Sustainable Solid Waste Systems in Higher Education: A Multi-Framework Analysis at UP Open University

This study critically examined the solid waste management (SWM) practices at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), a digitally oriented institution located within the ecologically sensitive Los Baños-Makiling Watershed. Despite its minimal physical waste footprint, UPOU's waste system suffers from operational fragmentation, limited stakeholder engagement, and weak institutional prioritization. To address these systemic inefficiencies, the researchers employed a multi-framework approach, integrating systems thinking, social network analysis, circular economy principles, and futures thinking. Findings revealed that SWM is hindered by siloed responsibilities, underutilized infrastructure such as the Materials Recovery Facility, and a prevailing mindset that minimizes the urgency of waste issues. The study culminated in a proposed SWM framework for UPOU focused on four strategic pillars: shifting institutional culture, strengthening stakeholder inclusion, enhancing operational systems, and building futures capacity. The framework demonstrates how even low-waste institutions can lead in sustainability through intentional systems design, collaborative governance, and regenerative thinking. This model offers a scalable strategy for embedding sustainability within higher education institutions globally.