Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
---|---|
Overall Score | 56.23 |
Liaison | Jim Walker |
Submission Date | June 14, 2018 |
Executive Letter | Download |
University of Texas at Austin
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
2.86 / 8.00 |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Parts 1 and 2: Waste Minimization
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Materials recycled | 2,051 Tons | 2,177 Tons |
Materials composted | 1,175 Tons | 860 Tons |
Materials donated or re-sold | 438 Tons | 1 Tons |
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 5,664 Tons | 4,353 Tons |
Total waste generated | 9,328 Tons | 7,391 Tons |
If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:
In recent years, the University of Texas at Austin has worked to increase the credibility of waste diversion numbers including better methodologies for estimating weights, getting accurate weights in areas that were previously estimated, and working to understand and then decrease contamination throughout campus. Areas including Athletics have significantly increased their diversion rates in very short periods of time, including increasing diversion from football games from 30% in 2016 to 50% in 2017. Resource Recovery has increased outreach and initaitives and is in the process of launching a number of programs aimed at increasing waste diversion throughout campus.
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 | Sept. 1, 2014 | Aug. 31, 2015 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
The baseline is the reporting period for the last AASHE STARS submittal. Previous years do not account for much of the waste that is generated as those sources were not quantified previously.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Number of students resident on-site | 7,323 | 7,327 |
Number of employees resident on-site | 18 | 16 |
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 46,453 | 45,609 |
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 14,256.73 | 12,849 |
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 32 | 78 |
Weighted campus users | 47,343.55 | 45,620.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.20 Tons | 0.16 Tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0
Part 3: Waste Diversion
39.28
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
39.28
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 | 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 |
Tires | Yes |
Other (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
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Optional Fields
Active Recovery and Reuse
1
Tons
Recycling Management
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?:
No
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
19
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:
The University's recycling vendor provides ongoing feedback regarding the quality and quantity of materials sent to the recycling facility. Methods used include visiting the tip floor and photographs of loads. Additionally, Resource Recovery employs a team of students that conduct waste audits throughout campus to determine the quanity and type of recycling contamination. This information informs Resource Recovery outreach and educational materials. New signage has been developed which in addition to telling users what can be recycled, also tells users specifically what not to recycle. Waste generated during home football games are hand sorted to ensure that there is no contamination.
Programs and Initiatives
The University has significantly increased its outreach and education regarding zero waste, recycling, and composting. In residence halls and dining locations signs have been updated to reduce confusion. Dining has re-branded it's anti-food waste campaign, and conducts plate waste studies that includes an outreach component. Resource Recovery has updated all signage and outreach materials. They also employ a team of students to conduct outreach including during freshman orientation aimed at making zero waste accessible.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Resource Recovery employs a team of students that conduct waste audits throughout campus. They document material stream composition, diversion rates, common contaminates, etc. The entire Resource Recovery student internship program conducted a waste characterization study of the Pickle Research Campus in 2016 to determine waste stream and diversion rates.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
N/A
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Surplus Property is required by state law. Any item purchased by the University must be sent to Surplus for redistribution to campus, donation, auction. In the warehouse there is a specific section for office supplies.
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):
Surplus Property is required by state law. Any item purchased by the University must be sent to Surplus for redistribution to campus, donation, auction. The warehouse is open every Friday for campus users to take anything they want for the office for free.
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):
Free printing is not available to most students. Students pay for UTprint services with Bevo Bucks.
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 and schedules are available online by default. Timesheets are entered and processed online by default.
Many paper-based operations have been converted to electronic documents and processes. Printed class schedules and course catalogues are no longer available to students. Business and Financial Services has converted timesheets and pay action processes to electronic documents. Finally, purchase requests and work orders have been converted to majority electronic processes.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
The Campus Environmental Center, a student organization, sponsored by the Office of Sustainability runs Trash to Treasure, a residence hall move out donation program. During exam period every May bins are placed in the lobbies of all residence halls on campus for donations. Items are collected, sorted, and either donated or resold the following year.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Wood from campus trees removal is repurposed to make furniture and diploma frames. Outdated vinyl banners are repurposed into reusable tote bags during outreach events and freshman orientation.
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:
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment - taken from the 17-18 Statistical Handbook for both performance year and baseline year
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.