| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.30 |
| Liaison | Srinivasan Raghavan |
| Submission Date | Feb. 16, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Missouri
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.39 / 8.00 |
Srinivasan
Raghavan Sustainability Manager Sustainability Office |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 1,691.84 Tons | 1,858.50 Tons |
| Materials composted | 60.68 Tons | 83.50 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 211.19 Tons | 17 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 6,354.29 Tons | 6,100 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 8,318 Tons | 8,059 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, 2015 | June 30, 2016 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2007 | June 30, 2008 |
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):
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 5,543 | 6,279 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 18 | 18 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 31,194 | 25,089 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 9,006.50 | 8,665.10 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 2,652 | 1,259.10 |
| Weighted campus users | 29,551.63 | 25,945.50 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.28 Tons | 0.31 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 | 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 | Yes |
| Other (please specify below) | Yes |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
MU has resold bycicles, automative equipment (such as golf cart, farm equipment, lawn equipment, trailers, and vehicles), electronic equipment, hospital equipment, instruments, paint, and construction equipment.
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:
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 brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
In 2003 Waste Reduction Strategies conducted a solid waste audit at the University of Missouri - Columbia to determine what actions could be taken in order to reduce both the volume and cost of solid waste collected on campus. The purpose of the study was to determine what solid waste is currently generated, the composition of that waste, and explore ways to reduce that waste and the cost associated with the collection and disposal of that solid waste. Beyond that study done in 2003, the MU Sustainability Office does a variety of "mini audits" looking into the same factors of the sidewalk trash and recycling systems. A class taught in the School of Natural resources also does mini audits, called "Trash Bash" of campus trash and recycling. Recently, in 2013 a doctoral student did a waste audit on Red Campus.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
The University of Missouri System came out with a Sustainable Office Shopping guide/brochure to help departments and offices make better choices when it comes to supply purchases, but it is not policy. The brochure promotes, High-Quality. Reusable. Durable. Efficient. Third Party Certified. Less Packaging. Better. By using the Show-Me Shop eProcurement tool. On the vendors’ “punch out” catalog sites, sustainable items are identified by an icon. Ordering through the Show-Me Shop saves time, money and energy. UM’s group purchasing contracts negotiate the best prices, paperwork costs are dramatically reduced and free delivery saves employees many miles. It’s also easier to compare environmentally preferred products and track our progress buying green products.
REDUCE FIRST
Consider whether the product is actually necessary before purchasing.
RECYCLED CONTENT
Choose products that have a high recycled content, if possible.
QUALITY & DURABILITY
Consider purchasing products that are designed to last or are easily upgraded.
EFFICIENCY
Try to choose products that make the best use of their source and create the least amount of waste at the end of their life.
MATERIALS
Try to find products that use or are made of natural or minimally processed materials.
LESS PACKAGING
Avoid products the need high levels of packaging to be shipped.
CHOICE OF VENDOR
Try to use the university’s preferred suppliers, or a supplier that is environmentally conscious about their product.
RECYCLABLE:
This product can be collected, separated, or recovered from the solid waste stream and used again.
RECYCLED CONTENT:
This product was made with recovered materials instead of virgin natural resources.
FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL:
This product is guaranteed to contain wood products harvested from a well-managed forest.
DESIGNED FOR THE ENVIRONMENT:
This product contains environmentally friendly ingredients as designated by the EPA.
GREEN SEAL:
This product has been reviewed for the environmental impacts tied to its use, manufacture, and disposal.
ORGANIC:
This product was not produced using irradiation, specified fertilizers, prohibited pesticides, and GMO’s.
FAIR TRADE:
The workers behind this product participate in international markets in ways that are fair and equitable.
ENERGY STAR:
This product met EPA standards for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Surplus Property is a part of the Procurement Services Department that is responsible for the disposal, re-distribution, and/or sale of used equipment/property that the University of Missouri and other Mid-Missouri government agencies and educational institutions no longer use. The sale of this equipment is handled through public auctions, sales, or online. A Disposal Request through our software must be completed and approved before items can be picked up. Surplus receives no General Operating(G.O.) funds. All salaries, benefits, operational, marketing and sales costs are paid by the 35% retained from the sale of surplus equipment.
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):
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 Print Smart Program was initiated in an effort to reduce the use of printing and misuse of printers. This program has resulted in much greater sustainability-friendly printing habits at MU. Print Smart is a print accounting service that manages printing use in the computing sites. Students use their non-refundable print allowance to print to numerous on-campus printers; the cost of each print job is deducted from that allowance. Students can track your usage and remaining allowance online.
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 utilizes Canvas and Blackboard, which are online learning communities that all courses offered by the university are registered on and all course information and documents are provided through each courses respective link. Students have the ability to upload all work done for each course as well.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
A collaboration between the University of Missouri, the City of Columbia and the University YMCA, Tiger Treasures collects and sells unwanted items donated by students departing for the summer from MU Residential Life facilities and Greek houses. The project diverts tons of material from the landfill and proceeds from the sale benefit local charitable agencies. The Mizzou Tiger Treasures Rummage Sale collects unwanted items from departing students and sells them in the city's largest rummage sale.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Increasing recycling awareness to our Building Coordinators.
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.