Economic and environmental prospects of implementation of waste management systems in higher educational institutions (HEIs): A study on IIT Indore campus

Abstract

Waste management at HEIs presents peculiar challenges as an educational institution operates like a mini municipality. Therefore, this work will discuss the waste management practices at IITIand the quantification of both organic and inorganic waste. Residential hostels, on average, produce 68 kg of waste per day, but married scholar residences exceed this mark, thus demanding suitable and effective management strategies. Advanced time series models, including SARIMA, Prophet, and Holt-Winters, were utilized to predict waste trends

ARIMA was the most accurate of the three (RMSE = 27.24 kg). A techno-economic analysis of the proposed on-site waste treatment facilities revealed that the biogas plant could achieve a payback period of 20 months, with a cumulative cash inflow of INR 3.14 Million (approximately 35,356.18 USD) over three years. Similarly, a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) is expected to break even in four years with a Net Present Value (NPV) of INR 15.18 Million (170,894.28 USD) over a decade. The results indicate that, in HEIs, source segregation, stakeholder engagement, and infrastructure development for integrated waste management systems minimize environmental impacts and are financially viable. The proposed predictive waste management framework will integrate cost-effective treatment options with waste reduction strategies to promote a circular economy. These results can serve as recommendations for policymakers and campus administrators to enhance sustainability in their waste management practices. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.