| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 36.07 |
| Liaison | Christopher Williams |
| Submission Date | Jan. 31, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Delaware
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.87 / 8.00 |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 1,109.03 Tons | 807.21 Tons |
| Materials composted | 126.07 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 0.17 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 2,380.32 Tons | 2,227.82 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 3,615.59 Tons | 3,035.03 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
Food donation numbers are partial; complete data not available at time of report.
UD Composted food waste from 2012-2014 until our local composting facility closed.
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2017 | July 1, 2018 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2007 | July 1, 2008 |
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):
We adopted this baseline to align with other measurements on campus.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 7,363 | 7,180 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 212 | 212 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 22,181 | 21,512 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 4,439 | 2,315 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 416 | 1,115 |
| Weighted campus users | 21,546.75 | 18,882 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.17 Tons | 0.16 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 | Yes |
| Cooking oil | Yes |
| Plant materials | No |
| Animal bedding | No |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | No |
| Laboratory equipment | No |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | Yes |
| Scrap metal | Yes |
| Pallets | No |
| Tires | No |
| Other (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Many items, such as lab equipment, pallet, etc. recycling, are handled at the Department or lab level. As a result, data is not yet available.
UD collects animal waste from our dairy farm and separates the solids from liquids to reduce storm runoff. The solids are composted and used on the UD farm to fertilize plants.
FY18- 252147.1 lbs of diverted food waste via digestors in Rodney-
FY 17 data -3996 gallons cooking oil converted.
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) :
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?:
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?:
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?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
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:
UD deploys signage, presentations, RA training, and other outreach efforts to educate the campus community about recycling. We also conduct waste audits to track the contamination rates in different sectors of campus and improve our existing communication efforts. We tailor signage, presentations, etc. to highlight the most common contamination items.
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:
UD has developed signage that aligns with industry best practice to indicate and educate students about better waste / recycling bins, practices and behaviors. This is the first signage developed for this purpose on our campus. There is also a website that acts as a go-to guide for common waste and recycling questions.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
UD Waste and Recycling interns complete a waste audit each semester, in which they capture the weights of appropriate waste, contaminants, food waste, and liquid waste in both trash and recycling bins. The data collected is used to improve communications efforts.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
N/A
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
UD has a surplus storage area where extra furniture and other office goods are stored and reused. Annual sales also help support the "U Don't Need It" program, which collects and donates move-out items that would otherwise go to landfill.
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):
There is an online forum for student and staff classified items exchange.
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):
Students are allotted a fixed amount of paper / ink they can print on campus before they have to pay per sheet. Double-sided printing is the default on all printers, though the setting can be overridden.
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:
UD has shifted towards an online course platform called Canvas. All course materials, schedules, discussions, lecture notes, and many recorded lectures are available online. Our Directory, Course Catalogue, Course Schedules and Scheduling, are all available online.
All major documents (e.g. course catalogues, schedules, directories) are posted online and paper copies are available by request only. The online options are often more user friendly, too, as they have search functionality and connect with online calendars (both personal and institutional), the book store, the registrar's office, etc.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
UD offers guidelines to students to reduce move-in and move-out waste. There are also collection bins for reusable items and donate rather than discard them. During move-out UD runs the annual "Udon't Need It" drive to collect reusable items for donation and divert styrofoam and other waste from landfill.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
UD is investigating several options to recover or upcycle food waste. UD is also engaged in research on the impacts of aerobic digestion on anaerobic digestion systems.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.