Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.21
Liaison Olivia Wiebe
Submission Date Feb. 27, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Idaho
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.05 / 8.00 Charles M. Zillinger
Director – Landscape & Exterior Services
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 296.56 Tons 243.18 Tons
Materials composted 27.50 Tons 0 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 165 Tons 140 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 812 Tons 1,100 Tons
Total waste generated 1,301.06 Tons 1,483.18 Tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:

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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2015 Dec. 31, 2015
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2005 Dec. 31, 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):

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Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 3,466 2,000
Number of employees resident on-site 8 8
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 250 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 8,286.90 10,415
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 1,406 2,254
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 8,388.18 10,003.75

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.16 Tons 0.15 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
37.59

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
37.59

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 No
Plant materials Yes
Animal bedding 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
Tires Yes
Other (please specify below) Yes

A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:

Other materials the institution has recycled and/or re-sold include, but are not limited to: vehicles, farm equipment, shop equipment, electronics, batteries, fluorescent tubes, mercury tubes, sodium vapor bulbs, and compact tubes.

To the recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold materials reported by Facilities, above, 1 ton was added from the Move Out program, and 6 tons of food waste were added from the Food & Farm Composting program.


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) :
160 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):
8

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:

In 2018, new vinyl wraps were installed on all exterior recycling containers with color coding, images, and keywords.

In 2013, several waste compactors were installed, greatly decreasing the cost of waste disposal and allowing for waste to be closely monitored on a mass basis, as opposed to a volume basis as was previously done.


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:

In support of the campus composting program, Sustainability Center student volunteers teach and assist Commons food court dining patrons how to sort their lunch leftovers into compost, recyclable and landfill containers.

In support of the Game Day Recycling program, Sustainability Center student volunteers teach alumni and tailgaters how to sort their leftovers into composting, recycling and landfill containers.

Recycling and garbage containers are accessible throughout campus.


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

Internal Audit Services provides independent and objective auditing and consultation services designed to add value and improve the university’s operations, and to help the university accomplish its objectives by evaluating the effectiveness of risk management, internal control and governance processes. Internal Audit conducts investigations of potential violations of the university’s ethics policy, which includes fraud, waste and abuse.

The Sustainability Center periodically conducts waste audits and posts results on online at: https://www.uidaho.edu/current-students/sustainability-center/resources/reports. A 2009 campus waste characterization study found that 68% of waste can be composted or recycled. These findings led to the campus Food and Farm Composting program which was established in 2010.


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

UI Purchasing Services works with vendors to purchase items that utilize recyclable packaging and low-waste options. This is beneficial not only for the environment, but makes maintenance and cleaning of UI facilities more cost effective.


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

The University Surplus operation manages the auction and sale of university assets that are no longer in active use, as part of the Recycling Surplus and Solid Waste Division.


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):

Items for surplus can be previewed by UI departments and other agencies two weeks prior to a Public Auction. In addition, pre-priced items are sold in an on campus store which is open to all.


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 allowed to print 250 pages each semester. Additional pages are $0.05, and color pages are $1.00 (or 20 black-white pages). Double sided printing is the default in most computer labs (a double sided printed page is weighted as a single printed page)


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:

Course catalogs, course schedules and directories are all available, by default, online. A limited number of printed course catalogs are provided to college advisers.

Professors are encouraged to provide their course schedule, syllabus, and homework online through BBlearn a virtual learning environment and course management system, or through a course website.


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

Students moving out of residence halls or the Greek community are encouraged to donate durable, reusable goods such as clothing, household goods, kitchen supplies electronics, and non-perishable food to the Sustainability Center's Give and Go program. Materials are distributed to local charities and a campus food bank.


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

Evolve, coordinated by Sustainability Center student staff, is an ink and electronics recycling program with 19 collection locations throughout campus.


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:

Research completed by Kyle Petersen, a senior studying Mechanical Engineering, and UI Facilities-Utilities and Engineering Services Student Engineering Technician.

Optional fields: Jeannie Matheison, Director, UI Sustainability Center.


Research completed by Kyle Petersen, a senior studying Mechanical Engineering, and UI Facilities-Utilities and Engineering Services Student Engineering Technician.

Optional fields: Jeannie Matheison, Director, UI Sustainability Center.

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.