Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 31.41
Liaison Hannes Gerhardt
Submission Date April 20, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of West Georgia
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.33 / 3.00 Brendan Bowen
Assistant Vice President
Campus Planning & Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
189 Tons

Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
1,516 Tons

A brief description of programs, policies, infrastructure investments, outreach efforts, and/or other factors that contributed to the diversion rate, including efforts made during the previous three years:

Weight for diverted waste was obtained for the following waste streams: metal, printer cartridges, pallets and mixed recyclables. Regulated waste was also included. Regulated waste included Universal Waste, Hazardous Waste / Asbestos, tires, pharmaceuticals, oils to include kitchen grease and e-Waste. At this time, we are not tracking weight or volume for landscaping / grounds debris, surplus furniture or donated items.


A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:

None at this time.


A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

None at this time.


A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

None at this time. Both campus dining facilities are outfitted with a water extruder machine. This machine helps separate and prepare post-consumer food waste for easy composting. However a commercial composting facility which could support the waste volume from our campus is not available in our geographic area at this time. Therefore, at the current moment, the university uses the machines to eliminate unnecessary water weight from being taken to the landfill, (reducing ghg emissions).


Does the institution include the following materials in its waste diversion efforts?:
Yes or No
Paper, plastics, glass, metals, and other recyclable containers Yes
Food donations No
Food for animals No
Food composting No
Cooking oil Yes
Plant materials composting Yes
Animal bedding composting No
Batteries Yes
Light bulbs Yes
Toner/ink-jet cartridges Yes
White goods (i.e. appliances) ---
Laboratory equipment ---
Furniture Yes
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste Yes
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets Yes
Motor oil Yes
Tires Yes

Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:

Regulated waste including Universal Waste, Hazardous Waste / Asbestos, pharmaceuticals, oils.


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Please note that even though the university includes the following items in it's waste diversion efforts, these items are not included in the weight measurements of overall waste diversion. At this time, methods are not in place to continuously measure weight or volume for landscaping / grounds debris, surplus furniture or donated items. Such methodology is being created for future years.

Used coffee grounds are collected and composted by our facilities team, but not weighed. No other foods are composted at this time. We currently do not have a system in place for measuring the weight of these coffee grounds.


Please note that even though the university includes the following items in it's waste diversion efforts, these items are not included in the weight measurements of overall waste diversion. At this time, methods are not in place to continuously measure weight or volume for landscaping / grounds debris, surplus furniture or donated items. Such methodology is being created for future years.

Used coffee grounds are collected and composted by our facilities team, but not weighed. No other foods are composted at this time. We currently do not have a system in place for measuring the weight of these coffee grounds.

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.