Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.27
Liaison Suchi Daniels
Submission Date Feb. 22, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of South Florida (Tampa)
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.67 / 8.00 Suchi Urs Daniels, RA, LEED AP BD + C,
Quality Assurance Program Manager/Project Manager
Facilities Planning
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 346.08 Tons 846.69 Tons
Materials composted 869.25 Tons 0 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 146.70 Tons 100 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 100 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 467.84 Tons 387.19 Tons
Total waste generated 1,829.87 Tons 1,433.88 Tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:

Program initiated in 1990 within the Physical Plant’s program is limited to Tampa campus academic and administrative buildings and expanding recycling efforts continually.


Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2015 June 30, 2016
Baseline Year July 1, 2007 June 30, 2008

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 USF University President signed the Climate Commitment through ACUPCC making FY 07-08 the baseline year.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 7,874 4,229
Number of employees resident on-site 0 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 33,413 25,020
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 8,284 13,190
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 4,548 1,528
Weighted campus users 29,830.25 28,568.75

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.06 Tons 0.05 Tons

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

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
74.43

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
74.43

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) No

A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:

Old replaced Chiller and HVAC equipment was sold as scrap: All equipment was considered to be in “As‐Is” condition and shall be considered obsolete as such USF makes no claims of guaranty or warranty on any equipment or material as noted herein:
http://usfweb2.usf.edu/Bids/bid%20web/2013-2014%20Bids/14-003-PPB%20Sale%20Surplus/Addendum%20with%20permit_pictures.pdf


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) :
146.70 Tons

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?:
Yes

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
50

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:

furniture from remodeled areas as re-purposed for Facilities Managment, 4' x 8' boards used to protect openings at CHG were re-used by parking and transportation and donated to Fine Arts, doors were reused in the architectural school wood working shop, teak from the demo of LIF was used at the school of architecture wood working shop, brick from LIF was saved and stocked at the physical plant yard


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:

2015-2025 Tampa Campus Master Plan
Objective 7.4.2: Define procedures to reduce University‐generated solid waste and increase scope of recycling and reuse programs.

Policy 7.4.2.1: The University shall continue to take steps to reduce the quantity of solid waste generated by expanding its recycling program to include additional interior and exterior, easily accessible drop‐off locations. These drop‐off facilities shall be installed in the individual buildings, residential areas or in other convenient locations. The University will strive to provide, at a minimum, for the recycling of paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastics, and metals. Awareness programs directed toward students, faculty and staff shall be included in this recycling program.

Policy 7.4.2.2: The University shall recycle and / or salvage construction, demolition and land clearing waste as practical and possible.


A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
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A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):

Faculty, staff and students can help achieve the University’s waste reduction goals by practicing the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Priority should be given to reducing usage which will consequently reduce waste upstream. By purchasing products made from recycled material waste can be reduced. Examples are:
Letterhead stationery, envelopes, and business cards made from recycled paper
Office supplies
Recycled toner cartridges


A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

Formal campus furniture and supply exchange programs operate at the college level throughout the campus. In addition, prior to the disposal of materials in good condition, USF’s Property Management department offers the opportunity for other departments to acquire and use the materials. Before a unit can dispose of assets, their availability has to be advertised on the USF Property Listserv to other University departments for three consecutive days.

a. If another department wants the property, it is transferred to that department using the USF Form #3009. This ensures compliance with all University policies regarding asset transfers.

b. If the asset remains unclaimed after the three days, units can proceed to disposal.


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):

eBid - This is an online bid process conducted by the government surplus auction site Public Surplus and administered by the Department Requestor as listed on the USF Form #3008. The department will only receive money from the sale of asset(s) if it sells for $1,000.00 or more per item minus any advertising fee (Check with Public Surplus for advertising fee dollar amount). If the asset(s) sells at below $1,000.00 per item, the department receives nothing.


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):

Through a partnership with Student Government and USF Information Technology, enhancements have been made to the free printing program on campus. Students are given an allotment of $2.50 per day to be used for printing on campus. Once that allocation is used up, students can continue to print by using their Bull Bucks account.


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:

On-line review of plans, policies, and other documents saves large amounts of paper every year. In addition to making all course catalogs, schedules, and directories available online,many faculty make use of the digital drop-box feature on Canvas and review and return term papers and tests electronically. Travel authorizations, purchases, admittance of students and review of faculty performance among many other tasks are all facilitated by online forms.


A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:

As with the move-in waste reduction strategy, the residence halls areas have outdoor recycling bins that have special (more frequent) collection times during move-out dates. The newest residence halls collects the cardboard boxes and recycles them with the dining hall in that area.

Also, Residence Life has a program with Good Will and unwanted items are placed in one of two trucks available in the residence hall areas. in 2014 a free yard sale was established where residents can put out unwanted electronics and furniture and other students can select it and take it for free with their student ID.


A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:

Assets can also be salvage (dispose of) if the Accountable Officer determines it is not appropriate for donation, cannibalization or trade-in. It is the department’s responsibility to dispose of the property at their own cost after insuring compliance with all environmental health/safety regulations and obtaining any required certifications of disposal. A USF employee designated by your department must accompany the surplus vendor to pick-up salvage/surplus assets and witness/verify that the assets are picked-up and the USF barcodes have been removed.


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.