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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Zero Waste Outreach Strategies - Operational vs. Promotional
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
A new day is dawning over the coalfields of Appalachia. A region which has been at the heart of fossil fuel dependence, leading the nation in per capita carbon emissions, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Rock Chalk Recycle: Athletics Recycling at The University of Kansas
- University of Kansas (KS)
In 2013, the University of Kansas (KU) Recycling Program Launched the Rock Chalk Recycle initiative. Rock Chalk Recycle is a partnership between KU Recycling and KU Athletics that set out …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Rock Chalk Recycle: From 0-Zero
- University of Kansas (KS)
What is the first thing you think of when I say, "The University of Kansas?" Perhaps it’s the invention of basketball, the four national championships, or the 10 straight Big …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Pack & Give Back: A Sustainable Move Out Program for On and Off Campus
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Pack & Give Back is a household waste diversion effort at the end of each semester for students moving out of on-campus residential hosing and in neighborhoods adjacent to campus. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sponsored Theater Presentation: The Wizard of Ozzi
- AGreenOZZI, LLC (RI)
This presentation explores a concerted effort being made to change the way people behave when it comes to the use of traditional take-out food containers. Almost without thinking, people accept …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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College & University Recycling Coalition (CURC) Zero Waste Workshop
- College & University Recycling Coalition (DC)
Come join your fellow recycling and sustainability colleagues at an open meeting organized by the College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC). CURC member and non-members are welcome to join this …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Throw Away Does Not Mean Go Away: Achieving Zero Waste on a Campus Scale
- American University (DC)
In alignment with its commitment to carbon neutrality, one university adopted a Zero Waste Policy in 2010, committing to send zero waste to landfill and incineration by 2020. This case …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Zero Waste: A Model for Transformational Change
- Aquinas College (MI)
As a part of its Climate Action Plan under the ACUPCC, Aquinas College is committed to become a zero-waste-to-landfill campus by May 2014. This is the most aggressive, publically stated, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Transitioning to Zero Waste Hockey: A Student Run Pilot
- University of Denver (CO)
Last year students at the University of Denver in partnership with Ritchie Center Athletics led the charge to institute zero waste hockey games at the University of Denver. This grassroots …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Getting to Zero Waste: Waste Audits
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
The Waste Audit Team has created a protocol for all waste audits at UC Berkeley. Up until this point, groups have been conducting audits using different methods, making it so …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Food Waste Composting at the University of Virginia
- University of Virginia (VA)
The University of Virginia and University of Virginia Dining (ARAMARK) actively collaborate on organic waste reduction strategies and methods. In 2008, U.Va. and University Dining Services instituted a partnership with …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Closing the Loop on Waste: How Student Waste Becomes a Community Resource
- Appalachian State University (NC)
At the end of every school year, students leave unwanted goods behind…literally tons of it. Faced with the question of how to handle this wanton waste, Appalachian State University created …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Engaging Students in an Integrated Solid Waste Management Program at a Higher Education Institution
- Universidad Iberoamericana, A.C. (DF)
An approach to engage engineering students in environmental activities dealing with Solid Waste Management is presented. A series of activities have been developed, including students from different courses and engineering …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Give and Go: Best Practice Lessons for Move Out Collections
- Keep America Beautiful (CT)
This presentation will brief conference attendees on the results of the “Give and Go: Move Out 2013” collection program taking place on five college campuses in May 2013. Produced through …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building A Campus Recycling Program: Constantly Evolving, Dealing With Changes, & Sparking An Entire Campus To Think Sustainably
- LIU Post (NY)
In 2006, thanks to the efforts of a small group of passionate students, LIU Post began its journey into the realm of recycling. At that time, they identified a serious …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Implementation of New Programs to Step Toward the Appalachian Zero Waste Commitment
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Appalachian State University has committed to becoming a zero waste campus with a goal of 90% diversion by 2022. Through thoughtful purchasing decisions, reducing consumption and increasing recycling/composting we can …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Cross-Institution Collaboration: Composting Pre-and-Post Consumer Food Scraps In An Urban Environment
- Dominican University (IL)
- Loyola University Chicago (IL)
- Northwestern University (IL)
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
According to a 2011 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Global Food Losses and Food Waste, the average American wastes over 200 pounds of food …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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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
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
- 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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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.