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
Gear Garage: Making the Outdoors More Accessible
- University of Denver (CO)
The DU Gear Garage was established during the 2016-2017 school year by two students who were looking to make getting outside more accessible to the wider campus community. It was ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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FOO[anaerobic]D Systems: Food Justice and the Future of Our [anaerobic] Digestion Systems
- University of Central Florida (FL)
A team of students from the University of Central Florida (UCF) have been working with campus, community, municipal, and private partners to pilot an anaerobic digestion (AD) system to divert ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Approaches to Strategic Zero Waste Planning and Implementation
- Boston University (MA)
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Zero Waste requires reimagining the notion of 'waste' and navigating the tension between meeting the desires of a University's young, climate-concerned community and convincing University leadership and staff to ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Move Out Programs: Finding the Solution for your Campus
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
Every year when students move out of their dorms and apartments, tons of useful stuff is left behind or discarded. Over the past decade or so, campuses all across the ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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A Zero Waste Campus is Possible!
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
In this workshop we will facilitate a discussion around how students can lead specific efforts to solve waste issues on their campuses. We start with a short presentation on the ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Cultivating Student and Staff Leaders through Campus Food Recovery Programs
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
As the awareness of food insecurity on college campuses increases, campus dining services are referred to as potential emergency relief for student food insecurity. Through food recovery programs, dining services ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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UW-Stevens Point Organics Diversion Program
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) has been actively managing its organics for decades. Over the past 10 years, UWSP has managed upwards of 140,000 pounds of organics per ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Organics for Everyone: Lessons Learned from a Large-Scale Campus-wide Organics Rollout
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- University of Minnesota System Office (MN)
Implementing post-consumer organics collection on campus is a big step. But it can be done! The University of Minnesota has confronted the challenges associated with front-of-house organics collection head-on with ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Michigan State University Brody Neighborhood Re-design and Innovative Future
- Michigan State University (MI)
The Michigan State University (MSU) Division of Residential and Hospitality Services (RHS) is committed to ensuring long-term sustainability by recognizing and reducing our impacts on the planet. Through our programs ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Middlebury College Shifts Toward all Renewable Energy with Innovative farm to fuel Partnership
- Middlebury College (VT)
- Vanguard Renewables (MA)
- Vermont Gas Systems (VT)
Middlebury College will significantly reduce its carbon footprint and move toward meeting its Energy2028 goal of 100% renewable energy, thanks to an innovative partnership with Goodrich Family Farm in Salisbury ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Undermined Every Day: The Impact of Recycling Staff Marginalization and Mattering on Waste Diversion
- University of Virginia (VA)
When I worked in university recycling, our efforts were often undermined by other members of the campus community and our colleagues within facilities management. In conversations with recycling staff at ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Going Zero Waste: It's not Just Business, it's Personal
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
There are many long-established zero waste best practices addressing bins, signage, reusables and more. Unlike LED retrofits, low-flow faucets or other infrastructure projects, a zero waste initiative requires the participation ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Menstruation Conversation : The intersection of sustainability, inclusivity, and empowerment
- Dot Cup (IL)
Menstruation is having a moment. 2019 brought us the first ever Menstruation-Focused Oscar Winner - Period End of Sentence, as well as the first annual National Period Day. At Dot Cup ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Boxes to Farm to Compost'- A Paradigm Shift from an Extractive Culture to Regenerative Culture
- Iowa State University (IA)
As a land grant university with a student population of over 30,000 students and about 6000 faculty and staff, there is a multitude of packaged items delivered to the ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Recycling Food Waste on the Fly: Using Black Soldier Fly to Recycle Food Waste at LSU
- Louisiana State University (LA)
We would like to present on how LSU is using the Black Solider Fly insect to recycle the pre and post-consumer food waste from LSU, turning the waste into fertilizer ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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College & University Recycling Coalition (CURC) Campus Recycling Session
- Appalachian State University (NC)
The College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC), in partnership with the United States Composting Council and Elevate Packaging, recently administered a survey to colleges and universities to understand how their ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Zero waste policy evaluation of college campus. A case study of University of Florida.
- University of Florida (FL)
Waste generation and disposal of that waste is as big of an issue as climate change. Different factors come into play in developed and developing world. In developing countries litter ...
- Posted Oct. 6, 2021
- Publications
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How to green your lab
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- My Green Lab (CA)
- São Paulo State University
Research labs are often wasteful, making use of unrecyclable materials, always-on equipment and environmentally dangerous chemicals. This webcast, for scientists at all levels, will draw upon the expertise of speakers ...
- Posted Sept. 28, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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Using Lean Feedback-Loops to Build a Sustainable Zero Waste Program
- University of California, San Francisco (CA)
- AASHE (MA)
Lean processes are about creating quick feedback loops to run experiments that confirm a hypothesis or inform changes to yield better results. Many organizations have attained monumental growth by quickly ...
- Posted Sept. 28, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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Zero waste policy evaluation of college campus. A case study of University of Florida
- University of Florida (FL)
Waste generation and disposal of that waste is as big of an issue as climate change. Different factors come into play in developed and developing world. In developing countries litter ...
- Posted Sept. 23, 2021
- Case Studies
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Grand Valley State University Surplus Store
- Grand Valley State University (MI)
Artwork on the window of the GVSU Surplus Store
- Posted Sept. 8, 2021
- Photographs
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Water Bottle Refill Station, McGill, Downtown Campus
- McGill University (QC)
As part of the 2019 Refill McGill campaign, the sale of water bottles was banned on campus. During the course of the campaign, over 30 water fountains were installed or ...
- Posted Aug. 30, 2021
- Photographs
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Sterling College Break Free from Plastic Pledge
- Sterling College (VT) (VT)
Sterling College proudly displays their signed #BreakFreeFromPlastic Campus pledge, which guides colleges and universities towards single-use plastic elimination and waste elimination. Sterling College, a federally designated Work College in Vermont ...
- Posted Aug. 30, 2021
- Photographs
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1st Phase Zero Waste Movement at UM6P
- University Mohammed VI Polytechnic
The Sustainable Development Ambassadors of Chemical & Biochemical Sciences and Green Process Engineering Program have volunteered to sell reusable mugs to their peers during the launch of Zero Waste Movement ...
- Posted Aug. 24, 2021
- Photographs
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Managed Print Program at American University
- American University (DC)
SCI 2021 Feature: Ditching Desktop Printers
A campus-wide Managed Print Program at American University is streamlining the print process and reducing costs associated with energy usage and waste. Since this ...
- Posted Aug. 23, 2021
- Photographs
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University of Pittsburgh Textile Recycling
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
Given that clothing and textiles make up approximately 6.3% of the U.S. waste stream, University of Pittsburgh established a textile recycling program to help keep textiles in the ...
- Posted Aug. 20, 2021
- Photographs
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Pay As You Throw at Yale University
- Yale University (CT)
In Spring 2019, Yale University launched a Pay As You Throw (PAYT) pilot program. PAYT is a materials management model where campus entities are charged for the amount of trash ...
- Posted Aug. 17, 2021
- Photographs
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Food Choice and Waste in University Dining Commons—A Menus of Change University Research Collaborative Study
- Lebanon Valley College (PA)
- Rice University (TX)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- University of California, Davis (CA)
The purpose of this multi-campus research was to investigate the relationships of food type and personal factors with food choice, consumption, and waste behaviors of college students at all-you-care-to-eat dining ...
- Posted June 3, 2021
- Publications
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Zero-Waste Planning at Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study of Western Kentucky University
- Western Kentucky University (KY)
Over the past two decades, the number of universities that pursue zero-waste strategies has steadily increased. However, more study is required on several interrelated factors, policy barriers, and infrastructural fundamentals ...
- Posted May 26, 2021
- Publications
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CALPIRG Students Break Free From Plastics campaign
- California Student Public Interest Research Group (CA)
The CALPIRG Students Break Free From Plastics campaign aimed to address the problem of plastic pollution at the source by phasing out single-use plastic items both at our university campuses ...
- Posted May 26, 2021
- Case Studies
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The People’s Fridge- A Community Fridge to Reduce Food Insecurity and Food Waste
- University of California, Merced (CA)
The People’s Fridge is a community fridge in Merced, California at a local community garden which also holds a free food distribution every Saturday called the Pop-Up People’s ...
- Posted May 21, 2021
- Case Studies
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Glass Recycling at a Rural Georgia College Campus
- Georgia College & State University (GA)
Glass has quickly become a hard to recycle material in many places in the U.S. and around the world. This is especially true for geographically rural areas with an ...
- Posted May 21, 2021
- Case Studies
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Glass Recycling at a Rural Georgia College Campus
- Georgia College & State University (GA)
Glass has quickly become a hard to recycle material in many places in the U.S. and around the world. This is especially true for geographically rural areas with an ...
- Posted May 21, 2021
- Case Studies
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Durham Tech Break Free From Plastics
- Durham Technical Community College (NC)
- The Student PIRGs (OR)
Student leaders at Durham Tech Community College, worked with the Student PIRGs in NC to run and win a campus campaign to Break Free From Plastics in order to protect ...
- Posted May 21, 2021
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Project Reach, Reclaim, Revive
- Seneca Polytechnic (ON)
Guided by academic advisors and business experts, student leaders of Enactus Canada create and implement community empowerment projects and business ventures in their communities. This experiential learning platform helps students ...
- Posted May 18, 2021
- Case Studies
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Examination of US University Sustainability and Recovery Activities
- Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) (MI)
Resource Recycling Systems conducted research on the U.S. university and college landscape to enable a better understanding of the level of campus sustainability and recovery practices and to provide ...
- Posted May 5, 2021
- Publications
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Safety and Sustainability: Reusable Dining during COVID-19
- Northwestern University (IL)
- Oregon State University (OR)
As part of the College and University Recycling Coalition 2021 Webinar Series, Northwestern University and Oregon State University developed and presented programs for reusable dining methods during the pandemic. The ...
- Posted May 4, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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How to Make Your Lab Sustainable
- University College London (London)
If you work in a laboratory setting, this video is for you! Made by a chemistry professor at UCL, one of the biggest research universities in the UK, this video ...
- Posted April 30, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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SUNY Broome Virtual Earth Fest
- SUNY Broome Community College (NY)
Equity: The Greatest Opportunity for the Sustainability & Climate Movements?
http://earthdaysoutherntier.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Earth-Fest-2021-Events-Flyer.pdf
SUNY Broome Earth Fest Lecture – Saturday, April 24th Schedule of Events ...
- Posted April 30, 2021
- Photographs
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Bowie State University Stream Clean Up: Two distinct generations come together to help Mother Earth
- Bowie State University (MD)
Through a partnership with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Bowie State University invited nearby Collington Retirement Community to join together for an Earth Day stream clean up event in ...
- Posted April 30, 2021
- Photographs
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University of Oregon 2020 Materials Report
- University of Oregon (OR)
The UO Materials Tracking Report covers all material solid waste and recovery categories for the institution. This report applies 27 years of reports to generate a timescale graphs for all ...
- Posted April 29, 2021
- Publications
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Webinar: Cleaning for Health: Using Natural Aqueous Ozone as an Alternative to Traditional Cleaning Chemicals
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
- AASHE (MA)
Please join us for this informative, lively discussion on the benefits of using natural aqueous ozone to clean higher education facilities instead of traditional chemical-based cleaners. Three highly knowledgable presenters ...
- Posted April 29, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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ISU Dining Compost Giveaway
- Iowa State University (IA)
ISU Dining handed out pots, seeds, and compost to students. The compost was from our campus compost facility, which takes in food waste from our dining centers. ISU Dining contributes ...
- Posted April 23, 2021
- Photographs
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Waste Separation Behaviour of College Students under a Mandatory Policy in China: A Case Study of Zhengzhou City
- University of Surrey
- Henan Agricultural University (Henan)
The need for effective solid waste management (SWM) is an important environmental and public health issue. As a key way of minimizing municipal solid waste (MSW), source separation has in ...
- Posted April 22, 2021
- Publications
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Behavioral Strategies To Ditch Desktop Printers
- AASHE (MA)
- Root Solutions (CA)
Replacing individual desktop printers with shared ‘multi-function’ printers (MFPs) is one of the most impactful ways campuses can reduce paper use. It also generates a suite of other benefits, including ...
- Posted March 26, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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SUNY New Paltz Pivots from Plastic Bottles to Aluminum Cans to Move Beyond Plastics
- State University of New York at New Paltz (NY)
In the fall of 2020, Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS), which contracts on behalf of SUNY New Paltz for beverages to be distributed through vending machines and the dining services contractor ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2021
- Case Studies
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Characterization of solid wastes as a tool to implement waste management strategies in a university campus
- University of Brasilia
Purpose Universities are an example of institutions that aggregate people around work/study who consume water, energy and produce waste daily in their activities, generating an impact on the environment ...
- Posted Feb. 9, 2021
- Publications
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Wasted Food Solutions: University of Rhode Island Spotlight
- University of Rhode Island (RI)
- Center for EcoTechnology (MA)
With approximately 17,000 students and 3,800 faculty and staff, meal planning across the University of Rhode Island’s (URI) two dining halls, four cafés, and retail dining outlet ...
- Posted Jan. 12, 2021
- Outreach Materials
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Desktop Printer Removal and the Transition to Managed Multi-Function Printers: Benefits and Case Studies
- Root Solutions (CA)
This document was designed to introduce higher ed staff to the topic of printer consolidation, with an emphasis on the many sustainability and other benefits (especially cost savings) of replacing ...
- Posted Dec. 29, 2020
- Publications
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Piloting Styrofoam Recycling in Research Facilities at Georgia Institute of Technology
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
Georgia Tech has systems in place to collect and recycle everything from cardboard and office paper, to plastic and glass. But until 2019, there was no established process for recycling ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2020
- Case Studies
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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.