| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.30 |
| Liaison | Dianne Anderson |
| Submission Date | Feb. 7, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
New York University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.76 / 8.00 |
Nicholas
Liu-Sontag Manager Sustainability |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 1,883.80 Tons | 1,820 Tons |
| Materials composted | 229.34 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 5,556.40 Tons | 4,005.99 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 7,669.54 Tons | 5,825.99 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | Jan. 1, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2018 |
| Baseline Year | Sept. 1, 2005 | Aug. 31, 2006 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted (e.g. in sustainability plans and policies or in the context of other reporting obligations):
The baseline year was chosen because this is the baseline year from NYU's 2011 STARS Report.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 11,833 | 11,106 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 14,352 | 1,000 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 1,824 | 1,526 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 46,971 | 33,919 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 20,351 | 8,739 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 655 | 84 |
| Weighted campus users | 58,370.50 | 36,483 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.13 Tons | 0.16 Tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
In the waste figures reported above, has the institution recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold the following materials?:
| Yes or No | |
| Paper, plastics, glass, metals, and other recyclable containers | Yes |
| Food | Yes |
| Cooking oil | No |
| Plant materials | No |
| Animal bedding | No |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | No |
| Laboratory equipment | No |
| Furniture | No |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | Yes |
| Scrap metal | No |
| Pallets | No |
| Tires | No |
| Other (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year (e.g. materials that are actively diverted from the landfill or incinerator and refurbished/repurposed) :
Does the institution use single stream recycling (a single container for commingled recyclables) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
Does the institution use dual stream (two separate containers for recyclables, e.g. one for paper and another for plastic, glass, and metals) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling (multiple containers that further separate different types of materials) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed, e.g. efforts to minimize contamination and/or monitor the discard rates of the materials recovery facilities and mills to which materials are diverted:
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives, e.g. initiatives to shift individual attitudes and practices such as signage and competitions:
Every year the Office of Sustainability hosts Zero Waste week. This week-long event challenges students to reduce their waste as much as possible by voluntarily having students carry their landfill waste in a plastic bag for the entire week. It also features zero-waste events such as panels and a zero-waste student art exhibition/competition.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
In 2018, NYU's Waste and Grounds Management team began performing regular waste audits in NYU buildings to understand NYU's recycling and waste diversion performance as well as overall waste footprint. This information is being used to inform NYU's recycling and waste programs.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
NYU's Asset Management staff facilitates the distribution of surplus materials. Through the completion of the Asset Surplus Form, Asset Management is able to inspect surplus goods, determine its recyclable value or designate it for disposal. Asset Management uses the information from the Asset Surplus Form to update its inventory database.
NYU departments facilitate disposal of designated items with Facilities and Construction Management. Successfully relocated used furniture and equipment from the last few years include computers, monitors, file cabinets, desks, tables, chairs, printers, bookcases, TVs, couches, lamps, fax machines, stools and exercise machines.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse (e.g. of electronics, furnishings, books and other goods):
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption (e.g. restricting free printing and/or mandating doubled-sided printing in libraries and computer labs):
NYU limits the total number of pages a student can print for free through the use of the student's ID which keeps track of the total pages printed. Double-sided printing is default on NYU printers.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials (e.g. course catalogs, course schedules, and directories) available online by default rather than printing them:
NYU primarily provides materials on courses online, through the Albert web system, and shares course materials via an online platform.
Most NYU schools have discontinued printing hard-copy course catalogs.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
NYU's Green Apple Move Out program is intended to reduce residence hall move-out waste. Items collected include un-needed items such as clothes, bedding, small appliances, books, and un-opened non-perishable food. These items are then donated or recycled. Donated items are not reflected in the
In 2019, NYU began holding household items on-campus over the summer, so that they may be re-used by entering students in the fall.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Discarded frying oil from NYU's dining halls is recycled into biofuel by a third party contractor. Discarded oil, however, is not reported in the figures above.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.