Duke University
OP-22: Waste Minimization

The Campus Sustainability Committee, comprised of students, faculty and staff, adopted this baseline for consistency and ability to track data retroactively based on new definitions of what was included in the baseline.

During FY’14 students completed no fewer than 10 waste audits on academic, administrative, and residential buildings. Waste placed in trash bins was evaluated to understand how much of the material could be recycled and/or composted.

Duke Green Purchasing policy has a section focused on source reduction - Reducing unnecessary waste at the source allows the University to both mitigate the inefficient use of our natural resources and benefit economically from decreased handling and disposal costs. Procurement activity may include: - Institute practices that reduce waste, resulting in the purchase of fewer products whenever practicable and cost-effective, but without reducing safety or workplace quality. - Purchase remanufactured products such as laser toner cartridges, tires, furniture, equipment and automotive parts whenever practicable, but without reducing safety, quality or effectiveness. - Consider short-term and long-term costs in comparing product alternatives. Include evaluation of total costs expected during the time a product is owned, including, but not limited to, acquisition, extended warranties, operation, supplies, maintenance, disposal costs and expected lifetime compared to other alternatives. - Purchase products that are durable, long lasting, reusable or refillable. - Request that vendors eliminate packaging or use the minimum amount necessary for product protection to the greatest extent practicable. - Request packaging that is reusable, recyclable or compostable when suitable uses and programs exist. - Reuse pallets and packaging materials. - Require that all equipment bought after the adoption of this Policy, when practicable, be compatible with products and services that provide source reduction benefits. http://sustainability.duke.edu/campus_initiatives/purchasing/index.html

Duke University and Health System has a formalized surplus property program, whereby all Duke-purchased property and supplies, including furniture, electronics, medical equipment and office supplies are collected, refurbished (if necessary) and offered to Duke Departments and non-profits at no charge. FY14 data - - Internal: 3,309 items donated back into Duke - External: 9,410 items to non-profits http://finance.duke.edu/procurement/news/items/2010_10_21_surplus.php Duke Recycles offers free surplus office supplies to faculty, staff, and students. Donations from employees and students cleaning out their offices are collected and organized in the Duke Recycles facility. http://sustainability.duke.edu/campus_initiatives/waste/freestore.html

"The Office of the University Registrar at Duke University currently produces ten course catalogs each year and "The Duke Community Standard in Practice; A Guide for Undergraduates ," which are all available online in PDF format. Only two of these documents are available and distributed as printed publications. The student directory, class schedules, class lists, and grade rosters are not printed, and are instead available online as needed. The Office of the University Registrar makes available the options of online transcript ordering and distribution for current students.”

Changes to ePrint quota system effective Aug. 15 Based on recommendations from Duke Student Government and Students for Sustainable Living, Duke's Office of Information Technology is making changes to the ePrint student quota system, which is designed to encourage reasonable, sustainable printing habits.

 Duke students receive an allocation of $32 per semester in black-and-white laser printing at OIT's ePrint stations in libraries, computer labs, and public spaces. If your balance falls below $9, you can request an increase to your printing allocation of $8. Undergraduate students may request this increase only once per semester. If you exhaust your allocation, your print jobs will be charged to your FLEX account at $0.04 per sheet.

 The free allotment is the equivalent of 1,000 sheets (or 2,000 sheets if you print double-sided) per semester per student. The per-sheet rate is based on OIT calculations of the actual cost of printing.

The recommendations for these quotas and fees were developed by Duke's Students for Sustainable Living, with the goal of reducing students' impact on the environment and decreasing Duke's role in the overconsumption of trees and the energy and water used in the production of paper. Those recommendations were approved by the Duke Student Government Senate in April 2014.

 https://oit.duke.edu/news/2014/2014_08_14_eprint.php

During the two weeks of student move-in, Duke Recycles collects and processes tons of cardboard as students return to campus. Corrals are constructed of orange construction fencing in convenient and centralized locations for students to bring their moving boxes once emptied. Prior to Move-In flyers, explaining the process, (about flattening boxes and removing debris) are distributed to Residence Life and Housing Services for dissemination. During Move-Out Duke Sanitation and Recycling (DSRS) partners with Housing, Dining and Residence Life to identify areas in each dorm where students can leave items for donation. DSRS works with local non-profits to set up a collection time for each of these locations.

Trays were removed from Duke University residential dining facilities in 2008.

Eco-clam shell containers made of environmentally-friendly polypropylene are sold for $5. When an owner drops off the to-go container to be cleaned and sanitized, he or she receives a keychain token that can be turned in for a replacement clamshell. In January 2010, the first 200 containers were given away as an incentive to join the program. Currently clam shells can be used at 3 large food vendors on campus, the Loop, Grace's, and Quenchers. The clam shell program used to be active at the Great Hall, Duke's largest food vendor and dining hall. This year, however, the Great Hall is undergoing renovation. Duke intends to continue the clam shell program in the Great Hall once it reopens.

20% discounts are offered to customers using any reusable mug for a coffee or fountain drink. Additionally, reusable mugs are sold in all retail locations with coffee drinks on Duke University campus.

Baseline used for Duke waste and recycling data - FY12