Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 40.64
Liaison Rebecca Collins
Submission Date July 31, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Temple University
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.29 / 3.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
2,385.09 Tons

Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
3,163.85 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:

From 2006 through 2014, Temple reduced its waste by 29% and increased its recycling by 74%. As of FY 2014, Temple boasted a recycling rate of 44%. Programs to reduce waste and increase recycling include: the residence halls’ annual Give and Go Green program where students donate items for donation to charities; an EPA award winning electronics recycling program; recycling glass from artists’ studios; reduction of student paper allocation at the Tech center; installation of water bottle filling stations to reduce the number of single use bottles; donation of surplus furniture and clinical equipment. Since FY 2009, Temple implemented construction waste recycling. In FY 2014, the university diverted over 90% of materials from new construction activities from landfills.


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

In spring 2013, the university's food provider Sodexo launched a food donation program at the Diamond Club, a faculty and staff dining facility. Sodexo donates leftover meals to the Boys and Girls Club in North Philadelphia, All of the donations are weighed and incorporated into the university's Recycling and Trash report.


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

Temple composts pre-consumer food waste in the student cafeteria as well as at the retail dining locations at the Howard Gittis Student Center. Picked up daily, the pre-consumer food waste is composted at a commercial composting facility.


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

Temple composts all post-consumer food waste generated in the student dining cafeteria. The food waste is picked up daily and transferred to a commercial composting facility. In FY 2014, approximately 186 tons of food waste was composted from the student dining center and the university's basketball arena.


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 No
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 ---

Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:

Tyler School of Art glass, office supplies, construction waste, theater sets and unwanted installation projects from the Tyler School of Art (via Revolution Recovery).


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Figures updated as of FY14.


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.