The website was developed by students with special needs during their internship at the Faculty of Information Technology to support and implement the terms of reference of the Department of Information Technology.

BAN KI-MOON INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
EN RU KZ
News

KazNU systematically measures food waste

Overview

KazNU systematically measures food waste

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University systematically measures and records waste generated by university cafeterias and other food service facilities. This work is intended to obtain reliable information about the amount of waste, improve processing efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of the University’s food service system.

The record-keeping requirements are established by the University Policy on Food Waste Assessment, Processing Efficiency, and Utilization. The policy requires the systematic measurement of food waste generated in on-campus cafeterias and extends the record-keeping requirements to external contractors providing food services on University premises. The document is published on the official webpage of the KazNU Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology.

According to the Al-Farabi KazNU 17 SDG Annual Report 2024–2025, data on the quantity, segregation and disposal of organic waste are collected monthly. The monitoring covers University cafeterias and food services provided by external contractors.

During 2024–2025, KazNU processed more than 12 tonnes of organic waste. The waste was used to produce biogas and biofertilisers through the University’s composting and resource-efficiency initiatives. This figure represents the amount of organic waste processed and is not presented as the total amount of all food waste generated on University premises.

The regular data collection system enables KazNU to monitor the management of organic waste, oversee compliance with the established requirements by food service facilities, and improve measures for waste prevention, segregation and further processing. The inclusion of external food service providers in the monitoring system ensures that food waste is covered regardless of whether the services are delivered directly by the University or outsourced.

KazNU therefore has an institutional policy and a regular mechanism for collecting food waste data. Monthly records covering the quantity, segregation and disposal of waste, including waste generated by external food service providers, demonstrate the systematic nature of the University’s monitoring.

Official documents and materials

  1. Al-Farabi KazNU 17 SDG Annual Report 2024–2025. The report confirms the monthly collection of data on the quantity, segregation and disposal of organic waste, the inclusion of University cafeterias and external food service providers, and the processing of more than 12 tonnes of organic waste during 2024–2025.
  2. University Policy on Food Waste Assessment, Processing Efficiency, and Utilization. The policy establishes requirements for the systematic measurement of food waste generated by on-campus cafeterias and outsourced food service providers.
  3. KazNU section on Responsible Consumption and Production. This section contains University policies and materials concerning waste management, sustainable food, waste processing and the reduction of disposable materials.

Primary reporting period: 2025
Period covered by the quantitative data: 2024–2025
Frequency of measurement: Monthly
Date of the most recent update: 2026