| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.57 |
| Liaison | Derek Nichols |
| Submission Date | Sept. 16, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University at Buffalo
OP-22: Waste Minimization
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.63 / 5.00 |
Erin
Moscati Environmental Educator Office of Sustainability |
Waste generated::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 2,706.34 Tons | 2,611 Tons |
| Materials composted | 241 Tons | 109 Tons |
| Materials reused, donated or re-sold | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 2,416.75 Tons | 2,505.60 Tons |
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of residential students | 7,600 | 7,600 |
| Number of residential employees | 220 | 220 |
| Number of in-patient hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Full-time equivalent enrollment | 25,048 | 23,583 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 6,040 | 5,573 |
| Full-time equivalent of distance education students | 0 | 0 |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2013 | June 30, 2014 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2011 | June 30, 2012 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
FY 2012 was the most recent year used in a STARS Report
A brief description of any (non-food) waste audits employed by the institution:
A comprehensive audit of all building types was completed in the Spring of 2014.
A brief description of any institutional procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
A brief description of any surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
UB SWAP is designed to efficiently and effectively aid campus departments in redistributing equipment and supplies throughout the UB campus. The purpose of this website is not to replace existing surplus procedures but to give UB Faculty and Staff another option. The main intent of this website is to advertise items to encourage reuse at no cost or for a nominal fee.
A brief description of the institution's efforts to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
Our undergraduate catalog is available only on-line, although there is a printable pdf version for those who want to print it themselves. We do not have a central graduate catalog. Our course schedule is not printed, and is only available on-line (no printable version). Similarly, course descriptions are only available on-line via HUB.
In addition, the Alumni magazine and nearly all school publications are predominately available only on-line.
A brief description of any limits on paper and ink consumption employed by the institution:
All students, faculty and staff receive a page allowance or allocation to print. This allocation is the amount equal to 650 single-sided pages for the Fall and for the Spring semesters and 200 pages for the Summer semesters.
A brief description of any programs employed by the institution to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
We utilize an annual Year-End Recycling Program that utilizes many different options for our students to reduce residence hall moveout waste.
Bins and boxes have been placed in all areas to receive clothing and non-perishable food. They will be donated to the City Mission and other local charitable organizations. There are also large yellow receptacles placed outside labeled “Planet Aid” for used clothing and shoes. The proceeds are used for programs to aid developing communities in Africa and Asia.
In several residence halls, various locations have been identified where students may leave any usable items – furniture, appliances, rugs, shelving materials - anything that can be re-used. Items may be claimed by anyone who can use them.
We are co-sponsoring a book recycling program. Bins are located in all residence hall areas and apartment community centers. A donation is made to “Wounded Warriors” (Veterans) for books that are left. All books are re-used or recycled. Last year, we were one of the highest of participating schools in this program. See: http://www.buffalo.edu/ubreporter/campus/campus-host-page.host.html/content/shared/university/news/ub-reporter-articles/stories/2015/08/clothing_drive.detail.html
The battery recycling program is being done at all “Area Offices".
A brief description of any other (non-food) waste minimization strategies employed by the institution:
A brief description of any food waste audits employed by the institution:
Several times each semester Campus Dining and Shops conducts Weigh the Waste Events in the residential dining centers. The information is reported on each units Profit and Loss Report as a metric that can improve both financially as well as environmentally.
A brief description of any programs and/or practices to track and reduce pre-consumer food waste in the form of kitchen food waste, prep waste and spoilage:
As a normal practice, each receiver in the individual operational units are responsible for inspecting produce that arrives to ensure quality and reduce spoilage.This practice decreases the unnecessary waste of viable product as well as decreasing expense inherent in replacing product received spoiled or product that should be used sooner due to shorter remaining shelf life.
A brief description of programs and/or practices to track and reduce post-consumer food waste:
Our Residential Dining Centers are trayless. By being tray-free we use less energy and water to wash each tray. It takes about ¼ gallon of water to wash just one tray. Research also shows that by being tray-free, the amount of food waste decreases by one ounce per plate. The average person throws 163 pounds of food away each year!
A brief description of the institution's provision of reusable and/or third party certified compostable to-go containers for to-go food and beverage items (in conjunction with a composting program):
Available for to-go meals at residential dining centers, these reusable containers reduce over 120,000 disposable containers from seeing the landfill each year.
A brief description of the institution's provision of reusable service ware for “dine in” meals and reusable and/or third party certified compostable service ware for to-go meals (in conjunction with a composting program):
A brief description of any discounts offered to customers who use reusable containers (e.g. mugs) instead of disposable or compostable containers in to-go food service operations:
We offer a 10% discount on beverage purchases made in a Campus Dining & Shops mug.
A brief description of other dining services waste minimization programs and initiatives:
The website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The University at Buffalo waste diversion efforts are far reaching, and include comprehensive campus-wide single stream recycling and a pre-consumer compost collection program.
UB's recycling program started out in the 1970's and continued until the early 1980's before fading out from lack of interest. Recycling was re-instated in the late 1980's by a group of inspired students with University Facilities support. Their program targeted the best sites for computer and office waste paper. The paper was collected by the students and sorted at a campus loading dock. It was a lot of fun and a lot of work but it resulted in recycling only 5% of UB's solid waste stream.
A few years later, the program was "institutionalized" and became the full responsibility of University Facilities paid staff. By 1995, recycling was extended to all offices on both campuses with the distribution of under-the-desk recycling bins and "trash buddies." In the meantime, Campus Living developed its own recycling program for UB residence halls. UB Campus Dining & Shops developed a recycling program for its food service areas as well.
During the spring 1998 semester, six students participated in an internship which included a campus-wide dumpster dive and a study of recycling potential in UB's residence halls. The dive and study showed the potential for major improvements in campus recycling programs. During 1999 and 2000 public area recycling stations were established in select high-traffic indoor public areas on campus, e.g. lobbies, lounges, walkways. Over 100 public area stations were deployed in various locations throughout UB's two campuses in 2001. In 2011, UB consolidated its three individually managed recycling contracts into a one comprehensive contract for all areas of campus. It was also at this time, that the campus moved to single stream or All In One recycling collection to simplify the program for members of campus. This has resulted in significant improvements in promoting participation in our recycling program. Currently, UB recycles over twenty different materials on campus.
UB is also committed to reducing the amount of disposable materials purchased and consumed on our campuses and has undertaken several initiatives to support this approach. Initiatives include eliminating the use of Styrofoam take-out containers in campus-run dining halls, and operating UB SWAP, a web-based program which encourages faculty and staff to keep unwanted equipment and furniture in circulation across campus.
CDS information provided by Ray Kohl.
The University at Buffalo waste diversion efforts are far reaching, and include comprehensive campus-wide single stream recycling and a pre-consumer compost collection program.
UB's recycling program started out in the 1970's and continued until the early 1980's before fading out from lack of interest. Recycling was re-instated in the late 1980's by a group of inspired students with University Facilities support. Their program targeted the best sites for computer and office waste paper. The paper was collected by the students and sorted at a campus loading dock. It was a lot of fun and a lot of work but it resulted in recycling only 5% of UB's solid waste stream.
A few years later, the program was "institutionalized" and became the full responsibility of University Facilities paid staff. By 1995, recycling was extended to all offices on both campuses with the distribution of under-the-desk recycling bins and "trash buddies." In the meantime, Campus Living developed its own recycling program for UB residence halls. UB Campus Dining & Shops developed a recycling program for its food service areas as well.
During the spring 1998 semester, six students participated in an internship which included a campus-wide dumpster dive and a study of recycling potential in UB's residence halls. The dive and study showed the potential for major improvements in campus recycling programs. During 1999 and 2000 public area recycling stations were established in select high-traffic indoor public areas on campus, e.g. lobbies, lounges, walkways. Over 100 public area stations were deployed in various locations throughout UB's two campuses in 2001. In 2011, UB consolidated its three individually managed recycling contracts into a one comprehensive contract for all areas of campus. It was also at this time, that the campus moved to single stream or All In One recycling collection to simplify the program for members of campus. This has resulted in significant improvements in promoting participation in our recycling program. Currently, UB recycles over twenty different materials on campus.
UB is also committed to reducing the amount of disposable materials purchased and consumed on our campuses and has undertaken several initiatives to support this approach. Initiatives include eliminating the use of Styrofoam take-out containers in campus-run dining halls, and operating UB SWAP, a web-based program which encourages faculty and staff to keep unwanted equipment and furniture in circulation across campus.
CDS information provided by Ray Kohl.
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.