| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 63.21 |
| Liaison | Mark Klapatch-Mathias |
| Submission Date | June 30, 2021 |
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.45 / 8.00 |
Mark
Klapatch-Mathias Sustainability Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Parts 1 and 2. Waste per person
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 173.32 Tons | 433.50 Tons |
| Materials composted | 113.75 Tons | 168.50 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 38.79 Tons | 73.55 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 604.79 Tons | 701.68 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 930.65 Tons | 1,377.23 Tons |
If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:
Not Applicable
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | Jan. 1, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
The waste generation baseline was adopted for the year 2014 due to improved tracking of waste generation by UWRF. We had a change in waste haulers partway through the 2013 calendar year. Data from the previous hauler was based more on volume than weight. 2014 is the first full year we have actual weights.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,033 | 2,152 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 7 | 4 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 3 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 5,441.03 | 7,071.11 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 566.32 | 756 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,700.19 | 307.85 |
| Weighted campus users | 3,743.37 | 6,178.45 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.25 Tons | 0.22 Tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0
Part 3. Waste diverted from the landfill or incinerator
35.01
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
35.01
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 | No |
| Cooking oil | No |
| Plant materials | Yes |
| Animal bedding | Yes |
| 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:
UWRF also recycles lead acid batteries, rechargeable batteries, dry cell batteries, waste oil, oil filters and absorbents, light bulbs, photographic fixer, toner cartridges, and plastic film.
Optional Fields
Active Recovery and Reuse
3.18
Tons
Recycling Management
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
Contamination and Discard Rates
---
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
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Programs and Initiatives
UWRF implemented two pilot projects. One of them focused on a different bin system in offices which was implemented in the Wyman Education Building during the Fall 2016 semester. It has since been expanded out to 4 additional buildings. The other pilot project focused on classrooms and public areas and was implemented in all of South Hall and on second and third floors of the Kleinpell Fine Arts building. Both projects included new bin setups, labeled containers, new signage for above the containers, and documentation sent to faculty and staff in the affected areas explaining the changes. Both of these projects resulted in increased recycling participation and less cross contamination. As additional funds became available, these projects were expanded to other areas of campus over the past several years. As more funds become available, the programs will continue to expand.
UWRF also participates in the Campus Race to Zero Waste competition each year.
UWRF also participates in the Campus Race to Zero Waste competition each year.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Students organizations in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability conducted food waste audits each semester through the 2020 spring semester. Food waste is collected and weighed and informational graphs are then shared.
Students have also conducted audits focusing on how full dumpsters are to help better schedule servicing.
Students have also conducted audits focusing on how full dumpsters are to help better schedule servicing.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
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A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
UWRF houses a surplus department and office supplies exchange program. Regular sales and auctions are conducted where campus and the wider community can purchase available items. All items are offered free of charge to departments before being sold to the general public.
https://www.uwrf.edu/Sustainability/SurplusPropertyProgram/Index.cfm
https://www.uwrf.edu/Sustainability/SurplusPropertyProgram/Index.cfm
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
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A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
PaperCut is a print management software used on campus that allows students and staff to print from any computer, tablet, or phone connected to the internet. One of the primary goals of PaperCut is to reduce printing levels by changing a user's printing behavior. The usage of monitoring, quotas, and charging are good ways of drawing a user's attention to their habits. The default setting on PaperCut printers is double-sided printing.
Over the course of summer 2016, the Division of Technology Services completed a campus printing upgrade project with set goals to increase overall effectiveness of printing, decrease duplicated equipment expenses, provide for predictable supported repair costs, and provide a tool for departments to manage their printing costs by leveraging higher-grade and efficient equipment with an ultimate goal of saving money.
Over the course of summer 2016, the Division of Technology Services completed a campus printing upgrade project with set goals to increase overall effectiveness of printing, decrease duplicated equipment expenses, provide for predictable supported repair costs, and provide a tool for departments to manage their printing costs by leveraging higher-grade and efficient equipment with an ultimate goal of saving money.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
UWRF course registration is done online and the course catalog is available exclusively online. The campus directory is available online, although it is also provided as a hardcopy to faculty and staff by request.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Facilities provides recycling dumpsters for move-in days. Sustainability staff and volunteers are stationed at all dumpsters to maximize recycling and reduce contamination.
Joan Mayen volunteers and oversees the "Don't Throw it, Donate It" program supported by the Office of Sustainability and Residence Life. The program runs the weekend before finals through student move out and provides a conduit for students to donate a large amount of food, clothes, furnishings, and other accessories to local charities instead of throwing it out.
Joan Mayen volunteers and oversees the "Don't Throw it, Donate It" program supported by the Office of Sustainability and Residence Life. The program runs the weekend before finals through student move out and provides a conduit for students to donate a large amount of food, clothes, furnishings, and other accessories to local charities instead of throwing it out.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
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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.