Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.39
Liaison Shane Stennes
Submission Date Dec. 15, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.30 / 3.00 August Horner
Sustainability Student Asst
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
4,077.50 Tons

Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
5,298.90 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:

The University of Minnesota ReUse Program started “Pack & Give Back” in May of 2013, an initiative aimed at reducing waste generated by students moving at the beginning and end of each semester. The University of Minnesota partners with a non-profit organization to help facilitate on- and off-campus pick-up routes for reusable items that might otherwise end up in landfills. This event targets students, but is open to all residents in the Marcy-Holmes, Southeast Como, Prospect Park, and Cedar-Riverside neighborhoods*.
Items collected on campus by the ReUse Program, or brought to the ReUse warehouse by students and neighborhood residents, will be part of the program's "Free Store". Based out of the ReUse warehouse (883 29th Avenue SE), all items in the Free Store will be offered free of charge to students from August 25th to September 6th. Residents of neighborhoods Marcy-Holmes, Southeast Como, Cedar-Riverside, and Prospect Park may also shop the Free Store during the last week of the sale if they have made a donation.
Since it's inception, the Pack and Give Back program has diverted over 300k pounds of household items from landfills, and back to students and the neighborhood.


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

University Dining Services currently collects food for donation in conjunction with both the Food Recovery Network and Food Donation Connection and has partnered with several local food shelfs in the Twin Cities to work with: Urban Ventures and Loaves and Fishes (who distributes to several organizations). Food is collected daily at our two larger food courts as well as with special events.


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

University Dining Services collects all food scraps throughout the preparation process in all of our kitchens and ensures it is going into the organics collection vs trash. Any food items needing to be discarded and that cannot be donated are also sent to organics. Food trimmings and waste are also tracked daily.


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

Post-consumer organics collection of both food (all food scraps) and compostable packaging is collected in all seven residential restaurants, three food courts and over 80% of our smaller retail restaurants. Our catering department offers compostable collection as well for deliveries and composts post-consumer at all serviced 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 Yes
Food for animals No
Food composting Yes
Cooking oil Yes
Plant materials composting Yes
Animal bedding composting Yes
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 Yes

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

Film, office supplies, concrete, cardboard containers, electronics, books.


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.