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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Adopting Real Collegiate Zero Waste Principles: Change Management's Finest Hour
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- University of Florida (FL)
Zero waste represents a new means of elevating sustainability operations and student leadership at colleges and universities.
However, the term "zero waste" is often misunderstood and increasingly used without clear …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Implementing a Sustainable Post-Consumer Composting Program for a Large Campus Community
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
- Aramark (PA)
At most universities food service operations generate a substantial amount of waste.
At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), the university recycling program, UT Recycling, and the Dining Service Company, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Paper Sourcing: Easy Wins on Campus, Huge Impacts in the Forest
- Forest Stewardship Council (MN)
- World Wildlife Fund (DC)
Overall paper consumption globally is on the rise. In the US alone we consume 500 lbs. of paper per capita, which is more than any other country. 40% of the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Food Waste Management: Developing a Comprehensive Food Waste Management System for Green Campus
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
Food waste is one of the most challenging components in the waste stream. Americans refuse 25% of all the food they prepare each year, leading to 33 million tons of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Pulp Up the Volume: Maximizing Waste Diversion and Student Empowerment
- College of Charleston (SC)
In the fall of 2012, the College of Charleston began composting with the use a pulper in the dining hall City Bistro. (This machine utilizes a recycled stream of water …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Optimizing and Designing Waste Diversion Programs
- New York University (NY)
Typical universities waste streams – often including residential, classroom and office spaces – are varied and require multifaceted protocols to optimize the handling and diversion of materials from landfills. This …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Turning Trash into Cash: The USD E-Waste Collection Center
- University of San Diego (CA)
Electronic waste is the largest growing municipal waste stream in the United States. As technology continues to advance, consumers continue to buy new electronics, but where can they properly dispose …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Make the Most of Recycling: Move It Out of the Recycling Department
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Arizona State University Mail Services has created a recycling collection channel that is designed to promote and enhance the recycling efforts on campus. What started as a process designed to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Identifying Environmental Literature that Provides the Philosophical Basis of Recycling
- Brigham Young University (UT)
A keen observer of how ordinary events illuminate sustainable behavior Aldo Leopold wrote “I have read many definitions of what is a conservationist and written not a few myself, but …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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What Does Library And Technology Services (LTS) Have To Do With Sustainability? How LTS Is Adapting To The Campus Sustainability Plan.
- Lehigh University (PA)
In Fall 2012, Lehigh University adopted its first comprehensive Campus Sustainability Plan. In response to the plan, the Library and Technology Services stem created the LTS Green Team. The LTS …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Leaders for the Environment, Art, and Design (LEAD): Educating Students About Impacts and Issues of Fashion, Art, and Design
- Santa Clara University (CA)
For the past three years, students at Santa Clara University have hosted an Eco-Fashion Show and a “Swap for Good” clothing exchange, engaging students about the social, economic, and environmental …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Greeks Think Green
- University of Arizona (AZ)
In August 2012, the University of Arizona’s (UA) Students for Sustainability (SfS) developed an initiative to educate UA Greek Life in becoming more sustainable. Greek Life is the largest organization …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Greening the Game: Football and Beyond
- University of Arizona (AZ)
In 2011, University of Arizona’s (UA) Students for Sustainability (SFS) saw an opportunity to bring together an entire community to embrace sustainability. Tens of thousands of fans populate the UA …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Love Food Hate Waste: A Case Study on Engaging Students and equiping them with life long learning skills
- Western Sydney University (NSW)
The global food system is under pressure from exploding population growth and food waste is a major issue throughout the world. We throw away millions of tonnes of food and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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An In-depth Analysis of Waste Trends and Reuse Potential in Dining Facilities
- West Virginia University (WV)
In the United States, less than three percent of the 34 million tons of food waste generated was recovered or recycled in 2010. This represents the single largest component of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Waste and Access: Communicating about sustainability between universities in developed and developing countries
- Yale University (CT)
Sustainability initiatives in the United States are largely focused on reducing waste in terms of materials, water, energy, fuel, and even time and money. In less economically developed countries, however, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Greening the Team: Enhancing the Sustainability of Collegiate Athletic Facilities
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- University of Southern California (CA)
- Green Sports Alliance (OR)
- Natural Resources Defense Council (DC)
Athletic facilities are often the centerpieces of higher education campuses, where people come together and school spirit is built. They are also venues offering vast opportunities for positive impact on …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Zero Waste Stadiums: Don't Be Scared (Or Maybe A Little)
- The Ohio State University (OH)
- University of California, Davis (CA)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
Join us for an interactive session on Zero Waste sports venues. A zero waste stadium is commonly defined as one that achieves or seeks to achieve 90% diversion rate or …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Feed The Beast: Organic Waste Collection in a Campus Food Court
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
To gauge the feasibility of organic waste separation in a public setting, we studied the effect of introducing new waste receptacles into a student union food court. The public education …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Collaborative Approach: Community Waste Management at Carleton College
- Carleton College (MN)
Successful waste management should engage and involve the entire campus community. Through the Community Waste Program, we collaboratively sought to provide composting in academic and administrative campus buildings, reduce the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Determining the GHG Emissions from Composting at The University of Arizona
- University of Arizona (AZ)
This study uses leading industry standards to quantify the net greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) associated with Compost Cats, a student-run composting program at The University of Arizona. The Climate Action …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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E-trash or E-treasure: An Innovative Approach to In-house Desktop Computer Dismantling and E-waste Disposal
- Purdue University (IN)
With the current pace of technological innovation and change, e-waste is on the rise and a reality all institutions of higher education have to address. Given the recent negative media …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Deconstructing a Deconstruction: Is a Ton of Recycled Material Worth a Ton of Work?
- Williams College (MA)
- Integrated Eco Strategy (MA)
During the summer of 2011, Seeley House, a small faculty office building and portions of Kellogg House, the one time home of the Center for Environmental Studies, were deconstructed under …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Utilizing Student Engagement for a Startup Composting Program
- University of South Carolina (SC)
Over the course of the 2011-2012 academic year, the University of South Carolina has engaged its students in a campus-wide composting project which has become a proven example of student …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Foam-Free Dining at the University of Florida
- Aramark (PA)
Gator Dining Services/ARAMARK removed all foam food packaging from all dining location, including the dining halls, Classic Fare Catering, and the national brands on University of Florida's campus. The elimination …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Give Us Your Scraps! How You Can Make a Significant Sustainable Impact Through Campus Composting
- University at Buffalo (NY)
Two years ago our institution, preceded by innovation in trayless dining practices and reverse vending machines-initiated an aggressive composting strategy designed to greatly reduce food waste from our dining halls. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Humanure: A Topic to Challenge Existing Paradigms and Garner Fresh Interest in Sustainability in the Classroom
- California State University, Monterey Bay (CA)
Humanure refers to the process of composting human excretion so as to produce fertile soil. More than just an eye-opening topic, it speaks to a different paradigm to looking at …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Creating a Successful Reusable Mug Incentive Program for a Large Campus Community
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
- Aramark (PA)
Food service operations generate a substantial portion of the waste stream at most universities. The University Recycling Department and Dining Service Company have partnered over the years to combat waste …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Water, Waste and Landscaping:How Old Dominion University Facilities Management Manages and Practices Sustainability
- Old Dominion University (VA)
The main goal for my presentation is to share information with attendees on how Old Dominion University Facilities Management manages water, waste and landscaping into our sustainability efforts. ODU made …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Improving Collections Efficiencies through Departmental Collaboration
- Appalachian State University (NC)
During these challenging economic times, it is important that colleges and universities find ways in which they can operate more efficiency, often with less resource availability. Appalachian State University has …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Collaboration toward Sustainable Food Service
- Emory University (GA)
- Ithaca College (NY)
- Pomona College (CA)
Sustainability in Food Service is a fairly new topic in higher education and it is being addressed in a variety of ways. Dining Services consumes large quantities of campus energy …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Recycling & Zero Waste Workshop
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Managing materials and resource flows on college campuses are vital to reducing campus greenhouse gas production and creating a sustainable campus. The Campus Recycling & Zero Waste workshop will feature …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Combining Bottled Water Reductions with Outreach: E-Signage for Hydration Stations at The University of British Columbia
- The University of British Columbia (BC)
In order to reduce purchases of bottled water at The University of British Columbia (UBC), the Alma Mater Society (AMS) installed two Waterfillz hydration stations in the UBC Student Union …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Maximizing Reuse and Recycling Diversion Opportunities Through Campus Partnerships
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
This presentation describes a case study of a significant reuse and recycling intervention at UC Berkeley that was successful largely due to the heavy collaboration between student organizations and various …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Zero Waste Venues - Focus on Athletics/Sports Venues: Perspectives from three Campuses
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- University of Southern California (CA)
Many campuses have a strong recycling infrastructure in place for day-to-day recycling collections and waste minimization, but may or may not have such a strong program specifically for Athletic events. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Impure Public Good Consumption: A Field Experiment
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
Impure public goods such as recycling, green electricity, and composting offer private consumption, warm glow through the private provision of the public good, and the potential for social rewards. Research …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Know Your Products, Know Yourself: Learning to Be An Environmentally Just Student
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
In the sustainability world we are bombarded constantly on how consumerism impacts our environment, but we rarely hear about the social impact. At this session participants will learn how their …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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In-Vessel Composting - From Farm to Kitchen to Compost, and Back to Farm
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
Space on any campus is limited especially when you mention you want to compost food. In-vessel composting is a viable way to compost all your food while keeping odor under …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Food Fight: EPA's Food Recovery Challenge Strives to Reduce Food Waste
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
Food is the number one material reaching landfills and accounts for 13% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. In order to decrease the significant environmental impact of food …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Scaling up Campus Vermicomposting: A Cost Effective Methodology for Dealing with Pre-Consumer Organics
- The University of British Columbia (BC)
A large institution produces thousands of tonnes of solid waste annually, a large portion of which is taken to the municipal landfill. With increasing land values and rising fuel prices, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Creating a Socially Responsible Revenue Stream for Sustainability: The (Your University Name Here) E-Waste Collection Center
- University of San Diego (CA)
How many old cell phones do you have stuffed in drawers in your kitchen? Has your old laptop been collecting dust under your couch since you bought your new MacBook? …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Case Study of the Campus-wide Dining Waste Audit at West Virginia
- West Virginia University at Parkersburg (WV)
- West Virginia University (WV)
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, less than three percent of the 34 million tons of food waste generated was recovered or recycled in 2010. Food waste now …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Campus Re-Store Comes Into Its Own: Sustainability Meets Entrepreneurship
- Bowling Green State University (OH)
The university's Re-Use store makes variety of items available to students in a unique retail format based on the sustainable theme of re-use and resource conservation. Items are available on …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Role of Dining Services in Sustainability Programming
- Ithaca College (NY)
Ithaca College and their food service provider, Sodexo Corporation, have worked together since 2009 to give continued support to the campuses Climate Action Plan through a Comprehensive Energy Initiative. Staffers …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Suburban Composting at Johnson County Community College: Looking at the First Year of Operations.
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
The process of composting food residuals from dining service operations has been gaining in popularity at college campuses across the country in recent years. While an estimated 12% of the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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RecycleMania Update & Planning Roundtable
- Keep America Beautiful (CT)
This session will combine a brief presentation with facilitated roundtable discussions. RecycleMania staff will give a 10 minute presentation previewing the 2013 program including new categories and promotional resources. The …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Recycling can be the Most Cost-Effective Method of Solid Waste Management for Colleges and Universities
- Loyola Marymount University (CA)
Collegiate recycling programs have proliferated to almost all higher educational campuses, yet many administrators from continue to believe that recycling services can add tens or hundreds of thousand dollars to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Researching Two On-site Food Waste Reduction Technologies at an Urban University
- Loyola Marymount University (CA)
This presentation will discuss two research projects conducted at Loyola Marymount University on the effectiveness of on-site food waste reduction technologies. The first study analyzed a food waste dehydration system …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Bridging the Digital Divide Through E-Waste Diversion And Electronic Resources Management
- Temple University (PA)
This session will provide a case study of how a university can implement a life-cycle management approach to electronic waste that is financially sustainable and that works to bridge the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Changing the Game: Moving Your Institution to a Zero-Waste Paradigm
- University of Calgary (AB)
How do you go from one-off projects to a transformational shift in the way your campus manages waste? Introduce a Zero Waste paradigm-shift on your campus by bringing cross-departmental teams …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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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.