CMU Promotes Waste Separation to Renewable Energy
25 June 2019
Corporate Communication and Alumni Relations Center (CCARC)
Chiang Mai University’s 12th Educational Development Plan (Year 2017 – 2021) aims to reduce greenhouse emissions by minimalizing the university’s Carbon Footprint and by utilizing “Smart City Management” principles.
Assistant Professor Dr. Pruk Aggarangsi, Director of Energy Research and Development Institute Nakornping, Chiang Mai University stated that the university aims to be a civil leader in sustainable waste management and as the university has a number of students living on campus, this is a perfect opportunity to begin teaching garbage separation and elimination. We shall build a learning center “Center of Biomass Garbage Management Complete Cycle” at the Mae Hia Demonstration Farm and the university will together with the Municipality of Chiang Mai begin collecting garbage.
When garbage reaches the factory, a machine will separate organic substances until only dried garbage is left over, allowing the separated organic substances to be fermented into biogas that will be used as renewable energy, while the dry garbage can be used to create recyclable material. Through this process the need for burning or burying waste is reduced by up to 80 – 90 %.
In order to implement this a change in lifestyle regarding waste disposal is required by the population of Chiang Mai University. Garbage will need to be separated by food waste and other materials such as bottles, plastic and cans, which may not be convenient for people at first as they may not be familiar with it.
Yet if we don’t begin to seriously address our waste production, we will confront an even more serious environmental problem. However the response so far by the population on the university’s campuses and hospital have been positive.
Chiang Mai University expects students and external persons to learn about these actions and begin sharing this in society in order to slowly change the culture regarding waste management and the utilization of renewable energy. Chiang Mai University would like to invite all concerning offices including housing estates, public and private sectors and the general public who have an interest in this waste management to renewable energy system to come and visit the center or join one of their training courses.