The Ohio State University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Performance year from previous STARS submission.

Batteries, Ballasts, books, ink/toner cartridges, dorm mattresses, medical device reprocessing, film plastic, surgical blue wrap, select hard-to-recycle plastics.

The university conducted a representative waste characterization study in fall 2021 and identfied a contamination rate of approximately 21% in the 16 buildings studied. In response, a "Recycle Right" education campaign was launched and is ongoing. Additionally, recycling and sustainability electronic learning modules are being developed for staff and student training but will be completed after the reporting period of FY 21.

In FY 21, the Sustainability Institute provided support and funding for six proposals for sustainability-related minors, majors and certificate programs that are now under development. The SUSTAINS Learning Community led multiple waste-related sustainability projects including a plastic bag recycling program, a residential composting program, and a clothing thrift swap. Undergraduate Student Government and the Sustainability Council hosted events to increase sustainability awareness and engagement for students. “October is Campus Sustainability Month” was held by Undergraduate Student Government’s Sustainability Committee, and the Sustainability Council’s annual Time for Change Week was held in April. Both events included topics such as recycling on campus and composting. Student Life Energy Management and Sustainability launched a new Certified Green Buckeye program which invited students to complete a questionnaire about their sustainable behaviors and receive certificates based on their actions. The university supported a compost and recycling drop-off for students living off-campus. The university participated in the Campus Race to Zero Waste, finishing first in the Big Ten conference in the Per Capita Diversion category. The OSU Wexner Medical Center continued to run its Green Team by hosting regular meetings, sending newsletters, and operating special recycling collections of electronics, batteries, and shoes during its Earth Day events.

Building-level waste audits are conducted periodically and results are communicated to building coordinators, custodial, and other key staff to identify improvements. In fall 2021, a representative waste characterization study was performed on the waste and recycling streams for 16 buildings on campus representing different building-use categories to obtain detailed data on capture rates, diversion rates, common contaminants, and frequently disposed items that could be replaced by recyclable or reusable alternatives. Following the study, strategies were developed and implementation has begun to address issues at underperforming buildings. In 2022, the university's internal refuse collection department began using CRO, an electronic dispatching and tracking system which will allow the university to track occurances or overflowing dumpsters, contamination, tons disposed/recycled/composted, and diversion rate by building. These results will be shared with key staff to address issues and improve waste management practices on an ongoing basis.

The university has a recycled copy paper policy which requires units to purchase and use copy paper with at least 30% post-consumer recycled content. The OSU Wexner Medical Center has sustainable procurement guidelines to purchase environmentally preferrable medical equipment and devices. While not policies, the purchasing department ensures all university-purchased computers meet the current Energy Star 5.0 rating; 50% of products purchased by OSU Stores support the Buy Ohio Program, which affords bidders a 5% economic preference to vendors in Ohio and bordering states; Stores is committed to inclusion of environmentally friendly products and supplier diversity in preferred supplier contracts and continuously works with departments to increase visibility of these agreements. Purchasing is able to acquire many products with environmentally friendly alternatives. Browse preferred supplier agreements in eStores and look for the “green” label.

The Surplus Department is responsible for the disposition of Ohio State property in accordance with university policy. Efforts are made to sell or recycle all surplus items whenever possible. The department offers the university community services including a warehouse for department transfer, public sale and public auction as alternatives to discarding items such as office and classroom furniture and equipment.

Ohio State's Surplus Deparment makes items available for transfer to University departments on the first Monday of every month from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Department representatives can go to the Surplus warehouse and look for items they need. Staff submit an eRequest for items wanted. All items must be removed from the warehouse by the Friday following the Monday transfer day.

Students are charged $0.04/page for standard black and white copies and $0.18/page for color copies, which are billed through the student's BuckID. Printing is not restricted for faculty and staff, but per the university's Recycled Copy Paper policy, units are strongly encouraged to make every effort to eliminate excessive or unnecessary use of copy paper.

The Ohio State University has made the course catalog, schedule of classes, and Find People directory available electronically. Additionally, an eSignature service is used to facilitate a paperless authorization process for daily university business and a paperless system is used for all paychecks and pay stub information.

Ohio State's residence halls collect clothing, shoes, household items, and non-perishable food at the end of each school year in partnership with Students for Recycling, Goodwill Columbus, and Buckeye Food Alliance. Students for Recycling hold an annual Dump and Run event where items donated during spring move-out are sold at an affordable price to students needing to furnish their residences. During move-in and move-out, additional recycling capacity is added to campus via temporary roll-offs.

Commingled recycling is available in all campus buildings. Compost collection services are available in approximately 40 locations on campus and efforts are being made to expand composting accessibility to new buildings. A Zero Waste program is operated at Ohio Stadium during football game days. Zero waste event services are provided for special events which facilitate availability of recycling and composting bins and collection services for special events. Pilot programs were operated during FY 21 to collect hard-to-recycle plastics that will either be recycled or processed using pyrolysis. Scrap metal from bulk waste is recycled and pallets are recycled. Green waste from landscape operations is composted. Unwanted furniture from Student Life is donated for reuse and/or recycling. Programs are in place for specialty recycling at the OSU Wexner Medical Center to divert equipment through resale or reprocessing and to recycle medical gas canisters and other medical items.

Discrepancy in WCU due to credit timeline (2019-2020) this FY was selected as it was the last full year prior to the pandemic.