Columbia University
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Institution diverts materials from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, reusing, donating, or re-selling. 

This credit includes on-campus dining services operated by the institution or the institution’s primary on-site contractor. 

This credit does not include construction, demolition, electronic, hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal and non-regulated chemical waste, which are covered in OP 24: Construction and Demolition Waste Diversion and OP 25: Hazardous Waste Management.  

This credit applies to all institutions.

Institutions earn the maximum 3 points for this credit by diverting all waste from the landfill or incinerator. Incremental points are awarded based on the percentage of waste that is diverted. For example, an institution that diverts 50 percent of its waste would earn 1.5 points (half of the points available for this credit). 

See scoring table and example in the STARS Technical Manual.

Timeframe

Report the most recent waste generation and diversion data available. 

Sampling and Data Standards

Waste figures measured in volume may be converted to weight using the conversion factors provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the College and University Recycling Council (used for the U.S. Recyclemania competition) or the conversion factors provided by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). 

To the extent possible, include all waste that was generated by the institution and/or the institution’s primary on-site dining services contractor when reporting for this credit. Construction, demolition, electronic, hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal and non-regulated chemical waste, which is covered in OP 24: Construction and Demolition Waste Diversion and OP 25: Hazardous Waste Management, is excluded. If data for the entire campus and/or entire year are not available, institutions may use a representative sample.