| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.66 |
| Liaison | Eric Boles |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2021 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Arkansas
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.60 / 8.00 |
Gary
Enzor manager Razorback Recycling |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 666.60 Tons | 408.50 Tons |
| Materials composted | 124.40 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 218.25 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 2,751.92 Tons | 1,079.40 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 3,761.17 Tons | 1,487.90 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
The University of Arkansas recycling facility does sort paper prior to bailing it.
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2019 | June 30, 2019 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2008 | June 30, 2009 |
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):
This waste generation baseline was established during the 2011 academic year. The 2008 baseline is representative of waste efforts prior to the adoption of University of Arkansas' Zero Waste Initiative.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 6,234 | 4,551 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 14 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 22,598 | 14,814 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 4,342 | 3,747 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 673 | 1,342 |
| Weighted campus users | 21,262.25 | 14,052 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.18 Tons | 0.11 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 | Yes |
| Plant materials | Yes |
| Animal bedding | No |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | No |
| Laboratory equipment | Yes |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | Yes |
| Scrap metal | Yes |
| Pallets | Yes |
| Tires | Yes |
| Other (please specify below) | Yes |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Electronic waste is also part of our waste diversion project. This includes batteries, handheld devices, desktop computers, and office devices. We have six drop off locations around campus.
We also have razorback food recovery, which recovers food that is not consumed by the dining halls which accounts for 9.25 tons for the 2019 data.
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:
The University of Arkansas has the goal of becoming net-zero waste by 2040, meaning that of all the waste the university generates, 90% of it will be diverted from the landfill. Currently, the University of Arkansas diversion rate is 27%. The average increase is due to initiatives and behavior changes by all departments. Housing participates in Recycle-mania, a recycling event, every year. A large-scale recycling audit was also conducted in all of the residence halls last year in order to find areas of improvement. Signage and building policies have since changed and further enhanced the systems.
The dining hall facilities are also in line with the waste reduction goals. In the last year, there were policy changes that reduced plastic in some of the national food chains on the campus (Pei Wei, True Burger). The dining company, as well as all other departments that hold a stake in waste reduction goals, also work diligently alongside registered student organizations. i.e. the Student Sustainability Coalition, Residents' Interhall Congress, Net Impact, and the Associated Student Government.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Reoccurring waste audits have been performed by Kessler Consulting and the University of Arkansas Office for Sustainability.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
The University of Arkansas Office for Sustainability is currently trying to come up with new product procurement and purchasing policies that all departments must abide by. In the meantime, different departments have reduced packaging waste and product waste when presented with cost-beneficial alternatives.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Surplus University Property manages the re-use of furniture and other durable goods on campus.
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):
A PrintSmart management system is in place. Students are given a printing limit each semester of $36. If they go over this amount, students are required to purchase additional printing credits. There are co-located recycling bins for paper and waste next to the printing station.
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:
Blackboard, Dropbox, PIGS and other programs limit the use of paper on campus. The daily University of Arkansas' news is emailed rather then printed to conserve paper.
The University's student magazine has stopped printing, and have transitioned to electronic used content.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Housing asks local charities to submit applications to be considered for an end of the year collection. A student group helps select the charity that collects all student donations after move out.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
The Razorback food recovery, recovers food that would be disposed of from student dining halls.
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.