SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production - 2.2. Practice on waste disposal - Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences
SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production - 2.2. Practice on waste disposal
Last modified: 29. November 2025
2.2. Practice on waste disposal
The Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) applies a comprehensive waste management system across its campuses, fully aligned with national legislation, including the 2012 Waste Act (CLXXXV). Residual waste that cannot be reused or recycled is sent to authorized landfill sites, with careful documentation and monitoring to ensure environmental compliance and minimize impact.
https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=a1200185.tv
MATE actively promotes reuse and recycling through a selective collection system. Across its campuses, containers are provided for paper, plastics, metals, glass, and organic waste. These materials are collected regularly and transported by licensed waste management facilities to appropriate recycling plants, ensuring that valuable resources are recovered and returned to the production cycle. Internal programs also encourage the reuse of office supplies, furniture, and packaging materials, reducing landfill dependency.
To manage the collection, transportation, and processing of waste efficiently, MATE contracts professional waste management companies. These partners are responsible for the scheduled pick-up of sorted materials and their delivery to certified recycling or treatment facilities, in accordance with national standards. This outsourcing allows the university to operational efficiency while guaranteeing environmental compliance. Outsourcing is used to access specialized expertise, reduce operational burden, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, while maintaining accountability and oversight from the university.
Contracts with external service providers are carefully structured to define responsibilities, performance expectations, and reporting obligations. This ensures that the university retains control over quality, safety, and compliance with laws and internal policies, while benefiting from the efficiency and expertise of contractors. The Rector’s Instruction No. 9/2024 (IV. 08.) on the Procurement and Public Procurement Regulations outlines the criteria related to the acquisition of services.
Through these measures—including proper landfill use, selective waste collection, recycling, and reuse programs, supported by professional service providers—MATE fosters sustainable campus operations and raises awareness of responsible resource use among students, staff, and the broader university community. MATE has numerous research centres and projects that focus on issues related to waste utilization. You can find more information about valorisation on the following sites:
https://en.uni-mate.hu/sdg-2-zero-hunger-1-campus-food
https://en.uni-mate.hu/en/sdg-2-zero-hunger-1.2.-valorisation-of-production-wastes