance and supplier follow-up.

Repeated non-compliance shall be handled through applicable University procedures or contractual remedies. Corrective actions shall recognize approved health, safety, accessibility and operational exceptions.

13. Review and Continuous Improvement

This policy shall be reviewed annually and whenever significant operational, legal or technical changes require revision.

Reviews shall consider consumption records, progress against targets, supplier performance, safety requirements, available reuse systems and feedback from the University community.

The public policy page shall display the original effective date and the actual approval or review dates of subsequent revisions.

14. Related Policies

This policy shall be implemented alongside ANNU’s:

Effective date: 18 December 2023
Review date: 23 June 2025

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Minimization of disposable items use policy

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