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
New Resources
Bin Infrastructure Planning – Placement & Design Standards
- University of Michigan (MI)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
- Busch Systems (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 session ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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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
- Conference Presentations
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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
- Conference Presentations
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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
- Conference Presentations
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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
- Conference Presentations
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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
- Conference Presentations
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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 ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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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
- Conference Presentations
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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
- Conference Presentations
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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 ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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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 ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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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
- Case Studies
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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
- Case Studies
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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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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
- Photographs
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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
- Case Studies
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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
- Case Studies
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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
- Photographs
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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
- Case Studies
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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
- Tools
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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
- Publications
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Zero Waste Master Plan
- Vanderbilt University (TN)
In September 2015, Vanderbilt embarked on a strategic planning process FutureVU to create a holistic and sustainable long-term vision for the physical development of the campus over 20 to 30 ...
- Posted Dec. 16, 2022
- Publications
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Campus-Scale Biodiesel Production
- Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AL)
- Lake Area Technical Institute (SD)
- Seward County Community College (KS)
- Springboard Biodiesel (CA)
- University of Costa Rica
- University of Botswana
This a compilation highlighting 5 schools that are using Biodiesel production as part of their climate action plans. Each school has diverted waste by using used cooking oil (already produced ...
- Posted Nov. 21, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Valparaiso University Waste Audit: Reducing Plastic
- Valparaiso University (IN)
The Office of Sustainability at Valparaiso University recently performed a comprehensive waste audit of all campus buildings to identify opportunities to save money, reduce waste, and to promote better waste ...
- Posted Nov. 10, 2022
- Case Studies
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University of Botswana in Gaborone converts Trichilia seed into Biodiesel
- Springboard Biodiesel (CA)
- University of Botswana
The University of Botswana in Gaborone converts used cooking oils (produced at the University) as well as beef tallow, and trichilia seed. Trichilia seed is an inedible native seed that ...
- Posted Nov. 10, 2022
- Photographs
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University of Costa Rica makes biodiesel from Jack Fruit seed oil
- Springboard Biodiesel (CA)
- University of Costa Rica
In celebration of Campus Sustainability Month here is the University of Costa Rica in San Jose. They are conducting research on various inedible indigenous seed oils including jack fruit seed ...
- Posted Nov. 10, 2022
- Photographs
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2022 EarthFest at the University of Maryland, College Park
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
Sustainability-minded students at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) hosted an Earth Day festival in 2022. EarthFest 2022 invited student sustainability leaders and volunteers from more than twenty groups ...
- Posted Aug. 15, 2022
- Photographs
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College Park Scholars Waste Audit
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
Students in the College Park Scholars Program complete a waste audit at the University of Maryland, College Park.
- Posted Aug. 15, 2022
- Photographs
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Waste Management at OSU
- Oregon State University (OR)
Photos for the 2022 Sustainable Campus Index (SCI), Top Performer in Waste section
- Posted Aug. 2, 2022
- Photographs
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Princeton Builds Sustainability
- Princeton University (NJ)
Princeton recycles at least 95% of its materials in construction and demolition projects, while investing in water-saving and emissions-reducing technologies in and around its new buildings such as the construction ...
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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UMN Morris student recycling cardboard at campus recycling center
- University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)
UMN Morris students staff the Recycling Center. The picture shows a UMN Morris student breaking down boxes before they are compressed and stored for future recycling.
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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UMN Morris intern giving a tour of the new Morris Water Treatment Plant
- University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)
UMN Morris intern (Michael Abbing) provides a tour of the Morris Water Treatment Plant for visitors. This new water treatment plant is a collaboration between the city of Morris, and ...
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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UMN Morris works with partners to launch county-wide composting program
- University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)
UMN Morris helped launch the new countywide composing program. UMN Morris hit a milestone of diverting 1 million pounds of organic material from the landfill with its onsite cold-weather system ...
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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Sustainable Catering@Penn
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
Sustainable Catering@Penn - A newly designed webpage at University of Pennsylvania provides search functionality for information about Penn’s Preferred Contract Caterers. Through Catering@Penn, users can now search for ...
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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Brainstorming Session: Reducing Waste During Campus Move-Outs (pt 2) & Move-Ins
- AASHE (PA)
Join this brainstorming session and meet with peers to discuss everything from community partners to communications to student helpers and more. Come prepared to share, listen, or both.
The first ...
- Posted July 28, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Brainstorming Session: Reducing Waste During Campus Move-Outs
- University of Virginia (VA)
- AASHE (PA)
Join this brainstorming session and meet with peers to discuss everything from community partners to communications to student helpers and more. Come prepared to share, listen, or both.
- Posted June 24, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Sustainable Fashion Production
- George Brown College (ON)
This Sustainable Fashion Production graduate certificate program prepares graduates to apply sustainability to the pre-production and manufacturing process for apparel. Pre-production analysis, selection of appropriate techniques and technology, flow and ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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We Feed Aggie Animals
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- Chartwells Higher Education (NY)
Texas A&M Aggie Dining launched a new "We Feed Aggie Animals" food waste initiative to enhance goals of eliminating food waste while supporting the campus community. Starting in January 2022 ...
- Posted May 23, 2022
- Case Studies
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Evaluating Food Packaging Waste in Schools: A Systematic Literature Review
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Public schools in the U.S. generate about 14,500 tons of municipal solid waste daily, and approximately 42% of that is food packaging generated by school foodservice, contributing significantly ...
- Posted May 20, 2022
- Publications
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EchoWorks: An Electronics Recycling College-Community Partnership
- Western Dakota Technical College (SD)
There are more than a thousand toxic substances associated with electronic waste (e-waste), and improper disposal can lead to soil, water, food, and air contamination. E-waste is the fastest growing ...
- Posted May 20, 2022
- Case Studies
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Increasing rates of convenience food packaging use at HEIs: a case study of the Neelsie student centre, Stellenbosch University
- Stellenbosch University (Western Cape)
Food packaging waste from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is a significant management concern. Waste minimisation is critical to reduce the pressures on already stretched municipal infrastructure. This is set against ...
- Posted May 20, 2022
- Publications
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Contactless Food Box Deliveries: Driving Down Food Insecurity
- University of California, Merced (CA)
The University of California, Merced (UC Merced) launched the Contactless Food Box Delivery Program in December 2020 which continues to this day. 5-10 boxes are delivered every week to those ...
- Posted May 19, 2022
- Case Studies
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Campus Clothing Swap
- Florida International University (FL)
This project was produced by my club Society for Sustainable Souls at Florida International Universities (FIU) campus. It was created to encourage sustainability as well as community on FIU's ...
- Posted May 19, 2022
- Case Studies
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Washington and Lee Quick Hits: Sustainability Leadership Trip Explores Local Food
- Washington and Lee University (VA)
Washington and Lee University takes student leaders in sustainability on a trip to explore local foods and dining waste. It features the students visiting the campus's local garden that ...
- Posted May 19, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Hornet Reuse App
- California State University, Sacramento (CA)
As a way of reducing waste, creating a circular economy and creating a sense of community between students, faculty and staff at Sacramento State, Hornet Reuse was born. Hornet Reuse ...
- Posted May 13, 2022
- Case Studies
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The Culture and Personal Disposal Practices of University Students: A Qualitative Study in Brazil and Germany
- Universidade Federal do Ceará
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between cultural components and municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal individual practices in the context of Brazilian and German university students. To achieve this ...
- Posted May 11, 2022
- Publications
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Intention to adopt pro-environmental behaviors among university students of hard and soft sciences: the case of drinking by reusable bottles
- Università degli Studi di Torino
- Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
The market of bottled water is one of the largest in the world. Paradoxically, the consumption of water in plastic bottles is highest in countries rich in the potable tap ...
- Posted May 11, 2022
- Publications
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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.