| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 85.74 |
| Liaison | Mike Wilson |
| Submission Date | Dec. 13, 2023 |
University of Victoria
OP-19: Construction and Demolition Waste Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.94 / 1.00 |
Construction and demolition materials recycled, donated, or otherwise recovered:
Construction and demolition materials landfilled or incinerated:
Percentage of construction and demolition materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator through recycling, donation and/or other forms of recovery:
A brief description of programs, policies, infrastructure investments, outreach efforts, and/or other factors that contributed to the diversion rate for construction and demolition waste:
The University of Victoria (UVic) has historically maintained a strong commitment to waste diversion in construction and demolition activities. As of 2019, UVic introduced a new program aimed at further enhancing their waste diversion efforts and aligning with the sustainability principles set forth in the LEED certification process.
UVic Waste Diversion and Tracking Program:
UVic requires all contractors engaged in new building construction to adhere to stringent waste diversion goals, in line with LEED certification principles. The university's commitment to sustainability has translated into significant achievements in waste diversion. Most projects routinely surpass the target waste diversion rate of 75% and often exceed 90%.
Previously, waste management for renovation, demolition, and building addition projects lacked formal tracking mechanisms. However, UVic has introduced a pioneering program, which aligns with the principles of LEED, to enhance waste diversion tracking and reporting for such projects.
Key Elements of the Updated Program:
1. Tracking and Reporting: Contractors working on projects valued at more than $200,000, and not subject to specific LEED waste management requirements, are now mandated to rigorously track and report construction and demolition waste. This updated program enhances the accountability of waste management practices.
2. Weigh Bills: Contractors are required to retain copies of all weigh bills associated with the disposal of construction waste. These weigh bills include estimates of recycled content as provided by transfer stations.
3. Comprehensive Data Compilation: The tracking and reporting requirements mandate the compilation of information from weigh bills into a dedicated waste tracking spreadsheet. This spreadsheet includes crucial details such as the type of material, receiving facility, total landfilled (in kilograms), total recycled (in kilograms), and total reused (in kilograms).
4. End-of-Project Reporting: At the conclusion of each project, contractors are expected to submit the completed waste tracking spreadsheet and all associated weigh bills. This comprehensive reporting ensures transparency and adherence to waste diversion goals.
The program not only promotes rigorous waste diversion practices but also advances the university's commitment to sustainability. The data collected through this program will provide UVic with a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of construction and demolition waste diversion rates. This information will facilitate continuous assessment and improvement of waste diversion practices at UVic, aligning with the sustainability and environmental expectations set forth in the LEED certification process.
Website URL where information about the institution’s C&D waste diversion efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Between May 2020 and October 2022, the construction of the New Student Housing and Dining accomplished an impressive total waste diversion rate of 91.7%. This remarkable achievement was made possible through the diligent execution of the project's Waste Management Plan. Subcontractors, trade contractors, suppliers, and service providers underwent comprehensive training on waste reduction, recycling, reuse, disposal, and documentation procedures. Furthermore, strategically placed signage effectively communicated the types of materials acceptable for each waste container.
For the sake of this report, we are reporting on the waste from May 2020 to May 2021, when the most demolition was performed and the most waste was generated.
These conscientious practices played a pivotal role in ensuring that construction and demolition waste was minimized and diverted from landfills to the greatest extent possible.
Between May 2020 and October 2022, the construction of the New Student Housing and Dining accomplished an impressive total waste diversion rate of 91.7%. This remarkable achievement was made possible through the diligent execution of the project's Waste Management Plan. Subcontractors, trade contractors, suppliers, and service providers underwent comprehensive training on waste reduction, recycling, reuse, disposal, and documentation procedures. Furthermore, strategically placed signage effectively communicated the types of materials acceptable for each waste container.
For the sake of this report, we are reporting on the waste from May 2020 to May 2021, when the most demolition was performed and the most waste was generated.
These conscientious practices played a pivotal role in ensuring that construction and demolition waste was minimized and diverted from landfills to the greatest extent possible.
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.