| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.18 |
| Liaison | Ezra Small |
| Submission Date | Feb. 5, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Massachusetts Amherst
OP-22: Waste Minimization
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.22 / 5.00 |
Ezra
Small Sustainability Manager Physical Plant |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
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Waste generated::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 2,270 Tons | 2,357 Tons |
| Materials composted | 1,726 Tons | 1,463 Tons |
| Materials reused, donated or re-sold | 10 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 2,980 Tons | 2,975 Tons |
None
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of residential students | 13,086 | 12,420 |
| Number of residential employees | 0 | 0 |
| Number of in-patient hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Full-time equivalent enrollment | 27,106.90 | 26,693.80 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 6,271.10 | 6,254.40 |
| Full-time equivalent of distance education students | 798 | 612 |
None
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2013 | July 1, 2014 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2010 | July 1, 2013 |
None
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
Our easily accessible solid waste report data dates back to FY2011. FY14 is the most recent year of record and the first year that we instituted a successful reuse program during move-in and move-out, so it is appropriate to set the FY11-FY13 time period as the baseline moving forward.
None
A brief description of any (non-food) waste audits employed by the institution:
Each year the Eco-Rep Program does a waste sort of residence halls in the fall. More info here: http://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article/sustainability-%E2%80%98trash-sort%E2%80%99-nov-4-reminds.
The Office of Waste Management just did an internal waste audit to determine that percentage of trash contamination in the single-stream recycling and the percentage of recycling items in the trash bins for residence halls and classroom buildings.
None
A brief description of any institutional procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
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None
A brief description of any surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
UMass Amherst has the Surplus Barn that falls under the jurisdiction of the Office of Waste Management on campus. UMass offices can go to the barn and pick up furniture such as desks, chairs, tables, and filing cabinets. Offices that have furniture that they no longer want can send it to the barn so it can be reused.
None
A brief description of the institution's efforts to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
UMass Amherst has its course catalogue online (SPIRE) where students can sign up for classes. The website provides students with their schedule as well as other important information such as their bill and major requirements. The University does not print a course catalog.
UMass also has People Finder attached to our main website to locate faculty and students so that they may contacted. It is the campus directory.
None
A brief description of any limits on paper and ink consumption employed by the institution:
Students only receive a credit of five dollars on their student card for free printing. After that five dollars students must pay for their own printing.
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A brief description of any programs employed by the institution to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
UMass Amherst partners with the Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN) to implement an annual Reuse Collection and Tag Sale called New2U. More info here: http://www.umass.edu/sustainability/green-campus/new2u-reuse-collection-and-tag-sale.
Since 2007, waste generated during move-out has been reduced from 404 tons to 293.
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A brief description of any other (non-food) waste minimization strategies employed by the institution:
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None
A brief description of any food waste audits employed by the institution:
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None
A brief description of any programs and/or practices to track and reduce pre-consumer food waste in the form of kitchen food waste, prep waste and spoilage:
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None
A brief description of programs and/or practices to track and reduce post-consumer food waste:
Trays are not available to use in any of the UMass Amherst Dining Halls. The trays were removed in 2009 and have not returned. Students have accepted the trayless dining very well.
None
A brief description of the institution's provision of reusable and/or third party certified compostable to-go containers for to-go food and beverage items (in conjunction with a composting program):
While we do not offer a reusable to-go container program, we do distribute reusable water bottles and to-go bags to students, as well as sell reusable coffee mugs. Students who bring reusable coffee mugs to retail dining locations and cafes also receive a discount.
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A brief description of the institution's provision of reusable service ware for “dine in” meals and reusable and/or third party certified compostable service ware for to-go meals (in conjunction with a composting program):
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A brief description of any discounts offered to customers who use reusable containers (e.g. mugs) instead of disposable or compostable containers in to-go food service operations:
People's Market offers mugs with the market's tree logo printed on the side in white. You get a free coffee with purchase, and refills are discounted. Other mugs are also eligible for the discount at all retail dining locations and cafes on campus.
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A brief description of other dining services waste minimization programs and initiatives:
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The website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Waste generated for baseline year is averages of 2011-2013 solid waste report data.
Baseline data for weighted campus users is from UMass OIR at a glance report for academic year 2011-2012.
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.