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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A New Paradigm for Campus Electronic Waste
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
State institutions of higher learning are saddled with insufficient budgets, antiquated laws and policies that make it difficult to deal effectively and equitably with the problem of electronic waste. It …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable E-Waste Education and Research
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
This presentation provides a review of two recent electronic waste (e-waste) education and research initiatives as part of a Sustainable Electronics Initiative at the University of Illinois Sustainable Technology Center: …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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RecycleMania: The Race to Zero Campus Waste
- University of Oregon (OR)
Join a dynamic panel of representatives from campuses large and small, public and private, who will discuss how they have used this EPA-sponsored, Keep America Beautiful-administered tournament to promote recycling …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Conducting a Waste Audit at a Large Urban Campus
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
In spring 2010, a comprehensive waste audit was conducted at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh by the students in Environmental Studies 390: Topics of Campus Sustainability. In order to fully …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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WMU EcoMug: An Initiative to Reduce Disposable Cups on Campus
- Western Michigan University (MI)
Western Michigan University spends over $32,000 annually on foam cups, paper cups, and plastics lids. There are additional "upstream" environmental and energy costs associated with manufacturing these products and "downstream" …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Educational Energy Audit - Combining Student Learning & Energy Efficiency
- Wilson College (PA)
In October, 2009, The Loyalton Group, energy consulting partner for Sodexo and their clients, conducted an energy audit at Wilson College, in Chambersburg, PA. Beyond the regular energy audit and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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600,000 Plastic Bags/year, No More: Leveraging the Classroom Experience for On-Campus Sustainability Initiatives.
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
The students of ENVS 3001 and Dining Services staff worked together to implement a shift from single-use plastic bags to reusable nylon at Grab-n-Go venues and convenience stores on campus. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Food Waste Tracking: The First Step Toward Food Waste Minimization
- LeanPath, Inc. (OR)
Food waste minimization is a key element of any portfolio of campus dining sustainability strategies. Food waste tracking is the first step toward minimization. This presentation will feature college and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Talking Trash: Getting the Best Data Out of Your Waste and Recycling
- Meredith College (NC)
- Pacific University (OR)
Join this presentation to learn about three different efforts to collect baseline data on recycling and waste on campus. An overview of a community-based social marketing campaign (CBSM) to "green" …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Assessing Solid Waste Management at the University of Northern British Columbia: A Major Step in Becoming Canada's Green University
- University of Northern British Columbia (BC)
In the summer of 2007 the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) trademarked itself as 'Canada's Green University,' launching a sustainability initiative encompassing all aspects of its teaching, research and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Growing Relationships Through Composting: A University Case Study
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
The University of Washington is a public, four-year institution with a 40,000 student enrollment. The campus population also includes more than 30,000 staff. In an effort to reduce the amount …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Appalachian State University- Working Toward a Zero Waste Event
- Appalachian State University (NC)
The purpose of this presentation is to outline the zero waste event for home town football games. ASU Brewer Kidd stadium will often have overcapacity at home games. This presentation …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Promoting Recycling at a Big Ten University: Garnering and Understanding Stakeholder Input for a Communication Strategy at Michigan State University
- Michigan State University (MI)
In 2006, Michigan State University (MSU) began systematically studying methods to improve campus sustainability efforts. The MSU Vice President for Finance and Operations launched the Boldness by Design Environmental Stewardship …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Beyond Recycling: Oureach and Education Across Campus
- Eastern Connecticut State University (CT)
At Eastern Connecticut State University, we are committed to developing a culture of awareness with regard to recycling and environmental ethics. The Center for Sustainable Energy Studies works closely with …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Effects of Education and Program Improvements on Garbage Disposal and Recycling Quantities
- Lenoir-Rhyne University (NC)
The project involved year long monitoring of dumpsters and recycling stations on the Lenoir-Rhyne College campus. A scale was drawn on each of these stations denoting measurements of height which …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Recycling During Student Move In and Move Out
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
Student Move In and Move Out are both times of heavy waste generation on most college campuses. The University of Colorado at Boulder has developed a means to divert tons …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Trayless Dining: The Triple Bottom Line Business and Social Case
- Aramark (PA)
Trayless dining is recognized as a significant opportunity to introduce sustainability into the dining stream. It represents a true triple bottom line initiative with environmental, economic, and social benefits. Yet, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Beyond Disposables: A Reusable To-go System
- Eckerd College (FL)
Each year millions of clamshell disposable containers end up in the landfill. This issue can be solved by implementing a reusable to-go system. The reusable to-go system consists of a …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Zero Waste Programs on Campus: How Low Can We Go?
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
A renewed emphasis on waste prevention is signaling an exciting shift among a growing number of college campuses, off-campus communities, and leading corporations internationally. Zero waste is no longer an …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Turning Trash into Transportation: Establishing and Growing a (Recycled) Campus-bicycle Sharing Program
- University of Kentucky (KY)
At the University of Kentucky we have developed a highly successful and innovative bicycle sharing program called the Wildcat Wheels Bicycle Library (www.wildcatwheels.org). The mission of our program is to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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How a Large Institution of Higher Learning can Impact Regional Growth on Sustainability Practices: Commercial Composting in the Pacific Northwest
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
The University of Washington is a public, four-year institution with a 40,000 student enrollment. The campus population also includes more than 30,000 faculty and staff. The Department of Housing and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Power of Partnership: Redefining Closed-Loop Recycling
- Green Mountain College (VT)
Green Mountain College reaffirmed its commitment to being a leader in sustainability by joining Casella Waste Systems Power of Three™ closed loop recycling initiative. The Power of Three is Casella's …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Collaborative Biodiesel Project
- Appalachian State University (NC)
The Collaborative Biodiesel Project is a student-led initiative at Appalachian State University and is partially funded by the EPA P3 Award: Student Design Competition for Sustainability. The purpose of the …
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
- Research Centers & Institutes
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Survey: Fans More Likely To Attend Games, Buy Hot Dogs if Stadium Composts Trash
Our latest national survey gives universities a new reason to go green: It’s smart business. Nearly a third of Americans said they’d be more likely to attend a game or …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Guest Blog: The Road to a Campus Plastic Bag Ban
- Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
During the 2012-2013 school year we passed a Student Union Senate resolution calling for an end to the distribution of plastic bags in campus stores. The year ended with little …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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AASHE Interview Series: Herb Sharpe, Corporate Director of Education and Health Care Solutions at Waste Management
- Waste Management (TX)
Judy Walton, AASHE's Chief Publications Officer, recently interviewed Herb Sharpe, Corporate Director of Education and Health Care Solutions at Waste Management, an AASHE Business Leader Member. Herb is responsible for …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Talking Trash for America Recycles Day
- College & University Recycling Coalition (DC)
The purpose of America Recycles Day is to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and waste reduction in conserving natural resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The 34 percent …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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AASHE Student Diary Series: From 'Compost Lady' to Compost Campus
- Lehigh University (PA)
In my last entry, I wrote about my preliminary composting research at Lehigh University as a first-year student. I am now a junior and compost research has remained an important …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Earning Green By Going Green: A Case Study of the Waste Stream at LIU Post
- LIU Post (NY)
Trash is considered something holding no value. It is something that is worthless or meaningless. Contrary to that definition, trash often always holds some value. At LIU Post, we throw …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Greening the Campus: Converting Organic Waste to Energy
- Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
This project explores the potential waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies based on current conditions at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) (e.g., waste resource availability) by proposing the following three feasible WtE converting …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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STARS Facts and Best Practices: Waste Reduction and Diversion
- AASHE (MA)
Last month, STARS Participants joined the ranks of hundreds of U.S. and Canadian institutions to participate in Recyclemania, a friendly competition to see who can reduce, reuse, and recycle the …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Natural Resources for the Public Good: A Student Campaign to End the Sale of Plastic Water Bottles and Fight Water Privatization at the University of California, Santa Cruz
- University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
Student campaigns to end the sale of plastic water bottles have grown in popularity in the United States over the past five years. However, most campaigns rely on information dissemination …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Starting from Scratch: Greening Your Game Day
- AASHE (MA)
- Keep America Beautiful (CT)
- College & University Recycling Coalition (DC)
Supported by AASHE, Keep America Beautiful, and the College and University Recycling Coalition, this toolkit provides a guide for institutions of higher education across the country to implement or improve …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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UCLA Campus Recycling Action Research Team
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
The UCLA Action Research Teams (ART) program gives students the opportunity to form research teams of 5-7 students that tackle issues of campus sustainability such as energy efficiency, transportation, waste …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Recycling after consumption: A Theory of Planned Behavior approach
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Research is needed to understand consumers' recycling behaviors to potentially increase the recovery rate of recyclable materials. Drawing from the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1985), we sought to understand …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Signaling Change: Studying the effect of price signals on disposable hot beverage cup consumption
- Tufts University (MA)
Every year, American food service businesses give away over 52 billion disposable paper coffee cups. Interestingly enough, the monetary and environmental costs of the production, purchase, and disposal of these …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Food and Fuel: Biogas Potential at Broward Dining Hall
- University of Florida (FL)
Biogas, a sustainable natural gas equivalent, can be produced from food waste using anaerobic digestion. Large amounts of food waste are produced at campus dining halls. The goals of the …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Big News on Campus
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
- Clemson University (SC)
- Yale University (CT)
Provides information on the environmental practices of several colleges in the U.S. Benefits of the Yale Sustainable Food Project for local farmers; Condition of living at the dormitories in Carnegie …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Making a large-scale campus rummage sale happen in 17 days!
- University of Missouri (MO)
Since 2007, MU has been perfecting a process for reducing residence hall waste at the end of the school year move out. Items collected are organized for a rummage sale. …
- Posted June 23, 2015
- Case Studies
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Biogas systems with anaerobic digestion for sustainability education and and research renewable energy production
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Biogas program consists of three anaerobic digestion facilities that divert organic wastes from landfills, destroy methane gas, generate electrical and thermal energy, and produce quality …
- Posted June 19, 2015
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FreeFest!
- California State University, East Bay (CA)
Since Spring 2011, California State University East Bay (CSUEB) Student Housing has been coordinating a move-out program for on-campus residents. This program is similar to move-out programs at other campuses …
- Posted June 19, 2015
- Case Studies
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RIT FoodShare
- Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
RIT FoodShare is an initiative designed to reduce food waste on campus while reducing food insecurity among RIT students. It consists of two components - a facebook group and a …
- Posted June 12, 2015
- Case Studies
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RecycleMania as a Campus as a Living Lab Project
- Central New Mexico Community College (NM)
Can college faculty help to reduce waste, increase recycling, and introduce sustainability concepts, all while sticking to their course learning outcomes? At Central New Mexico Community College, we found a …
- Posted June 11, 2015
- Case Studies
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Charging for Disposable to-go Boxes to Reduce Waste and Generate Sustainability Funds (Updated)
- Clarkson University (NY)
Multiple stakeholders came together at Clarkson University to implement a $0.50 charge on disposable to-go boxes in campus dining facilities. A reusable to-go box system was marketed and made available …
- Posted June 11, 2015
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Feasibility study of implementing an aerated static compost system for food waste in University of Hawaii at Manoa housing
- University of Hawaii at Manoa (HI)
There are no facilities on Oahu capable of converting the post-consumer food waste generated by the University of Hawaii into compost. This is an inquiry into the feasibility of implementing …
- Posted June 11, 2015
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Game Day Recycling at UTK
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
UT Recycling is working in partnership with UT Athletics, Aramark, Office of Sustainability, and Good Sports Always Recycle to eliminate at least 90% of waste created during athletic events through …
- Posted June 11, 2015
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Going Above and Beyond Niagara College's Waste Diversion Target
- Niagara College Canada (ON)
Niagara College's goal of achieving a 65% diversion rate has taken many years to find the best combination of strategies to work towards this sustainability target. Integrating waste management horizontally …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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Campus Salvage Move-Out Collection and Donation Program
- Coastal Carolina University (SC)
Campus Salvage is Coastal Carolina University's collection and donation program designed to divert unwanted items from the landfill when students move-out at the end of the year. The project is …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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The University of Arizona Pac-12 Zero Waste Event
- University of Arizona (AZ)
With inspiration and participation from the Green Sports Alliance, all Pac-12 universities participated in a friendly competition to see who could achieve a zero-waste home basketball game during the 2014-15 …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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Translating Perceptions into Action: Advancing Zero Waste in ASU Housing
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Report examines current solid waste management operational practices, infrastructure, stakeholder perceptions, and behavior pertaining to student housing on Arizona State University's (ASU) Tempe academic campus in order to inform strategies …
- Posted March 3, 2015
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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.