Waste
Introduction
Waste reduction mitigates the need to extract virgin materials from the earth, such as trees and metals. Reducing the generation of waste reduces the flow of waste to incinerators and landfills which produce greenhouse gas emissions, can contaminate air and groundwater supplies, and tend to have disproportionate negative impacts on low-income communities. Source reduction and waste diversion also save institutions costly landfill and hauling service fees. In addition, waste reduction campaigns can engage the entire campus community in contributing to a tangible sustainability goal.
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At the moment of disposal: how messaging techniques at university public outdoor waste receptacles can improve the solid waste stream
- University of Florida (FL)
Purpose: This study aims to test how waste disposal behaviors can be changed such as higher recycling diversion and lower contamination rates using signage and messaging techniques at public outdoor …
- Posted June 15, 2023
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Bottled vs tap water perceptions, choices and recommendations in a US Midwest university community
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (IL)
- University of Southern Maine (ME)
Purpose:This study aims to determine preference and concerns regarding tap vs bottled water and recommendations to increase tap water use in a US Midwest university. The authors propose interventions to …
- Posted June 15, 2023
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Waste governance and campus sustainability: formal and informal waste systems at football tailgates in Michigan
- Michigan State University (MI)
- University of St Andrews (Scotland)
Purpose: Football tailgating is a focus of campus sustainability in the United States because it produces large amounts of waste. In states where recyclables can be redeemed for cash, this …
- Posted June 15, 2023
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CUB Plastic Shipping Bag Recycling Program
- Gettysburg College (PA)
We implemented a plastic shipping bag recycling program at Gettysburg College. Recycling bags contribute towards contamination within the college's single-stream recycling or end up directly in the landfill via traditional …
- Posted June 15, 2023
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Student Led Composting in Residence Halls
- Drake University (IA)
In 2021, a student recognized the opportunity to reduce waste landfilled from residence halls. Working with Facilities, Residence Life, and Community Engaged Learning, a grant was applied for and received …
- Posted June 7, 2023
- Case Studies
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Ohio State's Composting Expansion
- The Ohio State University (OH)
Ohio State’s Compost Program Expansion led by Facilities, Operations, and Development (FOD), in collaboration with Student Life, Athletics, Wexner Medical Center, the Sustainability Institute, and many student groups, enabled the …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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OwlSwap– A Social Equity and Environmental Sustainability Textiles and Apparel Initiative at Kennesaw State University
- Kennesaw State University (GA)
Clothing production is one of the most polluting, resource-intensive industrial processes on the planet. On average, over 80 lbs of textile waste per person ends up in landfills every year, …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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The Community Action Center Project: Where Food Shelves Meet Carbon Offsets
- Carleton College (MN)
In the city of Northfield, MN, uneaten food typically ends up as waste in the landfill. As this food decomposes, it releases methane—a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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"Food Waste Prevention Week"
- University of California, Merced (CA)
The University of California, Merced's (UC Merced) Sustainable Food Programs is focused on and committed to surplus food recovery, food waste awareness and prevention, food security and more. UC Merced …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Sustainable Lab Community Engagement Campaign
- McGill University (QC)
McGill University is working toward two ambitious sustainability targets: to become zero-waste by 2035 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. As one of the top research universities in Canada …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Food Waste to Energy: From Pilot Scale Biogas to Grid Tied CHP on a Campus Farm
- Dickinson College (PA)
The Dickinson College Farm is culminating a multi-year project to convert campus food waste to sustainable energy through a grid-connected biogas system. Biogas is a carbon neutral, renewable alternative to …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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USC’s Single-use Plastics Elimination – Beverage Bottles Policy
- University of Southern California (CA)
The University of Southern California (USC) established the Single-use Plastics Elimination – Beverage Bottles Policy in July 2022, prohibiting the purchase or use of single-use plastic beverage products across the …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Bottle Filling Stations at UCI 2023
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
UCI Facilities Management in collaboration with the Campus as a Living Lab class brought together interns to embark on the revitalization of the bottle filling stations program. The pandemic halted …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Waste Management Education and Procedural Improvements at a Residential Dining Facility
- Wake Forest University (NC)
- Harvest Table Culinary Group (PA)
Sustainability features are only as effective as their operators. While the second largest dining facility at Wake Forest hosts several sustainability features, the compost program was lacking in strength due …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Marquette Career Closet
- Marquette University (WI)
Marquette Career Closet is a student-founded, university-adopted, service that provides access to professional clothes to students on campus to encourage them to pursue their career aspirations. This is done by …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Campus Zero Waste Program: Toward a Better Understanding of Zero Waste Program Success
- University of Florida (FL)
This research is a part of my dissertation and I have used AASHE Data to look into Zero Waste programs in HEIs
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Choose to Reuse
- Boston University (MA)
- ARAMARK at Boston University
Boston University’s Choose to Reuse program, offered at seven retail dining concepts in the George Sherman Union, provides students staff, and faculty the choice between ordering their meal on reusable …
- Posted May 23, 2023
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EcoArt Entertainment
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Wearing upcycled costumes, Brooklyn based Artichoke Dance Company performs as part of Campus Earth Day 2023. Artichoke Dance are EcoArtists and Environmental Activists. They are known for performances paired with …
- Posted May 22, 2023
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EcoArt Entertainment
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Wearing upcycled costumes, Brooklyn based Artichoke Dance Company performs as part of Campus Earth Day 2023. Artichoke Dance are EcoArtists and Environmental Activists. They are known for performances paired with …
- Posted May 22, 2023
- Photographs
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Keep CUP the good work! Is sustainable consumption a promise or all talk?
- Iowa State University (IA)
- Starbucks (WA)
Plastic waste has now spread to every corner of the globe. To avoid wreaking additional havoc on our world, wholesale change is needed. Collaboration, creative rewards, forward-thinking businesses, and consumer …
- Posted May 18, 2023
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A 6 step strategy to run measurable zero waste campaigns
- Zabble (CA)
Instead of conducting one-time or infrequent waste audits, we will share an alternative paradigm to reach concrete milestones towards your institution's zero waste journey. We will share best practices with …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Black and Brown Bodies in Green Spaces. How to Create Structural Change in the Zero Waste Movement
- Generation Conscious, Inc. (NY)
Join G.L. Genco as he shares his story on the founding of Generation Conscious and how he builds networks and power for intentionally exploited communities. Through this discussion, he'll share …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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Achieving zero-waste targets: residential & retail takeout dining
- USEFULL (MA)
This is a conversation to discuss the challenges and opportunities with takeout food packaging on campus.
- Posted May 17, 2023
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Are Waste Audits a Waste of Time? An Introduction to Brand Audits
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
Have you heard of a brand audit? Learn from PLAN Campaign Director Young about the success of brand audits vs. their traditional counterpart, waste audits, in creating accountability for waste. …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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Rebuilding Confidence in Recycling
- University of Vermont (VT)
- Busch Systems International Inc. (ON)
The past few years have been rough for recycling. Exaggerated media stories and misinformation about contamination and recycling being “broken” have caused a growing number of people to question the …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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An Educational Program on Organic Waste Composting and Compost End Use at Kean University
- Kean University (NJ)
An institutional-wide educational and behavior change campaign was initiated in 2021 at Kean University (KU) to promote organic waste recycling and composting on campus. The program focused on three areas …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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Bin Infrastructure Planning – Placement & Design Standards
- University of Michigan (MI)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
- Busch Systems International Inc. (ON)
This session facilitates knowledge exchange on how & where to implement standardized, public-facing bin infrastructure.
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Lightning Talks: Campus Operations (Group 1)
- Louisiana State University (LA)
- Stanford University (CA)
- University of North Carolina, Charlotte (NC)
This session consists of 3 15-minute Lightning Talk sessions related to culture and communications. The Lightning Talks are: End-to-end Visibility into Operations for a Connected Zero Waste Campus - This …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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The Break Free From Plastic Pledge
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
This holistic plastic elimination pledge has been signed onto by 19 schools-- Could you school be next? Learn about what our pledge is and how you can use it as …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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A Zero Waste Campus Is Possible
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
This session is an interactive presentation around how students can lead efforts to solve waste issues on their campuses by implementing new zero waste programs. We start with an overview …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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Developing a Comprehensive and Efficient Recycling Operation
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
This session will focus on steps the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) has taken aimed at the development of a comprehensive and efficient recycling operation and the effect those steps have …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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Compost Program Roll-out and Progression: Lessons Learned!
- University of Michigan (MI)
The University of Michigan will share an overview of their compost program progression, from the low-hanging fruit of composting pre-consumer waste from dining halls and commercial kitchens to implementing composting …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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Tackling Single-Use Plastics on Campus - What’s Working and What’s Not
- George Mason University (VA)
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
Plastic pollution has been a problem for decades and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated it. A University of California, Santa Barbara, study concluded that between 2002 and 2015 the …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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Zero Waste Campuses
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
This is a meetup for all students, staff, companies, and professionals that are working on campus Zero Waste efforts. Whether you're helping your campus achieve Zero Waste goals, or focusing …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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Eliminate Waste and Provide for the Underprivileged- A Free Store
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
The University of Tennessee – Knoxville’s program, The Free Store, is a community-based resource dedicated to helping UT students, faculty, and staff reduce their environmental impact and save money. It …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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Who is the Post-Landfill Action Network?
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
The Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN) was founded in 2013, by a group of college students. These students witnessed a systemic waste problem on their campus and developed the first student-led, …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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Small Actions, Massive Impact: Fighting Waste on Your Campus 101
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
Getting involved is a big step! This is an excellent session to attend if you are interested in starting a project to address waste systems on your campus but aren't …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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Finding Your Point of Intervention
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
In the zero waste community, there’s been a longstanding debate about whether individual action vs. collective action prompts the most effective change. What is your stance? How do you contribute …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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Meghan VanDamme leads composting initiative at CMU
- Central Michigan University (MI)
Meghan VanDamme and Central Sustainability collaborated with Facilities Management and CMU Residence Life to erect a compost drop-off at Northwest Apartments. The drop-off promotes sustainability by offering an opportunity for …
- Posted May 15, 2023
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Diverting Food Waste and Educating the Campus Community with Solar Powered Compost Kiosks at Illinois State University
- Illinois State University (IL)
The Illinois State University Compost Kiosks provide a model for other institutions in diverting food waste and reducing single-use plastic while educating and engaging the campus community in the act …
- Posted May 15, 2023
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Auburn University Earth Day 2023
- Auburn University (AL)
Earth Day is an annual event created to celebrate the environment and demonstrate support for environmental protection. More than one billion people in 192 countries participate in Earth Day activities …
- Posted May 10, 2023
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Auburn University Earth Day 2023
- Auburn University (AL)
Earth Day is an annual event created to celebrate the environment and demonstrate support for environmental protection. More than one billion people in 192 countries participate in Earth Day activities …
- Posted May 10, 2023
- Photographs
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Auburn University Earth Day 2023
- Auburn University (AL)
Earth Day is an annual event created to celebrate the environment and demonstrate support for environmental protection. More than one billion people in 192 countries participate in Earth Day activities …
- Posted May 10, 2023
- Photographs
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Hope College Students and Holland State Park Beach Cleanup Event
- Hope College (MI)
Hope College students partnered with local high school student leaders to host their annual (spring and fall) community cleanup event at Holland State Park. Together they collected nearly 102 pounds …
- Posted May 3, 2023
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Enhancing Students’ Environmental Skills Through A Solid Waste Sustainability Hub
- University of South Alabama (AL)
The objective of this project is to establish a solid waste sustainability hub that promotes environmental stewardship and education by focusing on waste reduction, recycling, reuse, and rethinking. A team …
- Posted May 2, 2023
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Waste Diversion at University of Florida- Case of a student organization
- University of Florida (FL)
I am Ashpreet Kaur, final year PhD student at University of Florida. I got a chance to become a member of a student organization at University of Florida who does …
- Posted April 27, 2023
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Waste Diversion at Creighton Softball Game
- Creighton University (NE)
Hattie Ames and Gabby Otero are helping Creighton fans divert their waste from the landfill.
- Posted April 21, 2023
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ReWear It Marquette
- Marquette University (WI)
Student-led monthly clothing swap organization on Marquette University's campus.
- Posted April 18, 2023
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Directory of Programs that Save Leftover Food After Events
- University of California, Merced (CA)
There has been increasing interest in programs which address leftover food at events. As the coordinator of one such program, No Food Left Behind, I receive regular inquiries from other …
- Posted Feb. 6, 2023
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Sustainable Move Out Donation Program
- Bentley University (MA)
Give ‘N Go Move Out Program at Bentley University Fall 2022 Update
Summary: Give ‘N Go is the Bentley program to support students during move out with the opportunity to …
- Posted Jan. 3, 2023
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.
All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.
OP 18: Waste Minimization & Diversion
- Total waste generated per weighted campus user, performance year
- Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline
- Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator
- Waste-related behavior change initiatives
- Waste auditing efforts
- Website URL - waste minimization and diversion efforts
OP 19: Construction & Demolition Waste Diversion
- Percentage of construction and demolition materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator
- Website URL - construction & demolition waste diversion efforts
OP 20: Hazardous Waste Management
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.