Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 73.28
Liaison Katie Maynard
Submission Date Nov. 8, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of California, Santa Barbara
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.77 / 8.00 Matthew O'Carroll
Refuse, Recycling, & Water Conservation Manager
Facilities Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 2,367.73 Tons 7,198.92 Tons
Materials composted 1,854.30 Tons 263.55 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 39.25 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 1,959.10 Tons 4,088.66 Tons
Total waste generated 6,220.38 Tons 11,551.13 Tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2015 June 30, 2016
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2007 Dec. 31, 2007

A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted (e.g. in sustainability plans and policies or in the context of other reporting obligations):

The year 2007 was adopted as the baseline because it was the earliest time period for which UCSB has reliable waste generation data. 2007 also encompassed data from the majority of the waste management programs that were in place on campus. Years prior to 2007, waste generation data was not collected from all entities on campus, especially departmental programs.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 8,934 6,282
Number of employees resident on-site 87 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 21,799 19,961
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 5,208 4,947
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 489 531
Weighted campus users 22,143.75 19,853.25

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.28 Tons 0.58 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
51.72

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
68.51

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
68.51

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 Yes
Plant materials Yes
Animal bedding Yes
White goods (i.e. appliances) Yes
Laboratory equipment Yes
Furniture Yes
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste Yes
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets Yes
Tires No
Other (please specify below) No

A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:

Bicycles; eyeglasses; clothing; textiles


Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year (e.g. materials that are actively diverted from the landfill or incinerator and refurbished/repurposed) :
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Does the institution use single stream recycling (a single container for commingled recyclables) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
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Does the institution use dual stream (two separate containers for recyclables, e.g. one for paper and another for plastic, glass, and metals) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
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Does the institution use multi-stream recycling (multiple containers that further separate different types of materials) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
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Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
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A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed, e.g. efforts to minimize contamination and/or monitor the discard rates of the materials recovery facilities and mills to which materials are diverted:
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A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives, e.g. initiatives to shift individual attitudes and practices such as signage and competitions:
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A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:

UCSB regularly conducts waste audits by utilizing the services of UCSB's Associated Students Recycling (A.S. Recycling), third party environmental consulting firms, and their waste hauler. A.S. Recycling provides waste audit services for special events, departments, and buildings. Recently, A.S. Recycling audited the waste generated from the California Higher Education Sustainability Conference. Third party consulting firms generally audit waste from buildings, often as part of the LEED certification process, and the waste hauler audits UCSB as an entirety once a year.


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):

UCSB has established a Change Agent Procurement Team that is a subgroup of the campus’ Chancellor’s Sustainability Committee, and is in the process of developing a campus-wide product stewardship program that has a large focus on Extended Producer Responsibility. Such a program will encourage producers to take responsibility for the end-of-life management of their products.


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

At the University of California, Santa Barbara, the Surplus Inventory Program promotes the exchange of materials within the UCSB community. The Surplus Inventory Program allows users to give away or find equipment, supplies, and furniture from laboratories or offices. All items posted on the website are free to UCSB staff, faculty, and students. In addition, UCSB’s Central Stores also handles the surplus sales of unwanted equipment and furniture. UCSB community members and members from the greater community can shop for the unwanted equipment and furniture.


A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse (e.g. of electronics, furnishings, books and other goods):
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A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption (e.g. restricting free printing and/or mandating doubled-sided printing in libraries and computer labs):

UCSB does not offer free printing or copying to any of its computer labs and libraries. Printing and copying charges range from .10-.25 per page and can be charged to a student’s online account (BARC) or copy card or paid for in cash. The UCSB campus community is also encouraged to make double-sided printing the default setting on printers.


A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials (e.g. course catalogs, course schedules, and directories) available online by default rather than printing them:

The University of California, Santa Barbara provides students with course and university materials via online sources. Students can access class schedules and course information and register for classes through GauchoSpace and Gaucho On-Line Data (GOLD). They are also encouraged to electronically access their billing and account information on the BARC Billing Office Website.

GauchoSpace: https://gauchospace.ucsb.edu/
GOLD: https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/gold/login.aspx
BARC: http://www.barc.ucsb.edu/


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

During the move-out process, UCSB Housing & Residential Services eliminates waste by placing recycle roll-offs and extra recycling dumpsters around the dorms during the move-out process. At this time, UCSB also collects and has drop-off locations for various reusable materials, which are then sold at Give IV. If dorms need to be remodeled, furniture and appliances are donated to local charities, other schools, and the International Recycling Network. These practices ensure that UCSB earns this credit.


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

UCSB's Central Stores Furniture Services plays a vital role in waste minimization. UCSB has several programs that focus on the re-use of items, but Central Stores Furniture Services largely focuses on collecting and re-selling surplus furniture, office equipment, and any large items. Surplus material can be purchased twice per week by the members of the Santa Barbara community.
Funded by the Green Initiative Fund and the Coastal Fund, UCSB has installed 40 hydration stations across campus as part of a drive to reduce the use of disposable water bottles. The fountains offer filtered and reverse osmosis water through a water bottle-friendly dispensing mechanism.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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.