Boston University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion

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Boston University has adopted FY2006 as the baseline year for all operations metrics for sustainability. In 2006 a waste audit was conducted on the larger, Charles River Campus which provided the recycling quantity for the baseline year. No waste data was recorded on the Medical Campus until 2008, so the best estimate of the total waste incinerated for the University assumes the 2008 Medical Campus incinerated waste value for 2006. These 962 tons are added to the Charles River Campus total incinerated waste to provide a more accurate, though estimated total. We do know that nothing was recycled on the Medical Campus in 2006.

Books, Film Plastic, K-Cups, Shoes, Mattresses and Mattress Toppers

IN FY2023 Boston University began implementation and roll-out of internal bin standardization in an effort to have clear, standardized bins and messaging across campus to improve participation in diversion. Boston University also held zero waste trainings and lunch and learn programming to discuss waste diversion efforts on campus and help the community understand the topic and it's importance. As part of the larger Earth Day 365 program on campus during FY2023, Boston University Sustainability partnered with BU Athletics to host the first ever zero-waste sporting event on campus. Lax-a-palooza showcased a home game for both the men's and women's lacrosse teams and the event was designed to encourage composting and reuse efforts and all material was weighed at the end to educate and promote the diversion accomplished.

IN FY2023 Boston University and Casella Waste completed 4 waste audits. 1 waste audit was a standalone audit for the new CCDS building for the beginning of the TRUE Zero Waste certification process where we looked at all 3 streams and assessed contamination rates and items of confusion. 3 additional waste audits were conducted as part of the Boston University Earth Day 365 program. Each audit was done a different type of building, one residential, one mixed use and one office/lab location. During FY2023 there was also another round of right sizing initiatives across campus to streamline service based on real-time waste data along with the implementation of pilot programs to address materials such as lab plastics and increased diversion during the move-out period with the creation of a move-out hub to collect textiles, mattress toppers, food donations/compost, etc.

In November 2021 Boston University launched its Sustainable Procurement Purchasing Program. Boston University strives to be an industry leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving Zero Waste, as outlined in Boston University’s Climate Action Plan and Zero Waste Plan, by embracing best practices for sustainable sourcing and procurement of goods and services. URL: https://www.bu.edu/sourcing/diversity-sustainability/sustainable-purchasing/

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Thanks to a collaboration between Olympia Moving & Storage, Institutional Recycling Network (IRN), Sourcing & Procurement, and BU Sustainability, University departments can browse available surplus or remanufactured furniture or donate gently used furniture for reuse within BU. Launched in August 2018, this program provides Boston University departments with a convenient and cost effective option for outfitting spaces, all while reusing furniture before purchasing new. Planning has begun for the implementation of a Zero Waste Plan initiative that calls for a platform to be created enabling material exchange for all staff, faculty, and students

In 2009, Boston University enacted a printing quota for all students (MyPrint). Every undergraduate student is allocated 100 sheets per semester and graduate students are allocated 500 sheets per semester. Faculty and staff are allocated a limited number of pages as well if they choose to use printers with MyPrint system. Double-sided printing is available at all on-campus print center locations. Print allocations are reset each semester and there is a fee for each page that exceeds the allocated limit. https://www.bu.edu/tech/services/cccs/printing/myprint/

All course catalogs, course schedules, and directories are only available online. These documents are no longer printed. During the pandemic, IS&T provided support on transitioning paper processes to electronic workflows. URL: http://www.bu.edu/phpbin/course-search/

Boston University has partnered with Goodwill Industries to reduce waste during move-out since 2010, through a move-out program called "Goodwill, Not Landfill". The move-out program gives students the opportunity to donate unwanted goods to Goodwill during the last month of the academic year. Goodwill collects clothing and other goods from each location and then sells those items in stores to support important local job training and youth programs. The "Goodwill, Not Landfill" move-out program diverted 75 tons from landfills in FY2023. Overall, the program has diverted 908 tons of clothing, electronics, and housewares from the landfill. During move-in, Scarlet Squad volunteers are trained to guide incoming students and families in recycling cardboard. Scarlet Squad promotes sustainability, assists the Orientation office by helping students and guests navigate campus, and creates a welcoming environment. Scarlet Squad volunteers also work as ambassadors to promote sustainability on campus. Each receives a crash training course from BU Sustainability before Move-in. Additionally, the University works with its waste hauler partner to set up cardboard recycling corrals in every campus neighborhood, totaling more than 25 locations. These corrals serve as a visual and convenient reminder to students, families, and staff that cardboard diversion is important. The hauler is able to collect a very clean stream of material for diversion.

All mattresses, mixed electronics, bulbs/ballasts, and batteries are collected and recycled. Styrofoam is collected and recycled from the Medical Campus. In FY2023, two lab recycling pilots occurred through GeenLab Recycling and Polycarbin. Together, these pilots allowed for 0.64 tons of lab plastics to be circularized or recycled. A thin plastics collection pilot was also conducted with Trex Film Plastic Recycling. A book recycling program began on campus in FY2023 due to a library clean-out occurring. 32.5 tons of books were donated to World Books, Bay State Books, or Goodwill. Book recycling will continue for textbooks and on an as-need basis after the library clean-out. BU Dining donates left over food to three organizations: Food for Free, Student Food Rescue, and Rosie's Place. In FY2023, over 4 tons of food was donated from BU Dining.

This represents FY2023 BU Metrics. While figures entered for the "Weighted Campus Users" calculations are from FY2006, BU Sustainability was only able to collect CY2006 data for "waste generated." Because both are 12-month time periods and share a 6-month overlap, we regard them as comparable. URLS: http://www.bu.edu/sustainability/how-to/achieve-zero-waste/