| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.64 |
| Liaison | Eva Rocke |
| Submission Date | June 30, 2021 |
University of Montana
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.40 / 8.00 |
Derek
Kanwischer Industrial Materials Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 268.80 Tons | 159.69 Tons |
| Materials composted | 68 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 9 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 1,250 Tons | 1,967.78 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,595.80 Tons | 2,127.47 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
not reporting
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | Jan. 1, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2019 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2005 | Dec. 31, 2005 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
Historically, 2005 data is used for our baseline year because the recycling program at UM started around that time and more effort was made to track and record materials numbers. We also began participating in RecycleMania shortly after, which required waste numbers that could also be used for internal tracking purposes.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,418 | 2,744 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 4 | 4 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 10,487 | 11,698 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 2,778 | 1,772 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,144 | 184 |
| Weighted campus users | 9,696.25 | 10,651.50 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.16 Tons | 0.20 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 | 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 | No |
| Other (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
Does the institution use single stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
New signs have been created. New bins have been piloted in select buildings. All in the Hall strategies are being piloted for a variety of departments. Co-mingled recycling is screened at UM's compactor to remove contamination and sort aluminum cans into a separate stream.
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
All in the Hall is being utilized in our largest academic building to encourage recycling and materials sorting among building occupants. The program is being run in coordination with new signage and increased education and outreach efforts to engage with building occupants and encourage participation in this program.
Campus Thrift is a springtime event wherein the sustainability offices and a large team of volunteers collect donated items as students move out of the residence halls. Items are sorted, organized, and sold at a large garage sale just after graduation. The event makes money for the sustainability offices and promotes reuse among students and community members. We sell 2/3 of the mini-fridges and microwaves in the fall to incoming students in the residence halls to prevent more small appliance purchasing and waste at the end of the year.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Periodically, UM Recycling and the sustainability offices audit recycling and landfilled materials from several residence halls and academic buildings to monitor contamination rates and identify better strategies for student education and outreach. We have seen lower contamination rates in the Residence Halls, but we have not yet performed a campus-wide waste audit that would provide sufficient data for campus-wide contamination rates.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
Bulk purchasing happens across campus for a variety of departments and programs to economize pricing and to reduce materials such as containers and packaging. For example, UM library print shop has stopped purchasing astrobright and colored papers that are no longer recycled on campus. Electronics purchasing is moving towards standardized issues that are EPEAT certified.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
The University has a property surplus office that is responsible for inventory and exchange of materials such as office equipment, scientific equipment, furniture, bikes, and supplies.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
This program is currently housed within campus surplus and is not well utilized. Future initiatives will place this program in closer proximity to student government (physically and operationally) to more closely connect with students.
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
Free printing is limited across campus. All computer labs charge students to print once a certain number of copies is reached. Duplex printing is standard in printing areas on campus.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
Course catalogs are only available on-line and schedule and directories are also available on-line. There are several methods used by faculty and the library to post course materials on-line, including widespread use of Moodle.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Recycling is picked up, nonstop, for four days during Move Out week and recycling trailers are located at every dorm. Furniture, electronics, and clothing are opportunistically reused. Campus Thrift (described above) collects donated items from students leaving the residence halls and sells the items as a fundraiser for the recycling program and sustainability office.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Derek Kanwischer- UM Industrial Materials Coordinator
E-Mail- derek.kanwisher@mso.umt.edu
Phone- (406) 243-5796
Derek Kanwischer- UM Industrial Materials Coordinator
E-Mail- derek.kanwisher@mso.umt.edu
Phone- (406) 243-5796
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.