The Integrated Waste Disposal Facility (Tempat Pembuangan Sampah Terpadu/TPST) of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) received a visit from a delegation of the School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), on Thursday (10/30).

The visit was part of ongoing academic collaboration activities between the Faculty of Medicine of USU and USM, aimed at strengthening cross-disciplinary cooperation, particularly in the fields of environmental research and public health.

The USM delegation was welcomed directly by the Head of TPST USU Research, Zaid Perdana Nasution, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., along with the TPST student research team. In his remarks, Zaid Perdana expressed his enthusiasm and appreciation for the visit from the Malaysian delegation.

“We are very pleased to share our experiences and showcase the waste management system that we have developed at USU. TPST is not merely a processing facility, but also a living laboratory that supports multidisciplinary student research activities,” said Zaid.

During the visit, the USM delegation was invited to tour the facility and observe firsthand various waste management innovations implemented at TPST USU. These included the processing of organic waste into compost, the utilization of plastic waste for construction materials, and a digital technology–based waste sorting system developed by the research team. In addition, the TPST team also showcased several student innovation products, such as organic fertilizer, environmentally friendly briquettes, and prototypes of small-scale recycling equipment.

A representative from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Dr. Nur Alia Zakaria, expressed her admiration for USU’s waste management system, which she considered efficient and highly educational.

“We see TPST USU not only as a waste management facility, but also as a learning center that can serve as a model for collaboration between universities and communities. The approach implemented here is very inspiring,” she stated.

The activity also served as an opportunity for both universities to explore further research collaboration, particularly in the areas of environmental health, medical waste management, and sustainable development. Through this visit, it is hoped that stronger synergy will be established between the fields of environmental engineering, medicine, and public health.

According to Zaid Perdana, TPST USU currently functions not only as a campus waste management center, but has also become a hub for education and sustainable research that is open to international collaboration.

“USU continues to strive to make TPST a learning center accessible to students, researchers, and even the wider community. Through collaboration with USM, we hope to develop joint research that has a positive impact on the environment and public health in the Southeast Asian region,” he explained.

The visit concluded with a discussion session and an exchange of ideas between the TPST USU team and the USM delegation regarding the potential development of environmentally friendly campus waste management technologies. Both parties agreed that cross-country collaboration in environmental and health research is a strategic step toward supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the area of sustainable production and consumption.

With this collaborative spirit, TPST USU continues to demonstrate its role as a university environmental innovation center that not only focuses on campus waste management, but also contributes to sustainable research and education at both national and international levels.