Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 57.01
Liaison Meghna Tare
Submission Date April 3, 2022

STARS v2.2

University of Texas at Arlington
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 6.55 / 8.00 Bhargavi Jeyarajah
Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 528.75 Metric tons 558.83 Metric tons
Materials composted 20.92 Metric tons 31.75 Metric tons
Materials donated or re-sold 1.18 Metric tons 43.82 Metric tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Metric tons 0 Metric tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 498.96 Metric tons 11,748.95 Metric tons
Total waste generated 1,049.82 Metric tons 12,383.35 Metric 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 Jan. 1, 2021 Dec. 31, 2021
Baseline Period Sept. 1, 2014 Aug. 31, 2015

A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:

The baseline of 2014 - 2015 was adopted because that was the most recent STARS Report that our institution submitted.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 5,214 2,363
Number of employees resident on-site 27 10
Number of other individuals resident on-site 80 40
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 40,769 51,443
Full-time equivalent of employees 3,472 3,277
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 17,967 14,770
Weighted campus users 21,095.75 30,595.75

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.05 Metric tons 0.40 Metric tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
87.70

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
52.47

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
52.47

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:

Other recycled materials include automotive recycling (Lamps, Motor Oil, and Oil Filters).


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?:
Yes

Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
No

Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
No

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
14

A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:

In order to reduce contamination in the recycling stream, the Office of Sustainability held recycling trainings for Dining Staff from high contamination areas and for interested faculty and staff members. The office also keeps close track of contamination incidents and makes sure that building management of specific buildings are informed and can try to diagnose the issue at a building-level.


A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:

Balcones, the recycling contractor, provides stickers to stick onto recycling dumpsters with pictures of what can and cannot be recycled. The Eco-Reps program has a recycling campaign that includes educational sessions on recycling with real UTA recycling data and marketing material for students and a social media campaign on Instagram.


A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:

In 2021, Balcones Resources, the University's recycling contractor conducted a recycling audit to determine how much of each recyclable material are recycled on campus. This gave the Office of Sustainability important data on how it can improve education on recycling.

The Office of Sustainability also keeps track of contaminations to make sure that those buildings are targeted in future recycling trainings and campaigns.


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:

The Office Green Teams program, the employee peer-to-peer education program by the Office of Sustainability, requires offices make orders in bulk to reduce packaging and shipping emissions.


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

The University is committed to reusing the resources within the community. The Office of Business Affairs and Controllers, Asset Management collects discarded or unused items throughout the campus and store it on site location.
The surplus is sold online through a website.
Some of the items like the old bikes (pounded by the police or from the lost and found) are being fixed and included in the Maverick Bike Program on campus for students to use for the entire semester (free of cost).


A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:

The Office Green Teams program has a Microsoft Teams group where members share resources on reusing materials and reducing waste.


A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:

UT Arlington students have a $100 quota for free printing using OIT and librray printers during the academic year. Once a student has used his/her quota she will have to pay for all subsequent printing for the year. Students need their Mav express card to release all print jobs.
The Institution is also encouraging the use of online resources to reduce printing including posting the tenure applications and related documents online.
For the Fy 2010-11 we are also exploring the option to mandate double sided printing, restrict color printing, using web based printers, provide with technology like ipad and laptop to faculty to reduce the printing.


A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:

All catalogs, both undergraduate and graduate are located online. Additionally the schedule of classes is listed online.
The information packet for the students moving into the on campus housing is also provided online.
The University encourages to send information and marketing brochures via email or online.


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

Residence Hall students are asked to donate unwanted clothing, toiletries, and non-perishable food during the move-out. The Office of Facilities Management Staff deliver three large blue bins to each of the five residence halls. The Residence Director (RA) is also responsible for appropriately labeling the bins and marketing the programs. The RD will also contact a local agency to coordinate the donation and pick up.


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

The Inventory and Distribution Services Department organizes all surplus items into "assets" and "non-assets." Assets and non-assets that are no longer needed by a department are sent to Surplus Property. Surplus viewing times are available for faculty and staff to inspect and view surplus items for use in their departments. Furniture and equipment that is not otherwise distributed or transferred is sold through an online auction.


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.