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.
Featured Resources
Latest News from AASHE Bulletin
New Resources
Integrated educational food garden and composting
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
Striving towards zero waste and with a close-the-loop philosophy, CSUN students are diverting over 35,000 pounds of pre-consumer waste/year and turning it back into food via an on campus compost …
- Posted June 10, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
Composting for a Greener Campus: the Texas State University Bobcat Blend program
- Texas State University, San Marcos (TX)
Bobcat Blend is a faculty managed, student-run and grant-supported research and teaching-oriented waste management campus composting program at Texas State University. The goals of the organization are to teach students, …
- Posted June 10, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
Zero Waste Game Day at Duke University
- Duke University (NC)
Leading up to the 2014 Duke Football season, a formal partnership was created between Duke Athletics, Duke Recycling, Duke Stores, and the Duke Sustainability Office in order to successfully achieve …
- Posted June 10, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
UW–Madison Receipt Reduction Project
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
Over a span of two years, teams of students, faculty, and staff at the University of Wisconsin–Madison eliminated mandatory receipt printing at campus dining centers, restaurants, markets, and cafes. Within …
- Posted June 10, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
Bagging the Disposable Plastic Bag
- Case Western Reserve University (OH)
- Bon Appétit Management Company
The Student Sustainability Council at Case Western Reserve University removed disposable plastic bags from campus dining locations and replaced them with reusable bags.
- Posted June 10, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
Changing Norms by Changing Behavior: The Princeton Drink Local Program
- Princeton University (NJ)
Unprecedented levels of global bottled water consumption present a major challenge for the environment and water conservation initiatives. Educational institutions are in a unique position to promote conservation behavior by …
- Posted June 10, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Brown's- A California Cafe
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
This August, Cal Dining opened brown’s- a california café. By design, over 80% of the ingredients used are sourced locally from within 250 miles of the UC Berkeley campus and …
- Posted June 10, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
Ohio University Move-Out Sustainability Project
- Ohio University (OH)
Each year during student Move Out week, Ohio University's Department of Recycling and Zero Waste partners with the City of Athens, Athens Hocking Recycling Center, local businesses, community non-profit organizations …
- Posted June 9, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
Recycle Your Plastics
- American Chemistry Council (DC)
RecycleYourPlastics.org is an easy to use resource on plastics recycling for recycling professionals. The site includes resources such as user-friendly tips and tools, best practices, ready access to experts and …
- Posted June 9, 2016
- Tools
- View more
Development of a Novel Food Waste Collection Kiosk and Waste-to-Energy Business Model
- University of Toledo (OH)
The US generates more than 37 million metric tons of food waste each year and over 95% of it is disposed of at US landfills. This paper describes the development …
- Posted June 9, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Love Food, Hate Waste: Analyzing Food Waste and Reduction at Rice University
- Rice University (TX)
It is known that about 30% of food produced worldwide is ultimately wasted (Gunders 2012). Rice University is not immune to this phenomenon, and past research has shown that Rice …
- Posted June 7, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Quantifying the components of the mass and energy balance of a black soldier fly (BSF) food waste composting system
- Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
Project Description:
An academic institution represents a constrained system that generates a consistent amount of waste. Bioconversion of organic food waste with Black solider fly (Hermetia illucens;Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larave …
- Posted June 6, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Unifying Campus Efforts in Pursuit of Green Restaurant Certification at UC Irvine's East Food Court
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
UC Irvine's East Food Court became a Certified Green Restaurant on November 5, 2015 and upgraded its certification from 2-Star to 3-Star on April 22, 2016 through significant interdepartmental collaborations …
- Posted June 6, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
From in-vessel campus composting to sustainable urban farming: connecting science with education and community service
- Kean University (NJ)
Kean University runs a food scrap composting program with a custom-designed in-vessel composter capable of composting up to 1000 pounds of food scraps per day. It diverts food scraps from …
- Posted June 6, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
Stash It, Don’t Trash It Move-Out Reuse Initiative
- College of Saint Benedict (MN)
As the semester nears its end, students from all over campus pitch their unwanted items to the curb. These items range from unopened soup cans to couches and mini fridges. …
- Posted June 6, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
Grizz's Garage: Dorm Item Resale
- University of Puget Sound (WA)
During Spring Move-Out, students donate their unwanted but still usable dorm items, such as shower caddies, rugs, and hangers, and then the items are re-sold to first-year students during Fall …
- Posted June 6, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
One-Class-One-Project: Using service learning to engage students in sustainability
- Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)
The University Colloquium is the sustainability capstone to the Florida Gulf Coast University experiences that utilizes service learning as a tool to engage students in experiential learning within the community. …
- Posted June 6, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
Map More, Waste Less: A Study in How GIS Helps Texas A&M Prevent Waste
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Introduction:
During the Spring of 2016, the Texas A&M Geography Society, a student organization that performs undergraduate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) research, set out to help SSC Services for Education …
- Posted June 6, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Boston University Zero Waste Commencement
- Aramark (PA)
Boston University is a private research institution located in Boston, Massachusetts with approximately 33,000 undergradate and graduate students. During Commencement week, Boston University Dining Services/Aramark serves more than 40,000 patrons …
- Posted June 6, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
Reusable water bottle for incoming freshmen
- University of Michigan (MI)
Reusable water bottles are being provided to all incoming freshmen at the University of Michigan as a Planet Blue Sustainability initiative. The project was piloted for 3 years and is …
- Posted June 3, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
What’s Wrong with the Tap? Examining Perceptions of Tap Water and Bottled Water at Purdue University
- Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (MN)
- Purdue University (IN)
The environmental impacts of bottled water prompted us to explore drinking water choices at Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, IN. A random sample of 2,045 Purdue University students, staff, …
- Posted June 3, 2016
- Publications
- View more
UC Irvine Styrofoam Recycling Pilot Program
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
As UC Irvine strives to become a Zero Waste campus by 2020, the Facilities Management Sustainability Team of student workers has become more innovative in the ways to divert materials …
- Posted June 3, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
Leading by Collaboration: Institutional composting on a non-residential campus
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
JCCC's composting initiatives have changed operational practices and enriched campus culture in many ways. Those directly involved in our composting work are passionate about reducing food waste, handling it appropriately, …
- Posted June 1, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
The Sustainable Bookstore: Giving New Life to Discarded University Library Books
- Appalachian State University (NC)
When the Appalachian State University library culled its stacks, close to 80,000 books were slated to be recycled. Many of these books, some dating back to the late 1800s, contain …
- Posted June 1, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
Student Sustainability Sculptures Contest
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
Beginning in 2011, Johnson County Community College art faculty member Mark Cowardin assigned his Sculpture II students a project requiring the design, proposal, planning, and installation of a public art …
- Posted June 1, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
SRU Earth Days 2016
- Slippery Rock University (PA)
“Earth Days 2016” was Slippery Rock University’s annual Earth Day celebration involving fun and educational events aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge regarding sustainability, climate change, and preserving resources/our environment …
- Posted May 31, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
NC State University Students Leverage Partnerships To Eliminate Plastic Bags on Campus
- North Carolina State University (NC)
Over a three-year period, the NC State Stewards collaborated with the university’s Campus Enterprises division to move toward the elimination of single-use plastic bags in the most wasteful locations on …
- Posted May 31, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
UMass New2U Reuse Collection and Tag Sale
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
New2U is a student-led program that is in its 3rd year of operation. New2U collects unwanted items from across campus each spring during move-out and resells these collected item each …
- Posted May 26, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
Warriors Don’t Waste: Improving the Waste Stream at Eastern Connecticut State University.
- Eastern Connecticut State University (CT)
In early 2015 Eastern’s Green Campus Committee started to tackle the major initiative of improving the campus waste stream. In taking on this project the committee knew that there would …
- Posted May 24, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
Implementing sustainability education with undergraduate business courses, A case study
- Alfred State College (NY)
The purpose of this submission is to discuss experiential learning related to strategic management and environmental sustainability. The paper outlines one case of implementing project-based sustainability education within the BUAD …
- Posted May 23, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
University of Redlands Proposal for Expanded Composting
- University of Redlands (CA)
We are currently living in a time with inequity, economic instability and environmental degradation. The University of Redlands campus claims to be sustainable, however, we lack many forms of renewable …
- Posted May 23, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
University of Redlands Proposal for Expanded Composting
- University of Redlands (CA)
We are currently living in a time with inequity, economic instability and environmental degradation. The University of Redlands campus claims to be sustainable, however, we lack many forms of renewable …
- Posted May 23, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Earth Days 2016 at Johnson County Community College
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
Our Earth Days 2016 events included several activities in addition to those pictured here, but these were two of our most popular. Epicenter, a one-day, student-focused conference on careers in …
- Posted May 11, 2016
- Photographs
- View more
SustainableCI "What's On Your Plate" Challenge
- California State University, Channel Islands (CA)
GIven California's drought situation, it was important to have a water themed challenge for Earth Day 2016, and using http://graphics.latimes.com/food-water-footprint/ as a reference source, "What's On Your Plate" was created …
- Posted May 5, 2016
- Photographs
- View more
University of New Hampshire Dumpster Dive
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
The “Earth Day Dumpster Dive,” was organized by the UNH Sustainability Institute and the Zero Waste Task Force and sought to examine the waste habits of the campus community in …
- Posted May 3, 2016
- Photographs
- View more
Earth Day at California State University, East Bay!
- California State University, East Bay (CA)
The Zero Waste Team was out tabling this Earth Day along with the Solar Club, GIS, ASI, the Biology Department, Transportation and Parking Services, and other organizations on campus!
- Posted April 28, 2016
- Photographs
- View more
Stock Images for Waste Signs
- Babson College (MA)
Cut-out images with transparent backgrounds of various items for use in recycling, trash, and compost informational materials.
Images created by Connie Hsu and Sheen Hui for the Babson College Sustainability …
- Posted April 26, 2016
- Outreach Materials
- View more
Food Scraps Composting on College/University Campuses: A Step-by-Step Guide
- FOR Solutions, LLC (NJ)
In "Food Scraps Composting on College/University Campuses: A Step-by-Step Guide", you will learn:
-
How to select the proper technology for composting on your campus.
-
How to implement that technology to …
- Posted April 25, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Food Scraps Composting Laboratory
- Kean University (NJ)
Kean University in New Jersey installed a rotary drum composter to process pre and postconsumer food waste from campus dining facilities.
- Posted April 25, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Recycling system at the University of Iceland
- University of Iceland
In February 2016 changes were made to the recycling system at the University of Iceland in order to conform with the City of Reykjavík. The changes affect the blue bags, …
- Posted April 25, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
Eco Hawks: Sustainability @ UIowa
- University of Iowa (IA)
Climate change is the greatest issue of our time and sustainability is the solution. Here at the University of Iowa, a place that provides services to not only Iowans but …
- Posted April 22, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
North D Compost Pilot
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA)
After conducting a waste audit of the North Apartment Residential Complex in October of 2014, it was found that approximately 27% of the trash stream consisted of food waste and …
- Posted April 6, 2016
- Case Studies
- View more
Compendium of Organics Recovery Programs at Colleges and Universities
- University of Louisville (KY)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
The Center for Environmental Policy and Management at the University of Louisville in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 and select southeastern U.S. schools have released a …
- Posted April 6, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Plastic Free Campus Manual
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
This document will help guide you through the process of helping your campus go plastic-free. Comprised of over 60 pages worth of training, best-practices guidance, case studies and project resources, …
- Posted March 31, 2016
- Publications
- View more
RecycleMania
- Keep America Beautiful (CT)
- College & University Recycling Coalition (DC)
RecycleMania is a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities. Over an 8-week period each spring, colleges …
- Posted March 29, 2016
- Tools
- View more
Waste Reduction Model (WARM)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
The US EPA's Waste Reduction Model (WARM) calculates and totals GHG emissions of baseline and alternative waste management practices—source reduction, recycling, combustion, composting, and landfilling. The model calculates emissions in …
- Posted March 29, 2016
- Tools
- View more
Zero Waste Database
- College & University Recycling Coalition (DC)
The mission of this database is to create a useful, comprehensive resource for recycling and waste reduction advocates:
Baseline: "What practices are out there? Who and how many are doing …
- Posted March 28, 2016
- Tools
- View more
Food Recovery Verified
- Food Recovery Network (MD)
Food Recovery Verified (FRV) is a program of Food Recovery Network that recognizes institutions, businesses and events for sending their surplus food to people, not landfills.
- Posted March 21, 2016
- Tools
- View more
Zero Waste Football
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
The first season of zero waste football at CU Boulder.
- Posted March 11, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
Tailgate Waste Diversion
- University of Southern California (CA)
USC Sustainability and Facilities Management Services are partnering to reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill on campus during football tailgates. Student facilitators educate tailgaters on how to …
- Posted March 11, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
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.