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

1149 resources

Repair Fairs: Promoting waste reduction in community involvement

  • Oregon State University (OR)

One of the largest challenges in engaging students in sustainability is creating meaningful experiences. Encouraging students to practice reuse is particularly challenging, as it requires a personal commitment. Likewise, educating ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Implementing a Student-Led Move-Out Waste Program: UMass Amherst

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
  • Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)

For the last year, UMass Amherst has been partnering with a newly-formed nonprofit organization, The Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN), to launch a student-led move-out waste collection and resale program. PLAN ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Effects of Behavioral Signage on Dormitory Recycling Rates

  • Boston University (MA)

Data shows that pairing recycling and trash containers leads to higher recycling rates. However, many older buildings do not have space for more than a trash container, especially in residential ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Give & Go Move-Out Donation Program: Multifaceted Student Outreach Campaign

  • Stanford University (CA)

Stanford’s newly revamped and rebranded Give & Go Move Out donation program in R&DE Student Housing has dramatically reduced the waste stream sent to landfills at the end of ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Waste Watching - Examining Metrics and Efficient Material Use

  • American University (DC)
  • Harvard University (MA)
  • University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
  • University of Florida (FL)

This panel discussion will focus on addressing the importance of metrics as they relate to waste management, with a specific focus on tracking, analyzing, and utilizing waste data to improve ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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It’s hard to play the game, if you don’t know the score

  • Purdue University (IN)
  • Re-TRAC (MB)

Quality data is critical to measuring performance – after all, how do you know how well you’re performing if you don’t know where you started? Universities and colleges across ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Students & Climate Change Intervention: Investment Office Insights

  • University of British Columbia (BC)
  • Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (NY)

Focused on campuses with the intention of mobilizing student activists, late in 2012 a "divest from fossil fuel" campaign was begun. Most faith and values-driven institutional investors were attentive to ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Consumer-Free, Zero Waste Year

  • American University (DC)
  • University of Florida (FL)

Joseph Floyd (University of Florida) decided to live one year consumer-free and zero waste. Following the 2013 AASHE Conference, Natalia Posthill (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) and Helen ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Post Consumer Composting at the University of Florida: A Partnership Between ARAMARK, WCA and the University of Florida

  • University of Florida (FL)
  • WCA (TX)

Overview: As part of its goal to be zero waste by 2015, the University of Florida developed a comprehensive organics composting solution to address almost 25% of the total campus ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Student Innovation and Materials Management in Portland: The CES Model

  • Portland State University (OR)

Many organizations are taking a more strategic approach towards managing the waste they generate. Driven by the opportunity to improve environmental and economic performance, they are prioritizing their waste stream ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Teaching and Learning for a Zero Waste Future

  • DePauw University (IN)

The global materials economy is a fundamental driver of all of our most serious and urgent crises: climate change, toxic pollution, biodiversity loss, poverty, and injustice. This economic system rests ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Harnessing student enthusiasm through a Waste Reduction Task Force

  • Portland State University (OR)

Portland State University’s Waste Reduction Task Force is a student-led initiative that seeks to redefine the way PSU’s campus community looks at trash. Through partnering with strategic departments ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Composting

  • Southwestern University (TX)

Southwestern University students led a composting initiative in Fall 2011 which has evolved into a campus wide program which has made a significant impact on the community and University. The ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Order Matters: Waste Audits and Bin Configurations

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

Before you can get to zero waste, you need to know what your waste stream is composed of. The best way to do this is through waste audits. This presentation ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Turning Trash into Cash: The USD Electronics Recycling Center

  • University of San Diego (CA)

As technology continues to advance, consumers continue to buy new electronics, but where can they properly dispose older electronics? The University of San Diego Electronics Recycling Center serves as a ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Food Waste Diversion and Evolution on Campus: Preparing for the Upcoming MA Organics Waste Ban

  • Boston University (MA)

Boston University Dining Services began diverting food waste in 2008. This presentation will discuss the evolution of food waste diversion on campus as well as how we are preparing for ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Working on Waste at the Kwantlen Student Association

  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University (BC)

The Kwantlen Student Association completed a student led waste audit of our student owned and run GrassRoots Cafe and main offices in early 2014. After the waste audit we have ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Creating a visual identity system to improve waste diversion rates

  • Lehigh University (PA)

Among institutions of higher education dedicated to sustainability, there is often a struggle to significantly reduce waste generated on campus and reduce contamination rates in waste diversion streams. Lehigh University ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Cafeteria to Community: Reducing Waste and Feeding the Hungry

  • Luther College (IA)

This poster will illustrate a program that simultaneously reduces food waste from Luther College’s cafeteria while providing needed food assistance to hungry families in the surrounding community. The Cafeteria ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Story of Reuse at Michigan State University

  • Michigan State University (MI)

With so much focus on recycling, many organizations might forget the true value of reusing and redeploying products. The reuse operation at Michigan State University creates opportunity to manage cost ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Time is money: accounting for the true cost of a campus waste initiative

  • Pennsylvania State University (PA)

Universities across the country are developing and implementing campus sustainability initiatives. Such initiatives may be designed to save money or reduce waste, or they may have more intangible goals related ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Zero waste as a supply chain challenge: the importance of partnerships

  • Pennsylvania State University (PA)

This presentation will discuss the successes and challenges of Penn State’s initiative to move its Athletics facilities toward zero waste, and the story of how silos had to be ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Zero Waste Events: A Sustainable Approach to Event Planning

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

UC Berkeley established a goal to achieve zero waste by the year 2020. To achieve this goal, more materials must be diverted from the landfill through recycling and composting. In ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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To Know Your Building, Know Your Waste: The Importance of Waste Audits

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

More and more institutions across the country are establishing Zero Waste goals. One of the problems with this is that many people don’t know what their waste is, so ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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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 ...

  • 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 ...

  • 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 ...

  • 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 ...

  • 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 briefing will ...

  • 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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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

OP 19: Construction & Demolition Waste Diversion

OP 20: Hazardous Waste Management

Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.

Waste Partners