Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 58.26
Liaison Caitlin McLennan
Submission Date Oct. 10, 2022

STARS v2.2

Utah State University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.23 / 8.00 Nate Schwartz
Recycling Coordinator
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 348.49 Tons 578.05 Tons
Materials composted 164.64 Tons 50 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 2,010.50 Tons 1,812 Tons
Total waste generated 2,523.63 Tons 2,440.05 Tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
---

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Period July 1, 2020 June 30, 2021
Baseline Period July 1, 2006 June 30, 2007

A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:

We chose the same year as our Carbon Commitment baseline, 2007.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 3,383 2,200
Number of employees resident on-site 100 100
Number of other individuals resident on-site 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 16,770 12,649
Full-time equivalent of employees 2,774 2,603
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 4,583 193
Weighted campus users 12,091.50 11,869.25

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.21 Tons 0.21 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
20.33

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
20.33

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 No
Plant materials Yes
Animal bedding Yes
White goods (i.e. appliances) Yes
Electronics No
Laboratory equipment No
Furniture No
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:

Reusable items on campus go to USU Surplus. Reused or sold materials are not weighed. If the item is recyclable but not reusable, it goes to USU recycling. Landscape waste and pre-consumer food scraps are composted. Uneaten food that meets food safety guidelines goes to food pantries or the Willow Park Zoo.


Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
---

Does the institution use single stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
No

Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Yes

Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
No

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
---

A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:

Restrictive lids, color coding, signage


A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:

Race to Zero Waste


A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:

A service learning class completes select audits in the fall.


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:

None


A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

All University departments use Surplus Property Sales for the disposal of unused property. Surplus Property Sales ensures that state guidelines are followed and property is managed properly. Reused or sold materials are not weighed.


A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:

USU has a collection of reusable items at the end of the semester. Some are donated to local organizations. Some are re-sold in the True Blue Reuse Sale. USU also has a classifieds board.


A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:

Each student begins each semester with $2.10 worth of free printouts (equivalent to 35 black and white copies or 21 color) in the Aggie Express System. Unused portions of each semester’s free allotment are not carried forward to subsequent semesters.


A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:

The full course catalog is available online and regularly updated. Students do not receive the catalog in print form.


A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:

The Student Sustainability Office hosts drop-off locations for students to donate items during move-out. These items are sold back to students.


A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
---

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:
---

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.