Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 54.34
Liaison Samuel Crowl
Submission Date March 11, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Ohio University
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.95 / 3.00 Andrew Ladd
Recycling & Zero Waste Manager
Recycling & Refuse
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
3,486.20 Tons

Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
1,870.35 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:

Comprehensive infrastructure for recycling exists in every building on campus, every dorm room, every office, every lab, every classroom. We are now working on instituting co-located recycling in our outdoor venues. Pre and post consumer composting is successful in all dinging operations and has been recently introduced within our catering dept. Outreach to the student body takes the form of Orientation tours, University leadership tweets and emails, signage, events, press releases, etc.


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

Throughout the year, Culinary Services donates excess food items to the Southeast Ohio Food Bank. Additionally, students enrolled in our Flex Meal Plans may utilize their unused meals to purchase non-perishable food items and place them in donation bins located within our Campus Markets. These donation bins are regularly collected by an Athens County food bank. Extensive and comprehensive Move-out and Winter Break Food-Drives from the residence halls


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

Ohio University is home to the largest known in-vessel composting system at any college or university in the nation. Food is collected from Central Foods Facility and all Athens campus dining halls six days per week. Near 100% of both pre- and post- consumer waste is collected.


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

Ohio University is home to the largest known in-vessel composting system at any college or university in the nation. Food is collected from Central Foods Facility and all Athens campus dining halls six days per week. Near 100% of both pre- and post- consumer waste is collected.


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 ---
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:

E-Waste, Textiles, Styrofoam, Mattresses, Carpet, Books, Confidential records, Coal Ash, Theatre set wood, reusable items of all kinds, etc.


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Ohio University is well on our way to an 80% diversion rate.


Ohio University is well on our way to an 80% diversion rate.

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.