14.4.3 Reducing marine pollution (policy)

Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) has had a policy that keeps land-based waste and wastewater out of rivers and the sea since 13 December 2024, and the dedicated marine pollution policy announced on 31 March 2025 was in place throughout 2025. The SWU Zero Carbon and SWU Zero Waste policy of 13 December 2024 requires the University to treat and reuse wastewater, separate waste across all campus areas and cut general waste by 10% a year. The policy of 31 March 2025 reviewed and expanded these measures into a policy on preventing and reducing marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities.

A. Policy on the Prevention and Reduction of Marine Pollution from Land-Based Activities (announced on 31 March 2025)

Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) has a policy on preventing and reducing marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, which was in place throughout 2025. The Srinakharinwirot University Announcement on the Policy on the Prevention and Reduction of Marine Pollution from Land-Based Activities was announced on 31 March B.E. 2568 (A.D. 2025), so the policy was reviewed within the period 2022–2026. It builds on the University’s SWU Zero Carbon and SWU Zero Waste policies announced on 13 December 2024 (Section B) and covers wastewater, solid waste, plastic waste, hazardous waste, chemicals, oils and other contaminants from the University’s campuses and related operations that may enter drainage systems, rivers and marine environments.

Under the policy, wastewater from academic buildings, laboratories, cafeterias and offices must be collected, treated and managed to meet discharge standards, untreated wastewater must not be released into public drains or natural water bodies, and treated water is reused for landscape irrigation where appropriate. The University reduces single-use plastics and other disposable materials, separates general, recyclable, organic and hazardous waste, and keeps its target of cutting general waste by at least 10% a year so that litter does not reach waterways. Hazardous substances and chemical waste must not be discharged into sinks, drains or waterways without appropriate treatment and legal authorisation, and food outlets must prevent cooking oil, grease and food waste from entering drains, using grease traps where needed. Drainage systems and treatment facilities are inspected and maintained regularly, marine pollution requirements are written into procurement specifications, Terms of Reference and contracts for contractors and campus vendors, and students, staff, contractors and vendors receive environmental education. Implementation is monitored through waste records, wastewater monitoring results and facility inspections, corrective measures are taken where problems are found, and the policy is reviewed periodically and published on the University’s website.

Source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11qCp2o5H98Gdxp2qk3IHFRuOJE7UJSvt/view

B. Original Policy: SWU Zero Carbon and SWU Zero Waste (announced on 13 December 2024)

SWU first addressed land-based sources of water and marine pollution in its Policy on Carbon Neutrality (Carbon Neutral – Scope 1) by 2050 and Achieving Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2065 (SWU Zero Carbon) and Waste Separation within the University (SWU Zero Waste), announced on 13 December B.E. 2567 (A.D. 2024). The policy applies to all University areas. It requires the University to reduce tap water use by 5% each year (item 1) and to treat and reuse wastewater on campus, for example by using treated water for watering plants (item 6), so that untreated wastewater does not flow into drains and canals.

The policy of 13 December 2024 also requires waste separation and waste management measures across all University areas to reduce every type of waste (item 7), education and awareness on waste separation for students, staff, academic staff and business operators on campus (item 8), and a 10% cut in general waste each year (item 9). These measures stop litter and plastic waste at source before they can reach drainage systems, rivers and the sea. The signed policy of 31 March 2025 (Section A) names this policy as its basis and expands it with specific rules on wastewater discharge, hazardous chemicals, cooking oil and grease, drainage maintenance, and marine pollution requirements in contracts with vendors and contractors.

Source: Srinakharinwirot University, Policy on Carbon Neutrality (Carbon Neutral – Scope 1) by 2050 and Achieving Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2065 (SWU Zero Carbon) and Waste Separation within the University (SWU Zero Waste), announced on 13 December 2024.