RELATED DOCUMENTS
Loi n° 28-00 : Relative à la gestion des déchets et à leur élimination ; Loi n°23-12modifiant la loi n° 28-00relative à la gestion des déchets et à leur élimination ; Décret 2-14-85 : Relatif à la gestion des déchets dangereux ; Décret n° 2-09-139 : Relatif à la gestion des déchets médicaux et pharmaceutiques ; Le décret n° 2-07-253relatif à la classification des déchets et fixant la liste des déchets dangereux; Le décret n° 2-09-284du 20 hija 1430 (8 décembre 2009), fixant les procédures administratives et les prescriptions techniques relatives aux décharges contrôlées ; Loi n° 11-03 relative à la protection et la mise en valeur de l’environnement; Hazardous Waste Management Procedure – UM6P Policy
SECTION 1 POLICY STATEMENT
1.1. University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) is committed to reducing its environmental impact by managing all waste in an effective and sustainable manner, prioritizing pollution prevention and resource conservation.
1.2. UM6P ensures that all its waste management activities, in all waste streams, comply with Moroccan legal requirements.
1.3. UM6P prioritizes the health, safety and well-being of its community members while advancing its waste reduction and decarbonization goals to promote sustainable development on campus.
1.4. UM6P strives to maintain zero-to-landfill waste disposal by adopting a “Zero Waste Movement”. This approach includes implementing practices, initiatives and projects that support recycling, reuse, and responsible resource management.
SECTION 2 SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY
2.1. This policy document applies to anyone involved in UM6P operations, particularly General Affairs Department and relevant service providers.
2.2. All community members, including staff, students, service providers, and visitors are required to comply with this policy and adhere to its associated procedures in their activities on UM6P premises.
2.3. Every member of UM6P community is expected to contribute to sustainable waste management practices.
SECTION 3 PURPOSE
3.1. The purpose of this policy is to:
3.1.1. reduce any negative environmental impacts that could result from waste production, storage, transportation, and disposal.
3.1.2. support UM6P’s commitment to the “Zero Waste Movement’ by following the waste hierarchy that prioritizes waste prevention, reduction, reuse, and recycling, with disposal as a last resort.
3.1.3. establish a framework to guide UM6P’s approach to dispose of waste without risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals, causing noise or odor nuisance, or adversely affecting the environment or the health, safety and wellbeing of UM6P community.
3.1.4. support the ambitions of the Sustainable Development Institutional Policy and the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs).
SECTION 4 DEFINITIONS
4.1. Waste: Any material, substance, or item that is discarded, intended for disposal, or required to be disposed of.
4.2. Waste Stream: The flow of different types of waste, including general, organic, hazardous, and electronic waste, that are managed separately due to their unique disposal or recycling requirements.
4.3. Organic Waste: Biodegradable waste such as food scraps, plant materials, and other compostable items, which can be broken down through composting.
4.4. Hazardous Waste: Waste containing substances that are toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive, posing a risk to health or the environment if not handled properly.
4.5. Electronic Waste: or E-waste is discarded electrical or electronic devices, including computers, phones, and batteries, which may contain hazardous components and require special handling.
4.6. Waste Management: The processes involved in the collection, transportation, disposal, recycling, and monitoring of waste materials. It consists of strategies and activities designed to minimize the negative impact of waste on the environment and human health.
4.7. Waste Prevention: Efforts to reduce waste generation at its source by minimizing resource use and opting for sustainable alternatives.
4.8. Waste Reduction: Strategies to decrease the total volume of waste generated, often through more efficient use of materials and products.
4.9. Reuse: The practice of using items multiple times in their original form to extend their lifecycle, reducing the need for disposal or recycling.
4.10. Recycling: The process of converting waste materials into new products, thereby conserving natural resources and reducing environmental impact.
4.11. Waste Disposal: The final treatment or placement of waste that cannot be reused, recycled, or recovered, typically involving landfills or incineration as a last option.
4.12. Zero-to-landfill: A goal to divert all waste from landfills by maximizing waste prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting efforts.
4.13. Source sorting: The process of separating waste materials at the point where they are initially generated.
4.14. Sustainable development: Sustainable Development is expressed by the sustainability and improvement of present and future generations and is achieved by a balance between the efforts invested in the living environment (environment), the way of living (society) and the standard of living (economy). Sustainable Development aims to ensure that the interaction and complementarity between the issues of the environment, modes and standards of living are taken into account by all actors in the environment and guide the decision-making processes and the actions that result from them.
SECTION 5 PROVISIONS AND GUIDELINES
General Provisions
5.1. UM6P is committed to prioritizing the principles of the waste hierarchy in all waste management practices. It aims to prevent and reduce waste at the source, promote reuse and recycling, and consider disposal only as a last resort.
5.2. UM6P is required to ensure that individuals involved in waste management—including those who handle, produce, store, transport, or dispose of waste—follow safe practices to prevent harm or injury to themselves, others, and the broader community.
5.3. UM6P is required to handle and store waste in a manner that prevents pollution and environmental harm. Waste must be stored securely, labelled appropriately, and segregated as necessary to prevent cross-contamination.
5.4. UM6P ensures that its service providers are registered and authorized to handle the specific type of waste being transported.
5.5. UM6P maintains accurate records of the waste it produces, including details about waste types, quantities, destinations, and the parties involved in waste management processes, including the transfer stations and final disposal fate.
5.6. Waste management service providers must provide UM6P with accurate data on weight, type and disposal methods for waste streams.
5.7. UM6P must maintain documentation that demonstrates their compliance with law. For instance, a waste transfer note must be completed whenever waste is transferred to another party. This documentation can be requested by regulatory authorities during inspections.
5.8. The open-air incineration of waste is prohibited on campus grounds. Waste disposal by incineration can only take place in facilities designed for this purpose.
5.9. Disposal to landfill must be avoided and used as a last option after all other disposal methods have been considered
5.10. UM6P ensures appropriate procedures are in place to manage all waste streams.
Specific provisions
5.11. Non-Hazardous Waste Management
5.11.1. UM6P ensures the maintenance of a safe and clean waste flow through efficient daily collection and transport practices carried out by service providers.
5.11.2. UM6P provides the service provider with a dedicated, covered, and equipped waste storage and sorting facility. This facility ensures organized and safe temporary storage of non-hazardous waste before further handling or processing.
5.11.3. UM6P cleaning staff collect non-hazardous waste from trash cans and bins and transport it to the main storage and sorting facility where the service provider sorts it then evacuates it.
5.11.4. Organic waste is stored in a dedicated, well-equipped facility, where it is collected by the service provider at least once daily. The waste is then transported to the main storage and sorting facility for further sorting and processing prior to elimination.
5.12. Hazardous Waste Management
5.12.1. Every laboratory producing hazardous waste provides detailed information on its origin, distinguishing between chemical and biological waste.
5.12.2. Source sorting is required and should account for the waste’s type, characteristics, composition, and hazard level.
5.12.3. Hazardous waste is properly packaged in suitable and labeled containers and safety data sheet (SDS) guidelines must be followed.
5.12.4. Following collection, hazardous waste is transported to a temporary storage facility. When at least one ton has accumulated, the service provider is contacted to collect and eliminate the waste from campus.
5.13. Electronic Waste Management
5.13.1. UM6P recognizes that the environmental footprint of an electronic device could be significantly reduced if its life cycle is prolonged by measures such as repairing and maintenance.
5.13.2. UM6P actively avoids sending electronic waste (E-waste) to landfill and encourages the IT Department to repurpose and reuse it. An internal tracking mechanism is used to monitor the full lifecycle of electronic equipment from acquisition to reuse or final disposal.
5.13.3. Unwanted electronic items are to be returned to the IT Department and then redistributed where practical. Where deemed end of life, the items will be reused, recycled, or disposed of in an environmentally conscious way following Policy on Managing IT Asset Obsolescence.
5.13.4. UM6P emphasizes the importance of working only with certified recyclers for the disposal of end-of-life electronics. These partners comply with national and international standards for environmental safety, and provide appropriate documentation (e.g., certificates of recycling or destruction) to ensure traceability and legal compliance.
5.13.5. Prior to any redistribution or donation, all data stored on the device must be securely erased.
5.13.6. Whenever possible, functional electronic devices that are no longer needed should be donated to charitable organizations.
Guidelines
5.14. UM6P is committed to reducing single-use plastic consumption on campus. This includes promoting the use of reusable materials, implementing alternatives to single-use plastics in food services and purchasing, and educating the community on sustainable practices.
5.15. Departments, schools and all UM6P entities are encouraged to go digital by adopting electronic documents and communication wherever possible. When printing is necessary, the use of double-sided printing is preferred.
5.16. UM6P actively promotes a circular economy approach to minimize waste by extending the lifecycle of materials through reuse and repurposing. It organizes regular donation initiatives in addition to periodic thrift markets to encourage the use of reusable items.
5.17. To manage organic waste, it is recommended to follow composting processes and convert it into nutrient-rich compost for use in campus landscaping projects or other.
5.18. Disposable items should be avoided wherever feasible, with preference given to reusable solutions to reduce waste generation at the source.
5.19. UM6P encourages waste management initiatives from within its community, supporting project ideas from students, faculty, and staff that promote sustainable waste practices, encourage circular economy and help reduce overall waste impact.