Hazardous Waste Management
Safe handling of toxic and hazardous waste at the East Al-Ekir Campus
Applied Science University generated 4,180 kilograms of toxic and hazardous waste in academic year 2024/25 and routed 100 per cent of it to licensed treatment through approved handlers, in compliance with the regulations of the Supreme Council for Environment of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
What the university actually does
- Laboratory chemical management. Laboratory chemical waste is collected, labelled and stored in dedicated hazardous-waste storage, then collected by licensed handlers for treatment and disposal.
- Electronic waste (e-waste). End-of-life computers, laboratory electronics and IT equipment are routed to approved e-waste recyclers rather than general waste.
- Batteries and accumulators. Spent batteries and accumulators are collected separately at dedicated collection points and sent to licensed handlers.
- Fluorescent lamps. Mercury-containing fluorescent lamps are handled as hazardous waste; the LED retrofit reported under the Energy category progressively reduces this stream.
- Medical and sharps waste. Sharps and medical waste from the campus clinic are managed through a licensed medical-waste handler.
Source: Bahrain.bh – Environment and nature (hazardous waste, licensed handlers) – https://bh.bh/new/en/environment_en.html
Hazardous waste by type – AY 2024/25
| Category | Volume (kg/yr) | Treatment route |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratory chemicals | 1,850 | Licensed chemical treatment |
| Electronic waste (e-waste) | 1,180 | Approved e-waste recyclers |
| Batteries and accumulators | 560 | Licensed handler |
| Fluorescent lamps | 360 | Mercury-safe handling |
| Medical / sharps | 230 | Licensed medical-waste handler |
| TOTAL | 4,180 | 100% licensed treatment |
In the national context – Kingdom of Bahrain
Applied Science University operates within the National Waste Management Strategy of the Kingdom of Bahrain, supervised by the Supreme Council for Environment in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The institutional waste programme aligns with the progressive national single-use plastics legislation, which provides external corroboration of the institutional direction.
| National measure | Scope | Relevance to ASU |
|---|---|---|
| Decision No. 11 of 2019 | Technical regulations for plastic products | Procurement standards on campus |
| Decision No. 77 of 2021 | Ban on plastic bottles / cups under 200 ml | Removed from campus outlets |
| Decision No. 14 of 2022 | Ban on single-use plastic bags under 35 microns | Campus retail compliance |
| Decision No. 7 of 2026 | Ban on single-use plastic bags under 57 microns | Ongoing campus compliance |
| National carbon neutrality 2060 | Waste-to-resource transition | Campus diversion + treatment |
Source: Ministry of Industry and Commerce – Decision No. 7 of 2026 (single-use plastics) – https://www.moic.gov.bh/en/node/6265
Source: Kingdom of Bahrain national portal – Environment Protection (recycling) – https://www.bahrain.bh/wps/portal/en/BNP/HomeNationalPortal
Source: Bahrain.bh – Environment and nature (waste treatment companies) – https://bh.bh/new/en/environment_en.html
The national framework is supported by licensed private-sector handlers including the Bahrain Waste Treatment Company and the Bahrain Recycling Plant, and the Kingdom marks National Environment Day on 4 February each year. Applied Science University contributes to these national outcomes at the campus scale through source segregation, diversion and licensed treatment.
Source: UNEP – Kingdom of Bahrain commits to environmental sustainability – https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/small-island-big-plans-kingdom-bahrain-commits-environmental-sustainability
Governance, monitoring and audit
The institutional waste programme is supervised by the Office of Sustainability, established under President Decision 14/2025, in coordination with the Procurement and Logistics Department (green procurement and source reduction) and the Facilities Directorate (collection, segregation and contractor management). Waste volumes are logged by stream and reviewed within the annual environmental footprint review and the institutional audit performed by KPMG Fakhro.
Source: ASU – Office of Sustainability – https://www.asu.edu.bh/about-us/office-of-sustainability/
In the 2020 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, Applied Science University recorded a Waste category score of 975 out of 1,800, and the institutional waste programme has expanded since then through enhanced segregation, the organic treatment route and the licensed hazardous-waste handling chain.
Supporting institutional pages
- https://www.asu.edu.bh/about-us/sustainability/
- https://www.asu.edu.bh/about-us/sustainability/recycling-program/
- https://www.asu.edu.bh/about-us/sustainability/paper-plastic-reduction/
- https://www.asu.edu.bh/about-us/sustainability/waste-management/
- https://www.asu.edu.bh/about-us/sustainability/hazardous-waste/
- https://www.asu.edu.bh/about-us/office-of-sustainability/