| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 47.16 |
| Liaison | Ryan Chabot |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2021 |
University of Central Florida
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
6.18 / 8.00 |
Yara
Watson Colon Sustainability Specialist II Sustainability Initiatives |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 295.33 Tons | 796.20 Tons |
| Materials composted | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 283.60 Tons | 3.78 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 888.37 Tons | 1,436.96 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,467.30 Tons | 2,236.94 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 18, 2018 | June 30, 2019 |
| Baseline Period | June 30, 2015 | June 30, 2016 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
As part of STARS reporting.
Baseline numbers were updated and confirmed within this report using historical data from the university's Institutional Knowledge Management and Human Resources. Previously used methodologies for obtaining FTE employees and students enrolled in distance education were updated to accurately reflect numbers during the baseline year. The numbers produced using updated methodology turned out to be higher than reported when the baseline was established.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 7,465 | 7,496 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 59,355 | 40,070.90 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 6,928.60 | 5,446 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 18,581 | 12,084 |
| Weighted campus users | 37,643.20 | 26,948.68 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.04 Tons | 0.08 Tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
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 | No |
| Cooking oil | No |
| Plant materials | No |
| Animal bedding | No |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | Yes |
| Electronics | 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:
Batteries and light bulbs are also recycled.
UCF Recycles: https://fo.ucf.edu/recycle
Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
Does the institution use single stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
Sustainability initiatives hosts a "swap shop" event twice per year amongst the residents. At the end of spring and fall semesters, students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity to donate their clean clothes and used goods. By bringing in donatable items, they are able to swap them out for other gifted goods or donate them to those in need while also preventing them from ending up in the landfill. All leftovers go to the Knight's Pantry.
Sustainability Initiatives, Student Government, and UCF Recycles partner to bring Knights Go Green to tailgating events. Student volunteers are trained to serve as peer-to-peer educators and assist in decreasing recycling contamination and litter.
Sustainability Initiatives also hosts Plastic Free July. Plastic Free July is a world-wide, month-long challenge with the goal of curbing plastic consumption. The Sustainability Initiatives Department challenges students to keep track of and limit plastic consumption throughout this initiative.
Campus Swap Shop: https://sustainable.ucf.edu/swapshop
Plastic Free July: https://sustainable.ucf.edu/pfj
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
In 2019, UCF partnered with an outside consulting firm EcoPreserve to conduct an audit of waste generated on campus. The assessment reviewed current recycling and diversion program success, reporting, education components, and identified opportunities and challenges associated with the university’s progress towards the goal of becoming a Zero Waste campus by 2030. The biggest opportunities that were identified in the assessment include:
1. Increase waste minimization through purchasing programs and behavior change programs.
2. Increase diversion and reduce contamination through standardized building design, bins, signage, and operating procedures.
3. Develop contract language for all vendors and contractors in alignment with waste goals.
4. Reduce waste production through donation, reuse, and composting programs.
5. Develop pilot programs for innovative and aggressive waste minimization and diversion programs.
6. Develop and conduct staff, student, and contractor training programs.
7. Create a cultural change through highly visible education and engagement programs for the entire population on campus.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Toner is recycled through the Business Services area and many offices have printer ink recycling boxes. Our Surplus department handles all repurposing of surplus materials, such as office furniture, electronics, etc. Adoption programs are available onsite and online.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
Sustainability initiatives hosts a "swap shop" event twice per year amongst the residents. At the end of spring and fall semesters, students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity to donate their clean clothes and used goods. By bringing in donatable items, they are able to swap them out for other gifted goods or donate them to those in need while also preventing them from ending up in the landfill. All leftovers go to the Knight's Pantry.
Campus Swap Shop: https://sustainable.ucf.edu/swapshop
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials 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:
Sustainability initiatives host a "swap shop" event twice per year targeting on-campus residents but available to the community. At the end of spring and fall semesters, students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity to donate clothes, goods, and food. By bringing in donatable items, they are able to swap them out for other gifted goods or donate them to those in need while also preventing them from ending up in the landfill. All leftovers go to the Knight's Pantry.
In addition, donation boxes are made available in each community and are collected immediately after move out. Donated items are repurposed at a local neighborhood community center.
Campus Swap Shop: https://sustainable.ucf.edu/swapshop
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Campus Swap Shop: https://sustainable.ucf.edu/swapshop
Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts 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.