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
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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 ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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 ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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 ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
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
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Maximizing Reuse and Recycling Diversion Opportunities Through Campus Partnerships
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
This presentation describes a case study of a significant reuse and recycling intervention at UC Berkeley that was successful largely due to the heavy collaboration between student organizations and various ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Zero Waste Venues - Focus on Athletics/Sports Venues: Perspectives from three Campuses
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- University of Southern California (CA)
Many campuses have a strong recycling infrastructure in place for day-to-day recycling collections and waste minimization, but may or may not have such a strong program specifically for Athletic events ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Impure Public Good Consumption: A Field Experiment
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
Impure public goods such as recycling, green electricity, and composting offer private consumption, warm glow through the private provision of the public good, and the potential for social rewards. Research ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Know Your Products, Know Yourself: Learning to Be An Environmentally Just Student
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
In the sustainability world we are bombarded constantly on how consumerism impacts our environment, but we rarely hear about the social impact. At this session participants will learn how their ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
In-Vessel Composting - From Farm to Kitchen to Compost, and Back to Farm
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
Space on any campus is limited especially when you mention you want to compost food. In-vessel composting is a viable way to compost all your food while keeping odor under ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Food Fight: EPA's Food Recovery Challenge Strives to Reduce Food Waste
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
Food is the number one material reaching landfills and accounts for 13% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. In order to decrease the significant environmental impact of food ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Scaling up Campus Vermicomposting: A Cost Effective Methodology for Dealing with Pre-Consumer Organics
- University of British Columbia (BC)
A large institution produces thousands of tonnes of solid waste annually, a large portion of which is taken to the municipal landfill. With increasing land values and rising fuel prices ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Creating a Socially Responsible Revenue Stream for Sustainability: The (Your University Name Here) E-Waste Collection Center
- University of San Diego (CA)
How many old cell phones do you have stuffed in drawers in your kitchen? Has your old laptop been collecting dust under your couch since you bought your new MacBook ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
A Case Study of the Campus-wide Dining Waste Audit at West Virginia
- West Virginia University at Parkersburg (WV)
- West Virginia University (WV)
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, less than three percent of the 34 million tons of food waste generated was recovered or recycled in 2010. Food waste now ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Campus Re-Store Comes Into Its Own: Sustainability Meets Entrepreneurship
- Bowling Green State University (OH)
The university's Re-Use store makes variety of items available to students in a unique retail format based on the sustainable theme of re-use and resource conservation. Items are available ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Role of Dining Services in Sustainability Programming
- Ithaca College (NY)
Ithaca College and their food service provider, Sodexo Corporation, have worked together since 2009 to give continued support to the campuses Climate Action Plan through a Comprehensive Energy Initiative. Staffers ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Suburban Composting at Johnson County Community College: Looking at the First Year of Operations.
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
The process of composting food residuals from dining service operations has been gaining in popularity at college campuses across the country in recent years. While an estimated 12% of the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
RecycleMania Update & Planning Roundtable
- Keep America Beautiful (CT)
This session will combine a brief presentation with facilitated roundtable discussions. RecycleMania staff will give a 10 minute presentation previewing the 2013 program including new categories and promotional resources. The ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Recycling can be the Most Cost-Effective Method of Solid Waste Management for Colleges and Universities
- Loyola Marymount University (CA)
Collegiate recycling programs have proliferated to almost all higher educational campuses, yet many administrators from continue to believe that recycling services can add tens or hundreds of thousand dollars to ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Researching Two On-site Food Waste Reduction Technologies at an Urban University
- Loyola Marymount University (CA)
This presentation will discuss two research projects conducted at Loyola Marymount University on the effectiveness of on-site food waste reduction technologies. The first study analyzed a food waste dehydration system ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Bridging the Digital Divide Through E-Waste Diversion And Electronic Resources Management
- Temple University (PA)
This session will provide a case study of how a university can implement a life-cycle management approach to electronic waste that is financially sustainable and that works to bridge the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Changing the Game: Moving Your Institution to a Zero-Waste Paradigm
- University of Calgary (AB)
How do you go from one-off projects to a transformational shift in the way your campus manages waste? Introduce a Zero Waste paradigm-shift on your campus by bringing cross-departmental teams ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Campus Compost Initative
- University of California, Riverside (CA)
Correct post-consumer waste placement is often overlooked in many sustainable, waste diversion efforts undertaken by Universities. It is usually harder to collect because it is up to the person throwing ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Roadmap to Increased Waste Diversion
- Waste Management (TX)
In order to drive and support sustainability goals on campus and to specifically increase waste diversion, Waste Management has worked with many university partners to both drive and assess campus ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Campus Citizenship Behavior: A Motivational Analysis for Change
- Chatham University (PA)
All intentional behavior is a function of motivational forces within the individual to engage in certain actions while forgoing other actions. Classic theories of motivation such as expectancy theory, equity ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Toward Zero Waste: An Initiative for the Student Union
- Boston University (MA)
Campus dining is an intimate part of student life at any university, with the potential to have a major impact on culture. Learn how Dining Services can align with the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Striving and Planning for Zero Waste
- University of British Columbia (BC)
Many universities are now striving to become 'Zero Waste' campuses, where all materials are diverted away from a landfill or incinerator through recycling and composting efforts. This lofty, but important ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Institutionalized post-consumer composting
- Harvard University (MA)
This session briefing will present a case study on the development of post-consumer composting initiatives at one of our Graduate Schools. The project involved two key areas 1) Development and ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Institutionalizing Zero Waste
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
Once organizations (student clubs, departments/schools, campuses, etc.) begin experimenting with Zero Waste ("ZW"") efforts, additional leaders pick them up and want to incorporate such experiences and benefits into their ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Developing partnerships to reach campus sustainability goals: ASU's Collaboration with UPS
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- UPS (GA)
Leading universities are looking closely at their campuses environmental impact, and finding novel ways to reduce carbon emissions and waste. ASU has four specific sustainability goals including Carbon Neutrality, Zero ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Community Partnerships for a University-based Renewable Energy Biodigester
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
The university is operating the first commercial-scale dry anaerobic biodigester in the western hemisphere. The facility will provide the equivalent of up to 10% of campus electricity and heat, and ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- 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.