Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 70.01
Liaison Cindy Shea
Submission Date July 18, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.26 / 3.00 BJ Tipton
Program Manager, Solid Waste Services
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
4,321 Tons

Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
5,984 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:

A comprehensive indoor and outdoor recycling and composting program captured 42% of campus discards in FY2013. Paper, the largest component of the office waste stream, no longer needs to be separated by type (mixed paper bin). Lab plastics, such as pipette tip boxes, can be recycled in bottle and can receptacles. Collection infrastructure is also in place for cardboard and, most recently, for #2 and #5 plastic tubs.


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

During the academic year, UNC donates an average of 200 pounds of prepared food to the Inter-Faith Council on a weekly basis. The Inter-Faith Council is a non-profit organization that provides food and housing to the homeless in the area.


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

Pre-consumer food waste from UNC dining halls and catering is picked up regularly by the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling (OWRR) and Brooks Contractors. The pre- and post-consumer food waste is turned into a nutrient-rich soil amendment at Brooks Contractors' Goldston processing facility.


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

Food waste from UNC dining halls, catering, and several high volume Green Events venues, including the School of Government, the Botanical Garden, and the FedEx Global Education Center, is picked up regularly by OWRR and Brooks Contractors. The pre- and post-consumer food waste is turned into a nutrient-rich soil amendment at Brooks Contractors' Goldston processing facility.

Carolina Dining services collects food scraps for composting from both dining halls, the Beach Cafe, Alpine Bagel Cafe, Wendy's, the Friday Center, and select Carolina Catering events. Food waste and paper products are separated and stored in 65-gallon carts located throughout the food preparation and dishwashing areas, or on the loading dock. The material is collected six times a week and is composted at a facility in Goldston, NC.

Since 2012, front-of-house composting has been available in front of Freshens, located on Lenoir Mainstreet. Carolina Compost program is now available in select residence halls, and plans to distribute bins more broadly this year.

All yard waste is mulched or composted.


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 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 Yes

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

Construction and demolition materials, concrete and block, auto oil filters, auto coolant, auto batteries, mattress bags, Nike/shoes, bulk solvent, carpet, other e-waste.


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

White goods are included in recycling program, but not tracked separately.


White goods are included in recycling program, but not tracked separately.

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.