The compost is then used as fertilizer at campus gardens. The USU compost center produces bio activators that can accelerate the fermentation process in composting containers. At the USU temporary landfill site, there are 4 composting containers. Other sources of organic waste are dry leaves, lawns, and woods from the gardens. Organic waste is mostly produced by the canteen, cafeterias, and kitchens in staff houses around the campus. This activity is organized collectively by environmentally driven student communities such as EcoBiomedic (USU Faculty of Medicine), GoGreen & Art (Faculty of Social and Political Sciences), USU's KOMPAS, Rain Forest, and many others.
To raise awareness towards waste, USU has been actively participating in the World Clean-Up Day activities since 2018 involving students, lecturers, and the community around the campus. In managing journals and conferences, USU has established the Open Journal System and the Open Conference System which require no hardcopy. Several faculties have implemented a Computer Based Test (CBT) system for mid and final exams to reduce paper use. The Academic information system (SIA) is used by faculties and departments to conduct paperless academic activities. Students can access the Academic Portal information system to plan their activities per semester and view study results, effectively eliminating paper use in these activities. The use of online information systems for attendance management (Online Attendance), staff database (USU SIMSDM), correspondence (SITP), and online announcements (SIBOA) have greatly reduced paper usage. Tumbler and canvas bag production with the USU Green Campus logo serves as an attractive gimmick and a means of campaigning for plastic use reduction. This is in line with the "USU Zero Waste" program. Posters regarding the use of tumblers, reusable straws, and reusable tote bags for shopping help increase the awareness of the USU community to reduce plastic use. Posters raising awareness of paper use reduction and duplex printing are placed in offices and near printers to encourage employees to reduce paper use. USU Lib application for information on books available in the library and online book loan extension Online information systems and other mobile applications in libraries and e-books greatly reduce the use of paper. Online learning using USU E-Learning platforms has reduced paper usage up to 100% in teaching activities. This regulation is followed by circular letters at all faculties and departments to conserve energy, water, paper and plastic usage, and waste management.
USU's wish to become a green campus was emphasized by the issuance of a Rector Regulation in October 2019 regarding the Green Campus Movement at Universitas Sumatera Utara. Mature larvae are used as fish feed and the feed can be dried into compost. In addition to composting which has been going on for several years, organic waste from kitchens/cafeterias is processed using Black Solfier Fly Larvae at the USU temporary landfill site. Trash that cannot be recycled will be taken to the final disposal site provided by the Medan Sanitation Service. This is also the case for paper and cardboard waste which are still recyclable. Plastic waste such as plastic bottles and cups are stored at a temporary landfill, then taken to a recyclable materials vendor on Jalan Labu or to a trash bank in Selayang District which is then finally sold to a recycling factory. USU has provided separate trash bins for organic, inorganic, and recycled plastic waste in faculties and the main administration buildings. To raise the awareness of the academic community on waste reduction, USU has made posters on waste sorting, reduced the use of plastic bags and single-use plastic bottles, and recommended people to use tumblers, reusable straws, and personal shopping bags.