| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 74.20 |
| Liaison | Juanita Van Norman |
| Submission Date | Aug. 5, 2022 |
University of Manitoba
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.46 / 8.00 |
Allison
Mac Intyre Zero Waste Coordinator Operations and Maintenance |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Parts 1 and 2. Waste per person
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 283.96 Tons | 295.94 Tons |
| Materials composted | 12.54 Tons | 8.50 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 6.52 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 886.75 Tons | 1,148 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,189.77 Tons | 1,452.44 Tons |
If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | April 1, 2021 | March 31, 2022 |
| Baseline Period | April 1, 2019 | March 31, 2020 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
UM uses a baseline year of 1990 for energy related data as this is when major energy efficiency projects began on campus - for all other sections, 2019 has been used. The baseline period was chosen to account for the continued reduced campus occupancy as a result of COVID-19 health and safety protocols. In addition, 2019 is the baseline year within the UM Climate Action Plan.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 575 | 1,150 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 6 | 3 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 25,967 | 30,290 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 4,942 | 5,029 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 2,578 | 2,440 |
| Weighted campus users | 21,393.50 | 24,947.50 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.06 Tons | 0.06 Tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
4.48
Part 3. Waste diverted from the landfill or incinerator
25.47
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
25.47
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 | 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:
• Vehicle oil and filters are recycled as per the regulations of the Manitoba Used Oil and Antifreeze Program requirements by the Manitoba Association for Resource Recovery Corporation (MARRC).
• School and office supplies: binders, file folders (hanging/non-hanging), notebooks, hole punch, paper organizers/trays, binder clips, tacks, white boards, cork boards, staplers, calculators, lanyards, etc. are recovered and re-distributed on campus through Re-Shop (UM’s furniture and office supply re-use program) ReShop Online (umanitoba.ca)
• Batteries are recycled through Call2Recycle
• Light bulbs are recycled through Klight Recycling
• School and office supplies: binders, file folders (hanging/non-hanging), notebooks, hole punch, paper organizers/trays, binder clips, tacks, white boards, cork boards, staplers, calculators, lanyards, etc. are recovered and re-distributed on campus through Re-Shop (UM’s furniture and office supply re-use program) ReShop Online (umanitoba.ca)
• Batteries are recycled through Call2Recycle
• Light bulbs are recycled through Klight Recycling
Optional Fields
Active Recovery and Reuse
0.19
Tons
Recycling Management
Yes
Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
No
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
No
Contamination and Discard Rates
29.96
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
Recycling bins around campus have consistent signage indicating items that can be recycled. The UM Waste Sorting Game is also used as an outreach tool to increase education on recyclable and non-recyclable everyday items.
Programs and Initiatives
• The Lug-a-Mug campaign is intended to reduce the number of coffee cups purchased on campus that are often wrongly placed in recycling bins and destined for landfill. If students and staff bring a reusable mug to any coffee or tea vendor on campus they receive an automatic discount.
• Introduction to Sustainability at UM course that guides students through all sustainability initiatives on campus including waste reduction practices. As well, all first-year students have to complete a waste module while working through UM Essentials (an online course with orientation activities to prepare students for their studies at the University of Manitoba).
• Introduction to Sustainability at UM course that guides students through all sustainability initiatives on campus including waste reduction practices. As well, all first-year students have to complete a waste module while working through UM Essentials (an online course with orientation activities to prepare students for their studies at the University of Manitoba).
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
In 2020, UM Environmental Studies students conducted an onsite non-hazardous, small-scale, waste audit that took place over two separate weeks throughout February and March. The goal was to determine waste disposal behaviour and contamination rates at the university by analyzing a high-traffic study space on campus. Between weeks varying levels of signage were tested on how UM could improve engagement.
In 2020/2021, indoor and outdoor bin audits were conducted to gauge bin placement strategies going forward as waste infrastructure is being upgraded.
In 2020/2021, indoor and outdoor bin audits were conducted to gauge bin placement strategies going forward as waste infrastructure is being upgraded.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
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A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Re-Shop encourages students, staff and faculty members to take, donate or exchange office furniture and accessories.
The Re-Shop builds on the culture of a circular economy. An alternative to regular consumption, a circular economy ensures products are used for as long as possible. Recycling items within the University community diverts items from landfill and saves finite resources.
Over the years, the Re-Shop has provided hundreds of items for reuse to staff and students, such as cabinets, chairs, desks, binders, and other office furnishings.
The Re-Shop builds on the culture of a circular economy. An alternative to regular consumption, a circular economy ensures products are used for as long as possible. Recycling items within the University community diverts items from landfill and saves finite resources.
Over the years, the Re-Shop has provided hundreds of items for reuse to staff and students, such as cabinets, chairs, desks, binders, and other office furnishings.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
Re-Shop Online is open for students, staff, and faculty from all campuses to browse through the inventory and take away what they can use. A variety of file cabinets, desks and tables, binders, stationary are always available through Re-Shop
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
Libraries and computer labs have a fee for printing. Most printing labs are approximately $0.15 per black and white page and $1 per coloured page. In the office environment, paper and ink must be accounted for in annual budgets. Most UM courses have taken place online in the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic years which has decreased the use of paper and ink consumption.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
• The UM course catalogue is available online through the Aurora system. This platform allows students and administrators to register and see course information.
• UM Learn is the UM learning management system, allowing online posting of course materials and communication between professor and student.
• "On Manitoba" alumni magazine is available in digital format (and by digital subscription).
• The Manitoban, the official UM student newspaper is available in digital format.
• VIP and employee self-service are the online UM human resource platforms which allow staff to access annual tax forms and bi-weekly paystubs in an electronic format instead of print.
• UM Learn is the UM learning management system, allowing online posting of course materials and communication between professor and student.
• "On Manitoba" alumni magazine is available in digital format (and by digital subscription).
• The Manitoban, the official UM student newspaper is available in digital format.
• VIP and employee self-service are the online UM human resource platforms which allow staff to access annual tax forms and bi-weekly paystubs in an electronic format instead of print.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
During the UM Residence Move Out donation campaigns, residents are provided with blue bags to collect their waste that could be reused/recycled. Residence students are also offered the service to remove unwanted or broken refrigerators for recycling/Re-Shop.
Donation bins are also available all year for students to donate their reusable clothing, books, and other textiles.
Donation bins are also available all year for students to donate their reusable clothing, books, and other textiles.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Wood furniture items intended for disposal from Re-Shop are diverted for re-use on campus via the UM Sustainability in Action Facility’s Plywood Library. Wooden furniture is disassembled by students and put in a ‘library’ for re-use in student projects on campus
Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
ReShop Online: https://reshop.umanitoba.ca/#/
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.