Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 80.45
Liaison Tori Grant
Submission Date Dec. 13, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Calgary
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.12 / 8.00 Michael Love
Director, Caretaking
Caretaking
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 774.75 Metric tons 1,043.89 Metric tons
Materials composted 219.89 Metric tons 10.71 Metric tons
Materials donated or re-sold 2.96 Metric tons 0 Metric tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Metric tons 0 Metric tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 1,491.55 Metric tons 2,330.79 Metric tons
Total waste generated 2,743.81 Metric tons 3,731.75 Metric 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 April 1, 2017 March 31, 2018
Baseline Year April 1, 2008 March 31, 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):
---

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,460 2,871
Number of employees resident on-site 0 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 28,860 24,650
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 5,240.40 4,831
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 964 312
Weighted campus users 25,467.30 22,594.50

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 2,489.15 Metric tons 3,385.39 Metric tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
34.77

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
40.08

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
40.08

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 Yes
White goods (i.e. appliances) Yes
Laboratory equipment No
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:

The university operates a comprehensive mixed recycling program across all campuses. Food material is composted pre-consumer and post-consumer at various dining areas on campus. Cooking oil is recycled by Alberta Processing Company. Plant materials, such as grass and small branches are all composted by Grounds. Animal bedding is composted and recycled along with water in an engineered wetland system. Furniture that is replaced goes to surplus sales. If it is not sold, the furniture is dismantled and individual components recycled. Residence Hall furniture and appliances that are replaced also go to surplus or are donated during the yearly Residence Eco-Move program. Clothing and other textiles are accepted for recycling gat two drop-off points on campus. Scrap metal, pallets and tires are accepted for recycling at various drop-off points around campus.

Other materials that the university recycles or composts are described on our website: https://www.ucalgary.ca/sustainability/discover/our-sustainable-campus/waste-and-recycling


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?:
Yes

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?:
Yes

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?:
Yes

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:
---

A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
---

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:

The university operates regular surplus sales featuring furniture that has is no longer needed. Furniture that is replaced goes to surplus sales. If it is not sold, the furniture is dismantled and individual components recycled.
- Office supplies are also distributed at surplus sales


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):

The university does not offer students free printing. Students pay for printing using their Unicards, which can be loaded with credit for use in printing machines across campus. Double-sided printing is the default setting for all printing.


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:
---

A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:

The Residence Eco-Move Out program is a student initiative which began in 2013. The initiative aims to reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill when students move out of residence at the end of the winter term. During a week-long moving out period, items such as furniture and clothing were collected and sent to Goodwill while electronics, perishable and non-perishable food items, and paper and cardboard were sent to the CSI Electronics Processing Centre, the Campus Foodbank and for recycling. All toiletries collected went to Clean the World Foundation.


A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
---

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.