| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 76.79 |
| Liaison | Mike Wilson |
| Submission Date | Jan. 27, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Victoria
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.20 / 8.00 |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 531.40 Tons | 563.70 Tons |
| Materials composted | 743.43 Tons | 609.40 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 0 Tons | 44 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 548.80 Tons | 748 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,823.63 Tons | 1,965.10 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 | Sept. 1, 2015 | Aug. 31, 2016 |
| Baseline Year | Sept. 1, 2010 | Aug. 31, 2011 |
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 academic year of 2010/11 was the first year that comprehensive detailed data was collected.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,472 | 2,240 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 19,068 | 16,975 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 4,576 | 4,982 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 842 | 1,800 |
| Weighted campus users | 17,719.50 | 15,677.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.10 Tons | 0.13 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 | No |
| 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) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
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:
The University of Victoria conducts a waste audit ever three years. The most recent audit was conducted in 2014. In order to characterize the material stream, visual observations and samples were obtained from various collection areas. These collection areas were identified from labels placed on the waste bags. The assessment material was collected in a designated location separate from the waste collection areas. The materials were divided into categories and weights of each material were recorded. The main categories were papers, organic waste (which included food waste but not yard and garden waste), plastics, glass, metals, wood, textiles and residuals. To determine the total waste generated for the remaining buildings on campus, generation rates from the sample buildings were applied to unaudited buildings. To achieve an accurate total, factors such as the size of the building as well as the types of activities were considered when extrapolating the generation rates campus wide.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
UVic Purchasing Services and Food Services work with suppliers to reduce waste in a variety of ways, mostly in terms of minimizing packaging materials. Many perishable food items are now delivered in reusable rubber containers rather than cardboard and softplastic (e.g. baked goods and meat). UVic's two office supply vendors offer reusable/returnable packing boxes and trays. Administrative and academic units are encouraged to order supplies in bulk. The vending machine supplier has a computerized system that informs them when a machine needs refilling, reducing trips to campus.
See a summary of UVic's waste reduction programs: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/waste/index.php.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
UVic's surplus assets (e.g. furniture, electronic equipment and appliances) are handled by our Surplus Asset Coordinator who works with Purchasing Services and the Waste Reduction Unit to either repurpose, sell or recycle used assets. http://www.uvic.ca/purchasing/surplus/index.php
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):
UVic Free Store
The UVic Free Store is run by a team of dedicated staff and volunteers and offers all UVic students access to food essentials and free household items. Students can come and take anything they need and miscellaneous items are donated regularly to replenish available stock.
Links: https://uvss.ca/services/food-bank/
http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/waste/free-store/index.php
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):
UVic does not offer any free printing for students in computer labs or libraries. All printers default to double-sided printing (single sided is the exception, not the norm).
See Library policy: http://library.uvic.ca/clientservices/copier.html
See Computer Lab policy: http://www.uvic.ca/systems/facilities/printingrepro/index.php
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:
Many administrative documents are now available online. These include income tax forms, memos regarding changes in administrative procedures, timesheets,
Employee payroll is now almost exclusively performed with automatic deposit, as are payments between the university and the province and other large funders. Union voting and other employee surveys are done exclusively online. The Board of Governors have all been provided with tablets to review board meeting documents on rather than being provided with large amounts of paper documents prior to each meeting.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
UVic goes to great lengths to reduce waste generated by student move-ins and move-outs. Extra waste bins are set up to collect recyclables such as cardboard, paper and styrofoam. Large bins are also set up to collect unwanted furniture, clothing and electronics. Information is provided to students and parents ahead of time on what collection services are available. Special E-Waste collection days are also hosted each April to collect recyclable personal electronic items.
More details can be found on the Move Out brochure: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/Studentmoveout_2013.pdf.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Special waste collection bins for hard-to-recycle items including styrofoam, soft plastics, batteries and cell phones are established in key areas around campus.
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.