Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.33
Liaison Brad Spanbauer
Submission Date Jan. 29, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.27 / 8.00 Brian Kermath
Sustainability Director
Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 365.32 Tons 234 Tons
Materials composted 600 Tons 0 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 2.40 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 904.02 Tons 612 Tons
Total waste generated 1,871.74 Tons 846 Tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2015 Dec. 31, 2015
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2008 Dec. 31, 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):

When the campus sustainability plan was initiated in 2008 we stated a goal to reduce our municipal solid waste 30% by 2012, which was achieved two years ahead of schedule. Our sustainability plan was just redone and our new objective is to reduce production of municipal solid waste by 10% from 2012 levels by the end of 2017.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 3,179 2,911
Number of employees resident on-site 16 525
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 10,654 8,713
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 1,326.93 1,050
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 9,784.45 8,181.25

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.19 Tons 0.10 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
51.70

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
51.70

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:
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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) :
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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?:
Yes

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?:
No

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?:
No

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
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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:
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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:
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A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
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A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):

Life cycle analysis is taken into account for all purchases in order to reduce waste and bring down costs. All new equipment purchases including copiers, vacuums, washers, electronics, and faucets are Energy Star. We also now purchase eco-friendly cleaning products and EPEAT rated computers.


A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

Central Stores maintains a Surplus Program that collects and stores furniture and equipment. Facilities Management also maintains surplus for building materials and fixtures. Residence Life maintains a Surplus Program for furniture, equipment and computers that has an annual public sale.


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):
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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):

Printing throughout all of campus computer labs and in the Polk Library are programmed to automatically print double sided. All of the paper in student labs are 30% recycled and 100% in all other printers. All printers on campus are hooked up to student accounts to track and limit paper usage. Students are allowed 1,000 pages each semester.


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:

Course Schedules are maintained online by the Registar's Office using the TitanWeb system. Official Catalogs are maintained online by UW System Administration. Telephone/email directories are available online through the uwosh.edu website, and were last printed in 2010. Many faculty members are now encouraging students to turn homework in online instead of turning in hard copies.


A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:

Move-Out waste reduction includes re-use and recycling in our yearly move-out programmed call Refill Not Landfill. Re-use is enabled by providing outdoor containers (PODS) near dumpsters, and staffing the PODS to encourage students to donate rather than toss. The volunteers also make a determination of whether an item is in good condition for donation. At the end of the collection period, items are donated and delivered to a local charity. Recycling is heavily encouraged during Move-out, with reminders to students and extra containers.


A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:

Offices no longer have waste baskets which has resulted in serious reductions of paper usage (which is also recycled when not being filed) as well as personally generated waste. This saves on trash can liners and time needed to collect and process the waste products.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.