Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.99
Liaison Deborah Steinberg
Submission Date Feb. 27, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Carnegie Mellon University
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.83 / 3.00 Barbara Kviz
Environmental Coordinator
Facilities Management Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
1,192.61 Tons

Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
3,124 Tons

A brief description of programs, policies, infrastructure investments, outreach efforts, and/or other factors that contributed to the diversion rate, including efforts made during the previous three years:

As part of the Carnegie Mellon strategic initiative to enhance the scope and impact of our education and research programs related to the environment, the Green Practices Committee was charged in April 1999 to develop a plan for an expanded environmental practices program on campus.

The Green Practices Committee supports and encourages the Carnegie Mellon community to reduce or reuse all items and recycle as many materials as possible. Items include mixed office paper, cardboard, beverage containers, wood waste & pallets, steel & bi-metals, tires, electronic waste, textiles, scrap metal, plant materials, and food waste.


A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:

Many of dining locations donate their excess food to local food banks and church’s. Vendors donate to community-based non-profit feeding programs, including The Light of Life Rescue Mission and the East End Cooperative Ministry. Data is not available on the actual donation amounts; however vendors are quite effective at controlling the amount of waste therefore, donations are limited and occur primarily after large-scale events.


A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

Fourteen dining locations in the University Center and Resnik are currently participating in the pre-consumer composting program. Tazza D’Oro at the R-Bar Cafe’ in the Gates and Hillman Center and LaPrima in Wean Hall are both participating with composting their coffee grinds.


A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

All vendors, at their discretion, are encouraged to use the compost dumpsters at the Cohon University Center, Gates Hillman, GSIA, Resnik and Morewood Gardens Buildings. While no policies are formally set, some vendors utilize the dumpsters. Several departments collect food waste and hold zero waste events, where all waste generated can be composted. Post consumer food collection was added to the custodial contract and awarded in July 2012 and a post-consumer food composting program was implemented January 2013. As of this submission, we have 50+ locations on campus with post-consumer food composting collection bins.


Does the institution include the following materials in its waste diversion efforts?:
Yes or No
Paper, plastics, glass, metals, and other recyclable containers Yes
Food donations No
Food for animals No
Food composting Yes
Cooking oil Yes
Plant materials composting Yes
Animal bedding composting No
Batteries Yes
Light bulbs Yes
Toner/ink-jet cartridges Yes
White goods (i.e. appliances) Yes
Laboratory equipment Yes
Furniture Yes
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste Yes
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets Yes
Motor oil Yes
Tires Yes

Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:

EH&S collects all e-waste; televisions, computers & computer peripherals, which includes monitors, keyboards, mice, external drives, printers, copy machines, lab equipment and other devices exclusively plugged into a computer.

FMS recycles cell phones, old floppy or zip disks - cassette or VCR tapes, cd's and jewel cases, 3D printing cartridges, canisters, spools and print engines, alkaline or rechargeable batteries.


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.