| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.82 |
| Liaison | Konrad Schlarbaum |
| Submission Date | Feb. 20, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
OP-23: Waste Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.28 / 3.00 |
Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
A brief description of programs, policies, infrastructure investments, outreach efforts, and/or other factors that contributed to the diversion rate, including efforts made during the previous three years:
UCCS has invested significantly in recycling in the last three years. All offices, classrooms, and hallways have recycle bins matched closely with trash bins. The school switched to single stream recycling when local haulers all switched. The school participates in RecycleMania, and also organizes zero waste goalies for the basketball games and major concerts.
There is also a lot of outreach for orientations, student move-in, etc. Compost capacity was added to all food facilities as well as for paper towels in the bathrooms of the student center.A cardboard baler was added to keep boxes from taking up so much space in dumpsters and allow for a small financial return on materials. Our move-out program has grown significantly and Goodwill trailers are available all week for students.
UCCS instituted a strong electronics recycling policy in 2013 indicating that all electronics will be recycled by an E-Steward Certified recycler. This is stricter than the state policies.
UCCS is currently piloting a program in a new LEED building in which offices are supplied with regular size recycling bins and very small piggy back trash receptacles. The goal is to reduce the amount of waste and especially food waste in offices and to eliminate the need for plastic liner bags that would be landfilled almost every day. It involves a complete retraining of staff.
A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:
On Fridays, the Marion House, which is the local soup kitchen, picks up all prepackaged food items that have not sold. Additionally, when there are catered events in which too much food has been ordered, Sodexo will take the extra food, that was not already out and served,to the Marion House.
A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
In the kitchens all pre-consumer waste is either composted with the campus greenhouse or added to the compost that is taken off campus by a vendor.
A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
In the dining facilities there are compost bins next to all of the trash and recycling. All of the plateware and silverware is either reusable or compostable. We have worked with our food vendor to provide only compostable materials for catering events.
Does the institution include the following materials in its waste diversion efforts?:
| Yes or No | |
| Paper, plastics, glass, metals, and other recyclable containers | Yes |
| Food donations | No |
| Food for animals | No |
| Food composting | Yes |
| Cooking oil | Yes |
| Plant materials composting | Yes |
| Animal bedding composting | No |
| Batteries | Yes |
| Light bulbs | Yes |
| Toner/ink-jet cartridges | 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 |
| Motor oil | Yes |
| Tires | --- |
Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:
Cardboard is separated and baled.
Plastic bags are recycled separately from the single stream.
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.