Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 71.18
Liaison Kelli O'Day
Submission Date Sept. 13, 2013
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

University of California, Davis
OP-17: Waste Reduction

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.35 / 5.00 Camille Kirk
Director of Sustainability and Campus Sustainability Planner
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Weight of materials recycled, 2005 baseline year :
1,699 Tons

Weight of materials composted, 2005 baseline year :
8,222 Tons

Weight of materials disposed as garbage, 2005 baseline year :
9,425 Tons

Weight of materials recycled, performance year :
1,543 Tons

Weight of materials composted, performance year :
10,803 Tons

Weight of materials disposed as garbage, performance year :
6,884 Tons

List the start and end dates of the waste reduction performance year:
01/01/2012-12/31/2012

On-campus residents, 2005:
4,916

Non-residential/commuter full-time students, faculty, and staff members, 2005:
35,723

Non-residential/commuter part-time students, faculty, and staff members, 2005:
14,663

On-campus residents, performance year:
6,778

Non-residential/commuter full-time students, faculty, and staff members, performance year:
40,930

Non-residential/commuter part-time students, faculty, and staff members, performance year:
14,777

Time period for weighted campus user (list the consecutive 12 month period that most closely overlaps with waste reduction performance year):
2012-13

Indication of whether institution has a stated commitment to waste-reduction goals, such as zero waste:
Yes

A brief description of the plan of action to achieve waste reduction goals:

UC Davis is committed to the goal of zero waste by 2020.

UC Davis has a basic recycling program in place in a majority of areas of campus. To understand the composition of current waste streams on campus that are not diverted from the landfill, a waste characterization study is underway. Data collected will be used to evaluate current waste diversion/reduction programs as well as develop new programs that would be beneficial.

UC Davis is under construction on an anaerobic digester (expected to start operation in late fall 2013) that will divert a large majority of campus organics and compostable materials. The campus organics diversion program will be expanding to divert additional material to the biodigester for use as feedstock.

A shift towards reusable supplies instead of disposable has been gaining momentum. Research and pilot projects have begun to develop an efficient and effective reusable supply program.

Staff also look at the current procurement contracts and work on source reduction in several categories, including disposables and packaging materials.


The website URL where information about the institution’s waste reduction initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

UC Davis has a fairly robust waste reduction and recycling program, including the nation’s first zero waste stadium, and a major organics and food waste diversion program. The campus focus on reducing waste can be traced back to at least 1975, when Bargain Barn opened in an effort to more responsibly dispose of surplus equipment, furniture and supplies.


UC Davis has a fairly robust waste reduction and recycling program, including the nation’s first zero waste stadium, and a major organics and food waste diversion program. The campus focus on reducing waste can be traced back to at least 1975, when Bargain Barn opened in an effort to more responsibly dispose of surplus equipment, furniture and supplies.

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.