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
Learning About Metal Recycling
- University of Southern California (CA)
Students from the USC Dornsife Environmental Studies program visited the SA Recycling center located on Terminal Island in San Pedro. The students toured the facility and learned about the entire ...
- Posted Sept. 2, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
Honolulu Community College: SCI 2023
- University of Hawaii Honolulu Community College (HI)
Student success and wellbeing initiative - Funded by a US Department of Education grant through 2025, the Ola Niuhelewai Program at University of Hawaii Honolulu Community College aims to increase Native ...
- Posted Aug. 30, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
Zero Waste Football (Horizontal and Vertical Image)
- Coastal Carolina University (SC)
Every Chanticleer home football game is a zero-waste initiative. The goal of this effort is to divert as much waste as possible from each CCU home football game. We do ...
- Posted Aug. 29, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
Free professional wardrobe(s)
- Cornell University (NY)
Cornell Wardrobe, a student-run organization, The Wardrobe provides attire for ‘any student, any opportunity
- Posted Aug. 28, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
The Welcome Bazaar
- Université de Sherbrooke (QC)
Since 2016, the Université de Sherbrooke has organized the Welcome Bazaar, an event that promotes peer-to-peer exchange within the university community and thus encourages the use of second-hand goods. The ...
- Posted Aug. 28, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
Research, Upcycled Textile
- Cornell University (NY)
Upcycled polyester.
- Posted Aug. 28, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
Humber College SCI 2023 Photos - Waste Category
- Humber College (ON)
The photos being submitted relate to Humber College's recognition as a Top Performer in the 2023 SCI Waste category.
- Posted Aug. 28, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
"One Sheet-One Leaf" project
- Western Caspian University (Bakı)
Western Caspian University teachers and students organised a three-day training event within the framework of the "One Sheet-One Leaf" project, which won the "Make the Idea 2022" Grant Contest.
- Posted Aug. 22, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
A case study of sustainable hospitality education relating to food waste from the perspective of transformative learning theory
- Shih Chien University
This study applies a critical tourism approach and transformative learning theory to examine the factors influencing students to take a food design course and the relationships among students' learning intentions ...
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
- View more
Informative initiatives as a useful tool to raise awareness of food waste. An application to higher education
- University of Zaragoza
Purpose: Because food waste is a serious problem today, society is currently aiming for more responsible consumption to minimize it, as defined in the 12th goal of the United Nations ...
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
- View more
At the moment of disposal: how messaging techniques at university public outdoor waste receptacles can improve the solid waste stream
- University of Florida (FL)
Purpose: This study aims to test how waste disposal behaviors can be changed such as higher recycling diversion and lower contamination rates using signage and messaging techniques at public outdoor ...
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
- View more
Bottled vs tap water perceptions, choices and recommendations in a US Midwest university community
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (IL)
- University of Southern Maine (ME)
Purpose:This study aims to determine preference and concerns regarding tap vs bottled water and recommendations to increase tap water use in a US Midwest university. The authors propose interventions ...
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
- View more
Waste governance and campus sustainability: formal and informal waste systems at football tailgates in Michigan
- Michigan State University (MI)
- University of St Andrews (Scotland)
Purpose: Football tailgating is a focus of campus sustainability in the United States because it produces large amounts of waste. In states where recyclables can be redeemed for cash, this ...
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
- View more
CUB Plastic Shipping Bag Recycling Program
- Gettysburg College (PA)
We implemented a plastic shipping bag recycling program at Gettysburg College. Recycling bags contribute towards contamination within the college's single-stream recycling or end up directly in the landfill via ...
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
- View more
Student Led Composting in Residence Halls
- Drake University (IA)
In 2021, a student recognized the opportunity to reduce waste landfilled from residence halls. Working with Facilities, Residence Life, and Community Engaged Learning, a grant was applied for and received ...
- Posted June 7, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
Ohio State's Composting Expansion
- The Ohio State University (OH)
Ohio State’s Compost Program Expansion led by Facilities, Operations, and Development (FOD), in collaboration with Student Life, Athletics, Wexner Medical Center, the Sustainability Institute, and many student groups, enabled ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
OwlSwap– A Social Equity and Environmental Sustainability Textiles and Apparel Initiative at Kennesaw State University
- Kennesaw State University (GA)
Clothing production is one of the most polluting, resource-intensive industrial processes on the planet. On average, over 80 lbs of textile waste per person ends up in landfills every year ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
The Community Action Center Project: Where Food Shelves Meet Carbon Offsets
- Carleton College (MN)
In the city of Northfield, MN, uneaten food typically ends up as waste in the landfill. As this food decomposes, it releases methane—a greenhouse gas far more potent than ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
"Food Waste Prevention Week"
- University of California, Merced (CA)
The University of California, Merced's (UC Merced) Sustainable Food Programs is focused on and committed to surplus food recovery, food waste awareness and prevention, food security and more. UC ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
Sustainable Lab Community Engagement Campaign
- McGill University (QC)
McGill University is working toward two ambitious sustainability targets: to become zero-waste by 2035 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. As one of the top research universities in Canada ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
Food Waste to Energy: From Pilot Scale Biogas to Grid Tied CHP on a Campus Farm
- Dickinson College (PA)
The Dickinson College Farm is culminating a multi-year project to convert campus food waste to sustainable energy through a grid-connected biogas system. Biogas is a carbon neutral, renewable alternative to ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
USC’s Single-use Plastics Elimination – Beverage Bottles Policy
- University of Southern California (CA)
The University of Southern California (USC) established the Single-use Plastics Elimination – Beverage Bottles Policy in July 2022, prohibiting the purchase or use of single-use plastic beverage products across the university ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
Bottle Filling Stations at UCI 2023
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
UCI Facilities Management in collaboration with the Campus as a Living Lab class brought together interns to embark on the revitalization of the bottle filling stations program. The pandemic halted ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
Waste Management Education and Procedural Improvements at a Residential Dining Facility
- Wake Forest University (NC)
- Harvest Table Culinary Group (PA)
Sustainability features are only as effective as their operators. While the second largest dining facility at Wake Forest hosts several sustainability features, the compost program was lacking in strength due ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
Marquette Career Closet
- Marquette University (WI)
Marquette Career Closet is a student-founded, university-adopted, service that provides access to professional clothes to students on campus to encourage them to pursue their career aspirations. This is done by ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
Campus Zero Waste Program: Toward a Better Understanding of Zero Waste Program Success
- University of Florida (FL)
This research is a part of my dissertation and I have used AASHE Data to look into Zero Waste programs in HEIs
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Publications
- View more
Choose to Reuse
- Boston University (MA)
- ARAMARK at Boston University
Boston University’s Choose to Reuse program, offered at seven retail dining concepts in the George Sherman Union, provides students staff, and faculty the choice between ordering their meal on ...
- Posted May 23, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
EcoArt Entertainment
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Wearing upcycled costumes, Brooklyn based Artichoke Dance Company performs as part of Campus Earth Day 2023. Artichoke Dance are EcoArtists and Environmental Activists. They are known for performances paired with ...
- Posted May 22, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
EcoArt Entertainment
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Wearing upcycled costumes, Brooklyn based Artichoke Dance Company performs as part of Campus Earth Day 2023. Artichoke Dance are EcoArtists and Environmental Activists. They are known for performances paired with ...
- Posted May 22, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
Keep CUP the good work! Is sustainable consumption a promise or all talk?
- Iowa State University (IA)
- Starbucks (WA)
Plastic waste has now spread to every corner of the globe. To avoid wreaking additional havoc on our world, wholesale change is needed. Collaboration, creative rewards, forward-thinking businesses, and consumer ...
- Posted May 18, 2023
- Publications
- View more
A 6 step strategy to run measurable zero waste campaigns
- Zabble (CA)
Instead of conducting one-time or infrequent waste audits, we will share an alternative paradigm to reach concrete milestones towards your institution's zero waste journey. We will share best practices ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Black and Brown Bodies in Green Spaces. How to Create Structural Change in the Zero Waste Movement
- Generation Conscious, Inc. (NY)
Join G.L. Genco as he shares his story on the founding of Generation Conscious and how he builds networks and power for intentionally exploited communities. Through this discussion, he ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Achieving zero-waste targets: residential & retail takeout dining
- USEFULL (MA)
This is a conversation to discuss the challenges and opportunities with takeout food packaging on campus.
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Are Waste Audits a Waste of Time? An Introduction to Brand Audits
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
Have you heard of a brand audit? Learn from PLAN Campaign Director Young about the success of brand audits vs. their traditional counterpart, waste audits, in creating accountability for waste ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Rebuilding Confidence in Recycling
- University of Vermont (VT)
- Busch Systems (ON)
The past few years have been rough for recycling. Exaggerated media stories and misinformation about contamination and recycling being “broken” have caused a growing number of people to question the ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
An Educational Program on Organic Waste Composting and Compost End Use at Kean University
- Kean University (NJ)
An institutional-wide educational and behavior change campaign was initiated in 2021 at Kean University (KU) to promote organic waste recycling and composting on campus. The program focused on three areas ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- 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.