| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 85.74 |
| Liaison | Mike Wilson |
| Submission Date | Dec. 13, 2023 |
University of Victoria
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.32 / 8.00 |
Leigh
Andersen Director of Customer Service and Program Integration Facilities Management |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Parts 1 and 2. Waste per person
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 1,695.78 Tons | 563.70 Tons |
| Materials composted | 892.30 Tons | 609.40 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 8.50 Tons | 44 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 433.34 Tons | 748 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 3,029.92 Tons | 1,965.10 Tons |
If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | Jan. 1, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2022 |
| Baseline Period | Sept. 1, 2010 | Aug. 31, 2011 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
The academic year of 2010/11 was the first year that comprehensive detailed data was collected.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,095 | 2,240 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 84 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 19,148 | 16,975 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 4,019 | 4,982 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 2,530 | 1,800 |
| Weighted campus users | 16,335.50 | 15,677.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.19 Tons | 0.13 Tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0
Part 3. Waste diverted from the landfill or incinerator
85.70
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
85.70
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) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
In 2022, UVic donated 8.5 tons of clothing and other textiles to Diabetes Canada. There are multiple donation sites on campus that are very well utilized during student move-out. Diabetes Canada tracks weights annually, and was contacted for 2022 figures.
Optional Fields
Active Recovery and Reuse
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Recycling Management
No
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?:
Yes
Contamination and Discard Rates
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A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
Spot checks of the recycling stream on conducted regularly across campus. When recycling and composting bins are emptied, obvious and easier materials that have been incorrectly disposed are removed and are placed into the correct stream. If an area (location within a building) has a large amount of cross-contamination on a regular basis, the waste reduction team investigates to see why this may be happening. Corrective measures are put in place, such as emptying bins at greater frequency, increases or replaces signage, talks to users to identify barriers to clean stream disposal, and/or carriers out a mini-education/awareness campaign in the area.
Programs and Initiatives
UVic established a Waste Reduction Unit in 2009 which has helped the university increase its waste diversion rate. Rates continued to improve substantially between 2016 and 2019, and currently the university has achieved a waste diversion rate of 86% relative to the baseline rate established in 2010. This is largely the result of the implementation of more than 300 UVic standard three-bin waste sorting stations across campus in 2016. Each bin provides signage to help the user identify how to appropriately sort their waste materials. The program was further improved in August of 2017 when hundreds of compost bins were added to the original stations. Signage, social media, videos and posters were placed around campus to create awareness and education to shift waste-related behaviours to increase waste diversion and reduction. UVic also launched its own Recyclepedia search catalogue so users can find out the best ways to dispose of generated campus waste.
https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/waste/index.php
https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/waste/index.php
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Every four years, Facilities Management Waste Reduction unit hires a third party waste auditing organization to conduct an external waste audit for UVic. The most recent assessment took place in 2022. During this assessment, landfill waste bin samples were collected from 35 unique source areas. The materials were sorted and divided into waste categories and weights of each material sub-category were recorded. The recorded data is then available to be used to identify new ways to reduce waste, maximize collection of recycling materials and optimize waste management efficiencies.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
UVic Purchasing Services and Food Services work with suppliers to reduce waste in a variety of ways, mostly in terms of minimizing packaging materials. Many perishable food items are now delivered in reusable rubber containers rather than cardboard and soft plastic (e.g. baked goods and meat). UVic's office supply vendor offer reusable/returnable packing boxes and trays. Administrative and academic units are encouraged to order supplies in bulk. The vending machine supplier has a computerized system that informs them when a machine needs refilling, reducing trips to campus.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
UVic's surplus assets (e.g. furniture, electronic equipment and appliances) are handled by our Surplus Asset Coordinator who works with Purchasing Services and the Waste Reduction Unit to either repurpose, sell or recycle used assets. http://www.uvic.ca/purchasing/surplus/index.php
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
The UVic Free Store is run by a team of dedicated staff and volunteers and offers all UVic students access to food essentials and free household items. Students can come and take anything they need and miscellaneous items are donated regularly to replenish available stock.
Additionally, the University of Victoria Students’ Society (UVSS) runs Subtext, a not-for-profit consignment bookstore staffed by students. They accept consigned textbooks and novels with an emphasis on bringing in editions that are current to the courses being offered on campus. Pricing is set by the seller, making Subtext a competitor for alternative used-book retailers.
Additionally, the University of Victoria Students’ Society (UVSS) runs Subtext, a not-for-profit consignment bookstore staffed by students. They accept consigned textbooks and novels with an emphasis on bringing in editions that are current to the courses being offered on campus. Pricing is set by the seller, making Subtext a competitor for alternative used-book retailers.
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
UVic uses Papercut and does not offer any free printing for students in computer labs or libraries. All printers default to double-sided printing (single sided is the exception, not the norm).
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
Many administrative documents are now available online. These include income tax forms, memos regarding changes in administrative procedures, and timesheets.
Employee payroll is now almost exclusively performed with automatic deposit, as are payments between the university and the province and other large funders. Union voting and other employee surveys are done exclusively online. The Board of Governors have all been provided with tablets to review board meeting documents on rather than being provided with large amounts of paper documents prior to each meeting.
Additionally, most professors at the university now provide course syllabuses and other traditionally paper hand-outs online via “Coursespaces”, saving the university on unnecessary paper-waste.
Employee payroll is now almost exclusively performed with automatic deposit, as are payments between the university and the province and other large funders. Union voting and other employee surveys are done exclusively online. The Board of Governors have all been provided with tablets to review board meeting documents on rather than being provided with large amounts of paper documents prior to each meeting.
Additionally, most professors at the university now provide course syllabuses and other traditionally paper hand-outs online via “Coursespaces”, saving the university on unnecessary paper-waste.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
UVic goes to great lengths to reduce waste generated by student move-ins and move-outs. Extra waste bins are set up to collect recyclables such as cardboard, paper and Styrofoam. Large bins are also set up to collect unwanted furniture, clothing and electronics. Information is provided to students and parents ahead of time on what collection services are available. Special E-Waste collection days are also hosted each April to collect recyclable personal electronic items.
https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/waste/student-moveout.pdf
https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/waste/student-moveout.pdf
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Special waste collection bins for hard-to-recycle items including Styrofoam, soft plastics, batteries and cell phones are established in key areas around campus.
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:
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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.