Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.07
Liaison Breeana Sylvas
Submission Date Feb. 25, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of California, Merced
OP-22: Waste Minimization

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.63 / 5.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Waste generated::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 314 Tons 156 Tons
Materials composted 144 Tons 0 Tons
Materials reused, donated or re-sold 32 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 687 Tons 178 Tons

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of residential students 2,315 787.50
Number of residential employees 0 0
Number of in-patient hospital beds 0 0
Full-time equivalent enrollment 6,431 1,954
Full-time equivalent of employees 1,252.60 631
Full-time equivalent of distance education students 0 0

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2014 June 30, 2015
Baseline Year July 1, 2006 June 30, 2007

A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:

Baseline data is provided for FY 2006-2007 since the campus did not open until fall 2005. The performance year is FY 2014-2015. This data does not include campus construction and demolition.

Additionally, performance date for reporting OP 22 is July 1, 2014 thru June 30, 2015. This date differs from performance date for OP 1 which is January 1, 2014 thru December 31, 2014. This is primarily due to the baseline date developed for both OP 22 and OP 1 differing. Figures reported for both residential students and enrollment are reflective of records at the time of the performance dates. These values may differ from reported IC 2 and IC 3 figures, which reflect to-date actuals for enrollment and residential students.

Website URL: https://recycle.ucmerced.edu/reduce

+ Date Revised: March 11, 2016

A brief description of any (non-food) waste audits employed by the institution:
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A brief description of any institutional procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
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A brief description of any surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

Once a month there is a office supplies exchange event where unused office supplies are dropped off and departments can pick up any items they need.


A brief description of the institution's efforts to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:

Currently, UC Merced still prints course catalogs for incoming freshmen only. The institution does not print course schedules or directories for any of its students, staff, or faculty. Those items can be found on the UC Merced website.


A brief description of any limits on paper and ink consumption employed by the institution:

At UC Merced there is no such thing as free printing. All students are charged $0.04 to print in black and white and $0.08 to print in color on campus. This is true for all printing locations on campus.


A brief description of any programs employed by the institution to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:

We hold an event called the Bobcat Recycling Fair each year. The Bobcat Recycling Fair is a collection event to gather items that residents no longer need. Last year, we collected clothing, e-waste, batteries, cell phones, school supplies and appliances. In addition, we had a redemption center on campus. Residents were allowed to bring their bottles and cans that they had saved throughout the semester and get CRV value for them.


A brief description of any other (non-food) waste minimization strategies employed by the institution:

Repurposement of tables, chairs and other furniture. Recycling employees use re-purposed bicycles.


A brief description of any food waste audits employed by the institution:
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A brief description of any programs and/or practices to track and reduce pre-consumer food waste in the form of kitchen food waste, prep waste and spoilage:
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A brief description of programs and/or practices to track and reduce post-consumer food waste:
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A brief description of the institution's provision of reusable and/or third party certified compostable to-go containers for to-go food and beverage items (in conjunction with a composting program):

UC Merced uses OZZI containers for all carry out food, which must be returned to an OZZI vending machine. Diners pay a $5 fee if they do not return the container.


A brief description of the institution's provision of reusable service ware for “dine in” meals and reusable and/or third party certified compostable service ware for to-go meals (in conjunction with a composting program):

UC Merced is currently phasing out plastic utensils and replacing them with wooden, compostable ones instead.


A brief description of any discounts offered to customers who use reusable containers (e.g. mugs) instead of disposable or compostable containers in to-go food service operations:

Dining provides a $.25 discount when reusable mugs/bottles are used to purchase coffee at both the cafe and main dining facility.


A brief description of other dining services waste minimization programs and initiatives:
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The website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.