Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.34
Liaison Jennifer Andrews
Submission Date July 29, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of New Hampshire
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.22 / 3.00 Susanne Bennett
Director
Facilities Operations & Maintenance
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
789.80 Tons

Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
1,159.10 Tons

A brief description of programs, policies, infrastructure investments, outreach efforts, and/or other factors that contributed to the diversion rate, including efforts made during the previous three years:

As described in Dining Services (Tier 2 - 5 and 6), a major element to UNH's growing waste diversion rates is our strong composting program. UNH University Hospitality Services collects between 25,000 - 40,000 lbs. of pre-consumer and post-consumer food waste per month. All three dining halls plus Huddleston Hall process food waste for composting.

UNH participates in RecyleMania each spring and through this effort encourages faculty, staff and students to waste less and recycle more.


A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:

UNH Dining donates excess packaged and canned goods to the local food bank and excess fresh foods and milk are donated between semesters to various non-profit organizations: http://www.unh.edu/dining/community/

UNH Trash-2-Treasure donates non-perishable food from the residence halls to local shelters during spring move-out days: http://www.sustainableunh.unh.edu/biodiv_ed/moveout.html


A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

UNH University Hospitality Services collects between 25,000 - 40,000 lbs. of pre-consumer and post-consumer food waste per month. All UNH dining areas - Holloway Commons, Stillings, Philbrook, Huddleston, and the Memorial Union Building - have installed food-waste pulpers to pulverize food waste into very small pieces and to extract liquid. The result is a dry paste-like material that composts quickly due to increased surface area, thereby increasing the speed with which the food waste decomposes which eliminates the problem of odor. The University Hospitality Services staff load buckets of waste onto their compost truck and take them out to Kingman Farm for composting. 100% of UNH Dining Halls run pre-consumer food waste composting programs. The total amount of pre-consumer food waste composted material is unknown, but combined with post-consumer food waste composted material totaled 92 tons in FY09.


A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

UNH University Hospitality Services collects between 25,000 - 40,000 lbs. of pre-consumer and post-consumer food waste per month. All UNH dining - Holloway Commons, Stillings, Philbrook, Huddleston, and the Memorial Union Building have installed food-waste pulpers to pulverize food waste into very small pieces and to extract liquid. The result is a dry paste-like material that composts quickly due to increased surface area, thereby increasing the speed with which the food waste decomposes which eliminates the problem of odor. The University Hospitality Services staff load buckets of waste onto their compost truck and take them out to Kingman Farm for composting. 100% of UNH Dining Halls run pre-consumer food waste composting programs. The total amount of pre-consumer food waste composted material is unknown, but combined with post-consumer food waste composted material totaled 92 tons in FY09.


Does the institution include the following materials in its waste diversion efforts?:
Yes or No
Paper, plastics, glass, metals, and other recyclable containers Yes
Food donations Yes
Food for animals Yes
Food composting Yes
Cooking oil Yes
Plant materials composting Yes
Animal bedding composting Yes
Batteries No
Light bulbs No
Toner/ink-jet cartridges Yes
White goods (i.e. appliances) Yes
Laboratory equipment Yes
Furniture Yes
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste Yes
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets Yes
Motor oil Yes
Tires Yes

Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

See www.sustainableunh.unh.edu/waste.

Other contacts: Brad Manning, Environmental Health and Safety; Paul Chamberlin, Facilities; UNH Trash 2 Treasure; Lisa Pollard, USNH Purchasing & Contract Services


See www.sustainableunh.unh.edu/waste.

Other contacts: Brad Manning, Environmental Health and Safety; Paul Chamberlin, Facilities; UNH Trash 2 Treasure; Lisa Pollard, USNH Purchasing & Contract Services

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.