Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 76.34
Liaison Elida Erickson
Submission Date March 1, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of California, Santa Cruz
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.72 / 8.00 Chris Leverenz
Superintendent
Grounds
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 1,069.40 Tons 481 Tons
Materials composted 1,032.20 Tons 0 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 517.60 Tons 414 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 1,760.90 Tons 2,782 Tons
Total waste generated 4,380.10 Tons 3,677 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 July 1, 2017 June 30, 2018
Baseline Year July 1, 2004 June 30, 2005

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):

It matches the baseline used for prior reporting purposes.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 8,691
+ Date Revised: Aug. 21, 2019
6,088
Number of employees resident on-site 205 169
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 643
+ Date Revised: Aug. 21, 2019
415
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 19,142
+ Date Revised: Aug. 21, 2019
14,646
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 3,740 3,515
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 20,028.50 15,600

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.22 Tons 0.24 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
7.22

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
59.80

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
59.80

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) Yes
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:

e-waste, mattresses, toner cartridges


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) :
517.60 Tons

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?:
No

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?:
No

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):
0

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:

Not reported by recycling facility


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:

Multi-bin stations (clean paper, recycling, composting, landfill) across campus have large signage with pictures of items related to each bin.


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

UCSC has conducted three official campus-wide waste audits to date: in 2010, 2012 and 2014. In the most recent audit in 2014, the full contents of 49 dumpsters were sampled and sorted by teams of 12-20 students and staff to determine what percentage of the refuse stream (by weight) needs to be diverted from the landfill. The team consulted with a UCSC faculty statistician to ensure the samples were randomized and to evaluate the quality of the final data. The results of all three waste audits to date are similar: about 1/3 of the waste to be diverted comprises compostable materials, and only about 10-15% of the contents of the dumpsters actually "needs" to go to the landfill.


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):

We have reduced the number of deliveries to campus from Office Supply vendors and this has not only reduced packaging due to delivery consolidation but lowers CO2 emissions.

In addition, every purchase order issued includes the following language: ***Supplier: Please ship responsibly by ensuring your product and its packaging can be reused or recycled.***

We also apply our standard terms and conditions whenever possible. These terms include: ARTICLE 25 – ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PRODUCTS. Supplier will use environmentally preferable products and services (i.e., products and services with a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment), to the maximum possible extent consistent with the Agreement. These terms can be found at: https://www.ucop.edu/procurement-services/_files/uc-terms-and-conditions-of-purchase.pdf


A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

The UCSC Receiving Services - Surplus Store resells used office supplies, furniture and other goods. The Surplus Store receives unwanted items and sells them as-is for reuse both within the campus as well as to the greater Santa Cruz community.


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):

UCSC does not offer free printing in any of the computer labs or libraries.

Access to printing in Learning Technologies computer labs is automatically available to current UCSC students. Charges are automatically billed directly to students' UCSC accounts and will appear in their university bill (via student portal); no cards or cash are needed to print.


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:

MyUCSC is UCSC's online academic information portal for students, faculty, and staff. Students use MyUCSC to enroll in classes, check their grades, view their financial aid and billing accounts, and update their personal information. Faculty can view and print their class rosters, email their classes, and post grades in MyUCSC. Staff use MyUCSC to view and update student information.


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

Since 2012, we have had a Move Out waste reduction program that starts with late Fall Quarter education, late Spring Quarter swap events as well as containers available for donations during finals week (provided by Goodwill, Hope Services, 2nd Harvest Food Back and University bins for items sent to Homeless Services). Throughout Spring Quarter residents are encouraged to take items home early, recycle extra items early and when they are done with finals - take the rest home.


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

Large tree material is ground into wood chips for extensive use as mulch. Grass from most turf areas is mulched in place.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

UCSC uses load-weighing technology on the primary waste streams, so directly-weighed values are stored in an on-campus database which staff uses for reporting.


UCSC uses load-weighing technology on the primary waste streams, so directly-weighed values are stored in an on-campus database which staff uses for reporting.

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.