Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.50
Liaison Amy Kadrie
Submission Date Jan. 31, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Rochester
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.94 / 8.00 Amy Kadrie
Recycling Coordinator
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Parts 1 and 2: Waste Minimization 

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 2,252.71 Metric tons 886.30 Metric tons
Materials composted 295.65 Metric tons 0 Metric tons
Materials donated or re-sold 155.77 Metric tons 0 Metric tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Metric tons 0 Metric tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 7,812.36 Metric tons 6,658.34 Metric tons
Total waste generated 10,516.49 Metric tons 7,544.64 Metric tons

If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2017 Dec. 31, 2017
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2005 Dec. 31, 2005

If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:

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 of 2005 was adopted because it was the first year that significant data of this type was recorded.

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 5,489 3,296
Number of employees resident on-site 29 30
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 208 739
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 10,707 8,453
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 20,052.50 17,073
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 24,657.13 20,715

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.43 Metric tons 0.36 Metric tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0

Part 3: Waste Diversion

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
25.71

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
25.71

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 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:
Medical supplies and equipment reprocessing, clothing donation, sneaker recycling, sharps shelter reuse.

Optional Fields 

Active Recovery and Reuse

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) :
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Recycling Management 

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?:
Yes

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?:
Yes

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?:
No

Contamination and Discard Rates 

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
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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:
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Programs and Initiatives 

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:
We have framed recycling signage placed above recycle bins throughout campus. We participate in RecycleMania each year with a promotion campaign of events and activities to encourage waste reduction and recycling measures. We do tabling to play the Recycling Sorting Game with people as an educational tool.

A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
In Spring 2018 an academic course conducted a waste audit of interior bins in various campus locations to find out where contamination was highest.

A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
Environmentally Preferred Purchasing (EPP) is the acquisition or the contracting for products and/or services that are considered to be environmentally neutral or beneficial to the environment, health and safety. The Corporate Purchasing Department will apply these principles to achieve optimal environmental standards consistent with institutional goals and financial considerations to bids and contract award activities. Supplier responses to our Request for Proposals must address how they minimize waste, including the use of returnable, refillable, reusable, recycled and biodegradable packaging.

A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
There is a surplus property exchange program that mostly services the Medical Center.The University of Rochester Surplus Property Program strives to foster an operating philosophy of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, creating significant value through cost avoidance by reducing overall expenditures for new assets. First and foremost, the program provides for the University-wide re-circulation of assets prior to items being released for sale outside the University community or to employees of the University. To facilitate the process, there is a list of "Surplus Property Available for Sale" that is maintained on the internet.

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):
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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):
Students must pay for printing when they use University equipment. Prices are $0.10 for black and white printing and $0.25 for color printing. All library computers are defaulted to double sided printing for all black and white jobs.

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:
Course catalogs, registration, early add/drop of classes, course schedules, directories, maps, and all sorts of other important information are available solely online through the website of the Office of the Registrar. Additionally, grades are no longer mailed to students and instead can be accessed online.

A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
For the "Move-Out, Cleanout" event sponsored by Facilities, bins are placed in dormitories to collect food, clothing, and furniture for local charities. Similarly excess furniture, appliances, and other living equipment are collected by Grassroots and resold or traded at the "Dump 'n Run".

A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Our Medical Center has a reusable sharps container program to help minimize plastic disposal.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.