| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 56.90 |
| Liaison | Cody Friend |
| Submission Date | March 19, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Nebraska at Omaha
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.99 / 8.00 |
Sarah
Burke Sustainability Coordinator Student Affairs |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 393.47 Tons | 369 Tons |
| Materials composted | 25 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 17.26 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 988.68 Tons | 879 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,424.41 Tons | 1,248 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2017 | June 30, 2018 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2010 | June 30, 2013 |
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):
The baseline was the best estimate of the average expected over a 3-year period, FY11-13.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,278 | 1,936 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 35 | 3 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 12,733 | 11,869 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 2,155 | 1,673 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 807 | 336 |
| Weighted campus users | 11,139 | 10,389.25 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.13 Tons | 0.12 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 | No |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | Yes |
| Laboratory equipment | Yes |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | Yes |
| Scrap metal | No |
| 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 that were included in our totals were tools and vehicles.
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) :
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?:
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?:
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?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
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:
The Office of Sustainability is currently working on a schedule to routinely conduct waste audits.
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:
The Sustainability Website offers tips in regards to waste reduction and recycling.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
The Office of Sustainability is currently conducting a waste program review to identify areas for improvement and to create a standard operating procedure for waste. This includes creating signage for waste bins and working to expand the University's standard bin type to more of campus.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
The Procurement Office is committed to buying more environmentally preferable goods and services as long as they meet the performance needs and they are available within a reasonable period of time at a reasonable cost.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Surplus Property receives, re-distributes, and sells excess University property. There is no charge for pickup and delivery of equipment on the UNO campus. Most surplus property items are available to University departments. If departments are interested in something or would like to make a request for future items, they just need to fill out a form.
Usable equipment and furniture (not requested by another department) is taken to a local company to be repurposed and redistributed. Large items (such as exercise equipment) are posted on Craigslist.
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):
Surplus Property receives, redistributes, and sells excess University property. There is no charge for pick up and delivery of equipment on the UNO campus. Most surplus property items are available to University departments. If departments are interested in something or would like to make a request for future items, they just need to fill out a form. Students have found this to be an excellent way of keeping their equipment running by purchasing peripheral equipment such as keyboards, mice, and cables.
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):
Most centralized printing areas are set to print double-sided as the default. In addition, most offices no longer have individual printers (unless needed for confidentiality reasons).
Students pay for printing on campus and receive a small discount if they print double-sided.
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:
The University no longer prints course catalogs and only sparingly makes directories available in print. In addition, faculty are encouraged to use a number of online tools to eliminate the need for printing.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Since 2016, Residence Life has partnered with a local nonprofit, YouthMart, to donate all discarded, usable materials during Move-Out. Any unopened, non-perishable food items were donated to Maverick Food Pantry.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.