Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.33
Liaison Brad Spanbauer
Submission Date Jan. 29, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
IN-25: Innovation B

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Brian Kermath
Sustainability Director
Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Shredded paper composting in a campus anaerobic digester

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:

After investigating various ways to address the campus waste stream, it was suggested that the campus' shredded paper waste be diverted to the on-campus dry anaerobic digester (BD1). This program was established because research found that the regional materials recovery facility (MRF) has difficulty legitimately recycling shredded paper as the sorting machinery tosses too much of the shredded paper material around the MRF facility. Much of the shredded paper that is lost during sorting was cleaned up and landfilled. The shredded paper is collected using plastic bags, which were ultimately landfilled by the MRF. This program allows for the shredded paper to be added to the compostable organic materials that are digested in the BD1 facility and the plastic bags are recycled using the campus plastic film recycling program. This program has resulted in reduced frequency of emptying dumpsters at the central campus location where the paper is shredded. Starting in August of 2016 to present, 7,560 lbs. of shredded paper have been diverted to the composting program versus being sent to the MRF with limited certainty on if the material was legitimately being recycled.


Which of the following impact areas does the innovation most closely relate to? (select up to three):
Research
Energy
Waste

A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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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.