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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Utilizing Geographic Information Systems to Conduct Indoor Waste Receptacle Inventory
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
This presentation will highlight the methodologies and lessons learned in utilizing Geographic Information Systems to develop and implement a process to efficiently inventory all indoor waste receptacles on Indiana University's …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Recycling Data: What We've Learned
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (MA)
- NORESCO (NC)
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has been partnering with NORESCO for the past 9 years on a number of energy savings and behavior change initiatives. One of these has been …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Taste Not Waste: A Campus-Wide Initiative to Take a Bite out of Food Waste
- Concordia College - Moorhead (MN)
America is experiencing a food waste crisis, with an estimated 30-40 percent of the food supply, approximately 35 million tons annually, never eaten. Wholesome food that could have helped feed …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Using Smartsheets, Dashboards and ArcGIS Insights to Track and Analyze Waste Stream's Weights
- University of Kentucky (KY)
The University of Kentucky's (UK) Waste and Recycling Department is using Smartsheets, Dashboard and ArcGIS Insights to collect and analyze the different waste streams. UK has about 300 dumpsters and …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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One-Stop Thrift Shop: Sustainable Thrifting on a College Campus
- University of Denver (CO)
College students need cheap supplies for a short amount of time. This project examines the university community's material waste practices and offers alternatives that cater to community needs. Through sharing …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Optimization Strategy for Glass Recycling with Positive Economic and Environmental Impacts
- Georgia College & State University (GA)
In many rural areas, glass is a hard to recycle item. Georgia College, one of only three universities in the United States, has provided a unique, educational, and innovative method …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Emotional Intelligence, Effective Advocacy and Sustainable Operations: The Path to Zero Waste
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
Municipal solid waste landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the U.S. Landfills have also been shown to be environmentally unjust. Since the 1980's, studies have shown …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Leftover Food App: A Way to Address Food Waste and Food Insecurity on Campus
- Lehigh University (PA)
Every day departments, offices, and clubs hold events and meetings across campus with food. There is often leftover food at these events and meetings that gets thrown away. Lehigh University …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Resilient Recycling- Build a Strong Recycling Program Against Market Forces and Beyond Good Behavior
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
Contamination, 'wish-cycling', and global market changes are shaking the very foundation of recycling. The barriers to recycling and zero-waste are not just in marketing & campus behavior, but rather they …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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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
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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
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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 move …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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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
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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
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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 year, …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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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 …
- 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 Iowa …
- 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 circular economy. …
- Posted Aug. 20, 2021
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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
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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
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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
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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 Pantry. The …
- Posted May 21, 2021
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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 already …
- Posted May 21, 2021
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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 already …
- Posted May 21, 2021
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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
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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 peer …
- Posted May 5, 2021
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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: 10:00 am: Reducing Household Waste, Chris Burger, …
- Posted April 30, 2021
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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
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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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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.