Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 57.98
Liaison Jonna Korpi
Submission Date June 2, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Minnesota, Duluth
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.43 / 3.00 Mindy Granley
Sustainability Director
UMD Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
487.35 Tons

Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
537.50 Tons

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:

UMD provides compost bins to collect food and other biodegradable waste. Food and other biodegradable wastes are actually a resource, because they break down into compost which returns to the soil. Students, staff and faculty at UMD can help save money (landfill tipping fees) and reduce emissions by diverting food/biodegradable waste into the compost bins. These bins are located all around campus with outdoor bins also available near the dorms.

What can be composted at UMD?

Food waste
Tea bags and coffee grounds (cold)
Paper towels and napkins
Forks, spoons, and knives from UMD Food Court and UMD Catering
Plates from Food Court and UMD Catering (excludes foam plates from Taste of Italia)
Coffee cups and lids from Northern Shores, Food Court, and UMD Catering

See:
https://umdsustain.wp.d.umn.edu/campus-initiatives/waste/compost/


A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:

Food that comes off the Dining Center line the after the second time it is reheated, or food that is in trays that have less than half remaining, or overstock food that cant be used, is donated to the Northern Harvest Food Bank, which then distributes it to local food shelves around the community.


A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

The Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) composts the pulped waste from the UMD Dining Center, as part of a large-scale, industrial composting program that began in late 2000.

State-of-the-art pulpers in the Dining Center Dish Room and the Production Kitchen operate using recycled cool water; food grease (ultimately picked up by a local rendering company) is deposited in the pulpers and not in the waste water stream. Scrap food from the pulping operations is collected and mulched at the WLSSD, resulting in lower tipping fees for the University. This successful operation has been featured on local media outlets and the finished product provides a high quality fertilizer to area residents, proving also to be a profitable venture for the WLSSD.

Items composted through this program features both pre- and post-consumer food waste from the Dining Center and prep kitchens, along with compostable materials from throughout the campus collected in over 100 locations.

Please note: items are NOT composted on the UMD campus, but trucked to WLSSD's existing compost/yard waste site.


A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

The Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) composts the pulped waste from the UMD Dining Center, as part of a large-scale, industrial composting program that began in late 2000.

State-of-the-art pulpers in the Dining Center Dish Room and the Production Kitchen operate using recycled cool water; food grease (ultimately picked up by a local rendering company) is deposited in the pulpers and not in the waste water stream. Scrap food from the pulping operations is collected and mulched at the WLSSD, resulting in lower tipping fees for the University. This successful operation has been featured on local media outlets and the finished product provides a high quality fertilizer to area residents, proving also to be a profitable venture for the WLSSD.

Items composted through this program features both pre- and post-consumer food waste from the Dining Center and prep kitchens, along with compostable materials from throughout the campus collected in over 100 locations.

Please note: items are NOT composted on the UMD campus, but trucked to WLSSD's existing compost/yard waste site.


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 Yes
Food for animals ---
Food composting Yes
Cooking oil ---
Plant materials composting ---
Animal bedding composting ---
Batteries Yes
Light bulbs Yes
Toner/ink-jet cartridges Yes
White goods (i.e. appliances) ---
Laboratory equipment ---
Furniture ---
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste ---
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets ---
Motor oil Yes
Tires Yes

Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:
---

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.