| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 63.40 |
| Liaison | Olivia Herron |
| Submission Date | March 2, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Miami University
OP-23: Waste Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.10 / 3.00 |
Yvette
Kline Dir. Sustainability & Energy Conservation Physical Facilities |
Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
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:
Outreach efforts from the sustainability committee accompany the start of the academic year through dissemination of a set of tips to students, faculty and staff.
Both the Green Team and Eco Reps provide outreach throughout the year. The Green Team attends home hockey games and helps fans sort their waste into trash, recycling and composting streams. They have an annual America Recycles Day activity, and several times a year they sponsor recycling messages on the university's digital displays. They typically work on a new outreach project every year. In recent years it has been post consumer composting and single stream recycling. This year they are working on teaching people how to dispose of their food containers.
EcoReps conduct their outreach in the residence halls through waste audits and posting of EcoFacts.
Operational changes probably account for the largest changes. The culinary support center is producing less waste because many items are being purchased pre-prepped. A new dining location has installed an enzyme-fueled disposal system that breaks down organic waste on site and sends it in the sanitary sewer system instead of landfill. And many Lean projects have reduced paper waste by transitioning to online processes.
A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:
Dining partners with two local food banks and donates products to those operations. One is a soup kitchen in Hamilton Ohio, New Life Mission [NLM]. Our central warehouse facility saves any damaged/outdated product and contacts NLM and they will pick up throughout the year as needed. Prior to break times, NLM will send a refrigerated truck which visits each dining facility, collecting any perishable products that will not hold until business resumes. Each unit manager is responsible for the tracking of donated items and submitting this list to our central facility. All products used in bid testing are also donated to these operations.
Also HDRBS has made it possible for students to "pledge a meal" in which students are able to donate a meal cash equivalency to local charities that help to feed those in need.
A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
Six or so dining locations collect pre-consumer food scrap in 3-yard dumpsters for composting. This includes left over or expired food, coffee grounds, and production scrap.
A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
An enzymatic food disposal system breaks down both pre- and post-consumer food waste at Miami's new Garden Dining Commons. The output of this system goes into the sanitary sewer.
Organic dumpsters at various dining establishments collect organic scrap returned to the dish line, typically after it has been pulped. This is hauled to a commercial compost facility by a third party every two weeks during the academic session.
Several employee volunteers around campus participate in office composting by collecting coffee grounds and filters from their departments. This is collected in outdoor toters which are on call to be emptied by the hauler who empties the organic dumpsters.
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 | Yes |
| Food for animals | No |
| Food composting | Yes |
| Cooking oil | Yes |
| Plant materials composting | Yes |
| Animal bedding composting | Yes |
| Batteries | Yes |
| Light bulbs | Yes |
| Toner/ink-jet cartridges | Yes |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | Yes |
| Laboratory equipment | --- |
| 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:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Weights of used University property sold, and of student property donated through the ShareFest move-out program, are not currently tracked. Nor is the amount of donated food.
Weights of used University property sold, and of student property donated through the ShareFest move-out program, are not currently tracked. Nor is the amount of donated food.
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.