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-23: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.25 / 3.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
490 Tons

Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
687 Tons

A brief description of programs, policies, infrastructure investments, outreach efforts, and/or other factors that contributed to the diversion rate, including efforts made during the previous three years:
Virtually all waste bins on campus are paired with blue recycling bins. Composting containers are being integrated in all the buildings across campus. All yard waste is composted. There are uniform recycling signs throughout the campus. UC Merced Recycling maintains an active website and Facebook page.

A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:
At the end of each semester non-perishable food items not used by dining is donated to a local homeless shelter.

A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
Compost bins are provided at all prep stations in dining to collect compost and staff are trained to place all compostable materials in these receptacles. These bins are then delivered to the Modesto Compost Facility where they create and distribute composted material.

A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
In the main dining hall, students deliver their trays to a station and student workers remove items from the trays. These employees are trained to sort the tray items into recycling and compost. In the cafe dining area, 3-part bins are color coded for recycling, landfill and compost. The bins were designed and built by a local company with input from campus stakeholders. Compost bins are provided at all large-group campus catered events. This compostable material is then delivered to the Modesto Compost Facility where they create and distribute composted material.

Does the institution include the following materials in its waste diversion efforts?:
Yes or No
Paper, plastics, glass, metals, and other recyclable containers Yes
Food donations Yes
Food for animals No
Food composting Yes
Cooking oil Yes
Plant materials composting Yes
Animal bedding composting Yes
Batteries Yes
Light bulbs Yes
Toner/ink-jet cartridges Yes
White goods (i.e. appliances) Yes
Laboratory equipment Yes
Furniture Yes
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste Yes
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets Yes
Motor oil Yes
Tires Yes

Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:
Styrofoam is the only other material that institution includes in its waste diversion efforts.

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.