| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.91 |
| Liaison | Andy Mitchell |
| Submission Date | July 17, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Illinois Chicago
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.38 / 8.00 |
Cynthia
Klein-Banai Associate Chancellor for Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 3,396.82 Tons | 1,761.77 Tons |
| Materials composted | 69.28 Tons | 255.87 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 | 4,170.70 Tons | 6,528.69 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 7,636.80 Tons | 8,546.33 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2016 | June 30, 2017 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2006 | June 30, 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 waste generation baseline chosen is from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. This baseline was chosen because we wanted to compare our most recent data to that of the 2006-2007 Academic Year. This was one year prior to the formation of the Office of Sustainability and what we have used for previous STARS Reporting.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,800 | 3,800 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 14 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 464 | 477 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 24,509 | 21,129 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 11,100 | 10,781 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,146 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 27,014.75 | 25,359.50 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.28 Tons | 0.34 Tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
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 | No |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | No |
| Laboratory equipment | Yes |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | No |
| Scrap metal | Yes |
| Pallets | No |
| Tires | No |
| Other (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Batteries, nitrile gloves, writing instruments
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) :
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?:
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?:
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?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
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:
Office of sustainability performs regular training of the Building Service Workers (BSWs), including how to minimize contamination.
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:
A survey of signage was performed in 2016 with the help of a student intern. The result was the development of a new generation of signage and bin standards for the campus.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Each year, OS performs waste audits of a number of buildings. This produces data about the presence of recyclables in the trash, and contamination of the recycling stream. This is then reported back to building management for training of their staff.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Used, but useful, surplus equipment and furniture can be redistributed at a university warehouse which is near campus. OS also maintains a growing office supplies Free Store, and an annual Great Stuff Exchange. In 2017, we collected and distributed over 430 cubic feet of office supplies to 350 some students, staff, and community members. OS also maintains a Lab Share program, mainly consisting of used glassware. In FY17, we distributed approximately $20,000 worth to staff in university labs.
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):
UIC has a warehouse where furniture is stored and people can go to check out the actual physical inventory. Departments also post to campus listserves when they have furnishings and other equipment that may be of interest to other departments.
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):
The U-Print system at UIC limits each student with fifteen dollar limits. There is also an incentive for double sided printing instead of single sided printing. Double sided is charged at three cents a page while a single sided sheet is priced at eight cents a page. The printers automatically default to 2-sided printing. Currently, a sustainability intern is working with the Academic Computing Center to identify ways to reduce student print.
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:
UIC's course catalogs, course schedules and directories have been available online for several years now, but policy now is to not to print the course catalog, instead referring students to the online resource. The printed catalogs are readily available to academic advisers, however, due to the nature of their position. All registration is completed on-line as well. Students have access to an on-line course schedule through this portal. The Campus Directory is available free on-line from the UIC home page, although a printed version is made available for purchase by departments.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Salvation Army is invited to provide assistance collecting unwanted furniture, clothing and housewares. Also, recycling is promoted.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
The Office of Sustainability runs a Great Stuff Exchange and Lab Exchange program where they collect excess office and lab supplies (non-chemical, non-electronic). Campus community can drop off or "shop" anytime. There is an annual Great Stuff Exchange at the beginning of the school year and most of the materials are redistributed to students.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.