| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 77.34 |
| Liaison | Sally DeLeon |
| Submission Date | Feb. 27, 2022 |
University of Maryland, College Park
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
6.19 / 8.00 |
Emily
Hightower Sustainability Coordinator Environmental Safety, Sustainability, and Risk |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Parts 1 and 2. Waste per person
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 1,780.92 Tons | 2,341.64 Tons |
| Materials composted | 957.62 Tons | 115.50 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 369.16 Tons | 643 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 2,305.05 Tons | 9,203.39 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 5,412.75 Tons | 12,303.53 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 | Jan. 1, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2005 | Dec. 31, 2005 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
The waste generation baseline of 2005 was adopted as part of the university's original (2009) Climate Action Plan (CAP). The CAP established increasing waste diversion as one of 40 plus strategies in the plan to move the university toward carbon neutrality. Targets of 60% and 75% waste diversion were set for 2010 and 2013 respectively; both targets were met on time.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 11,776 | 10,623 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 37,316 | 31,726 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 9,277.30 | 7,605 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 988 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 37,147.98 | 32,154 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.15 Tons | 0.38 Tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
61.92
Part 3. Waste diverted from the landfill or incinerator
57.41
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
57.41
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 | Yes |
| 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:
We also recycle mattresses, toner and ink cartridges, batteries (all kinds), carpet, and electronics.
Optional Fields
Active Recovery and Reuse
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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
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A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
We employ many tactics to curb contamination in the recycling stream. Among a few of our tactics are the following: signage, training, peer education, and dumpster inspections.
Programs and Initiatives
We are constantly tweaking our signage to best reflect the program's initiatives and customers' recognition. We have simplified signs with more photographic icons listed under "yes" and "no" sections to clarify what we want placed in each bin.
The university has adopted the Mini Bin trash collection program. All university employee work stations have a mini trash can that the campus employee must empty into a communal trash can and a recycling bin that the university housekeepers service. This program encourages all university staff to be mindful of all the waste they are generating and be responsible for properly disposing of it themselves. All administrative and academic buildings on campus have adopted this program.
Many university offices and departments also participate in the Green Office program. This is a voluntary program aimed at promoting sustainable activities. Many action items required to become a certified Green Office encourage waste reduction. Examples of these action items include: pledging to cancel unwanted catalogs and junk mail, eliminating disposable dishware for personal use and at office meetings and events, using interoffice envelopes for campus mailings, and buying coffee, condiments, and other kitchen supplies in bulk to reduce packaging waste. For more information, visit: https://sustainability.umd.edu/green-office-program
The university has adopted the Mini Bin trash collection program. All university employee work stations have a mini trash can that the campus employee must empty into a communal trash can and a recycling bin that the university housekeepers service. This program encourages all university staff to be mindful of all the waste they are generating and be responsible for properly disposing of it themselves. All administrative and academic buildings on campus have adopted this program.
Many university offices and departments also participate in the Green Office program. This is a voluntary program aimed at promoting sustainable activities. Many action items required to become a certified Green Office encourage waste reduction. Examples of these action items include: pledging to cancel unwanted catalogs and junk mail, eliminating disposable dishware for personal use and at office meetings and events, using interoffice envelopes for campus mailings, and buying coffee, condiments, and other kitchen supplies in bulk to reduce packaging waste. For more information, visit: https://sustainability.umd.edu/green-office-program
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Facilities Management recently hired an independent contractor to conduct a waste audit of both the trash and recycling streams of select campus residence halls, all three campus dining halls, and the campus student union. Student Affairs used results to gauge the effectiveness of the current recycling program and to determine the possible volume that could be diverted by expanding collection of compostable materials. As of 2016-2017, Dining Services no longer allows takeout and this change is expected to increase food waste composting and significantly decrease waste from disposable containers.
Twice a year Facilities Management conducts internal waste audits using campus student groups. These internal waste audits help to teach students about proper waste separation and to gauge the overall effectiveness of the waste diversion program.
Twice a year Facilities Management conducts internal waste audits using campus student groups. These internal waste audits help to teach students about proper waste separation and to gauge the overall effectiveness of the waste diversion program.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
The "University of Maryland Policies and Procedures for Environmentally Preferable Procurement" is a document outlining all implemented policies to prevent waste. The document "encourages procurement of environmentally preferable goods and services including, but not limited to: existing surplus property and materials for re-use; energy efficient equipment and appliances; renewable energy supplies; energy performance contracts; environmentally sensitive design and construction of new and renovated facilities; materials having recycled content; water saving equipment and appliances; recyclable products; compostable materials; non-hazardous materials; and biodegradable products." For more information, visit:
-- https://sites.google.com/umd.edu/green-office/about/purchasing-guide/purchasing-policy
-- https://dgs.maryland.gov/Documents/GreenPurchasing/BestPracticesManual.pdf
-- https://sites.google.com/umd.edu/green-office/about/purchasing-guide/purchasing-policy
-- https://dgs.maryland.gov/Documents/GreenPurchasing/BestPracticesManual.pdf
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Terrapin Trader serves as the University of Maryland's surplus redistribution center. Once labeled as surplus, items such as lab equipment, chairs, tables, computers, monitors, and other items are collected by Terrapin Trader and resold. The office is open to students, staff, and faculty, both to drop off and purchase surplus products. Auctions are also held. In addition to these services, Terrapin Trader also participates in an "Adopt-a-School" program. Under this program, Terrapin Trader works with one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school from the surrounding area each year and addresses their needs using the surplus products they have acquired. For more information, visit: https://purchase.umd.edu/services/terrapin-trader
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
All departmental assets purchased by the university must be processed through Terrapin Trader for either reuse or recycling. When cleaning out offices, people are encouraged to make a box for small reusable items such as 3-ring binders, desk trays, magazine holders, etc.
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
To print in most computer labs or libraries on campus, students must pay a small fee for each print job. The prices are as follows: Black and white print jobs cost 10 cents per page for one-sided documents, and 14 cents per page for two-sided documents. These prices are increased to 50 and 70 cents, respectively, for color-printer jobs. Patrons can pay to print using Terrapin Express (a university payment system) or by purchasing a photocopy access card.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
The entire University of Maryland course catalog, complete with course schedules and instructor information, is available online. Class selection and registration are done exclusively online through Testudo.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
UMD’s “Trash to Treasure” donation drive is a partnership with Goodwill, Student Government Association, Residence Hall Association, Residential Facilities, Resident Life and the campus Recycling Group in Facilities Management. Collection stations are set up around campus to collect donated material from residents as they move out of the halls. Donated materials include TVs, clothes, small pieces of furniture, small appliances, and carpets. In addition, "Terrapin Junktion", a community yard sale during Move-Out, provides an outlet for unwanted goods and benefits the surrounding College Park community by offering low prices for household goods. Learn more at: http://reslife.umd.edu/trashtotreasure/
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
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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:
https://facilities.umd.edu/services/terps-recycle
Between the baseline year and performance year, the University of Maryland has significantly increased composting, expanding from only composting in food-service locations to composting in all residence hall communities and most office buildings. With increased waste diversion through reuse, recycling, and compost programs, landfilled waste has significantly reduced.
Between the baseline year and performance year, the University of Maryland has significantly increased composting, expanding from only composting in food-service locations to composting in all residence hall communities and most office buildings. With increased waste diversion through reuse, recycling, and compost programs, landfilled waste has significantly reduced.
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.