| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 62.14 |
| Liaison | Michael Lizotte |
| Submission Date | April 9, 2023 |
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.02 / 8.00 |
Michael
Lizotte University Sustainability Officer Facilities Planning |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 405 Tons | 463 Tons |
| Materials composted | 89 Tons | 46 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 1 Tons | 11 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 1,515 Tons | 1,534 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 2,010 Tons | 2,054 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2021 | June 30, 2022 |
| Baseline Period | July 1, 2002 | June 30, 2003 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
The baseline year 2002-03 is the first year of complete data set for waste categories, it is also our baseline year for energy and water based on state legislated conservation goals.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 6,030 | 4,286 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 15 | 10 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 27,599.25 | 16,654 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 3,658.52 | 1,935 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,307.50 | 199 |
| Weighted campus users | 23,973.95 | 14,866.50 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.08 Tons | 0.14 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 |
| 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:
Styrofoam, plastic film, clothing (uniforms), and some lab plastics (pipet boxes).
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:
The university has trained recycling technicians who act as quality control to remove contamination before depositing in dumpsters. The university has periodically employed third-party contractors to produce waste audits, and conducts in-house targeted waste audits (e.g. for kitchen operations). The university is piloting use of an AI-based app (Zabble) to identify contamination and send alerts to responsible parties on campus.
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality encourages environmentally preferred purchasing for all state agencies and provides guidance regarding sustainable procurement methods. UNC Charlotte, as an agency of North Carolina, abides by the state’s green procurement practices to the greatest extent possible. The University strives to: reduce waste and purchase fewer products when practicable; consider the environmental impact when making procurement decisions; purchase products that contain recycled content, prevent pollution, and reduce toxins or negative impacts on the environment; purchase products from North Carolina businesses when possible to minimize transportation costs and emissions.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Inventory Control & Surplus Property is the institution's surplus department and responsible for disposing of surplus materials, storing property for later use, and recycling of surplus electronic components.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
There is no free printing on campus. Students are limited to a print quota according to their academic class schedule. Double sided printing is the default setting on all printers.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
All of the university's catalogs, schedules, and directories are available online as well as those that date back to 2001. The university instituted online signatures for all documents in 2020.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Building Environmental Services & Recycling works with Housing and Residence Life to provide recycling and reuse collections during student move in and move out. The Refurnish 49ers is a student group that coordinated collection of large items and furniture for donation to Habitat for Humanity Restore. Move Out donation bins are also labeled with information about the receiving group (e.g. Salvation Army, Jamil Niner Student Pantry) to increase awareness of the missions being served through individual donations.
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:
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.