Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 70.27
Liaison Juanita Van Norman
Submission Date Aug. 16, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Manitoba
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.91 / 8.00 Christie Nairn
Director
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Parts 1 and 2: Waste Minimization 

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 439.62 Tons 304.13 Tons
Materials composted 12.06 Tons 15.70 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 16.50 Tons 44.83 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 866.61 Tons 1,460.25 Tons
Total waste generated 1,334.79 Tons 1,824.91 Tons

If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
Cascade Recovery+'s business is to divert recyclable materials from landfill. A material recovery plan is customized for each institutional customer in order to better divert their waste from landfill and find beneficial uses for their discarded materials while ensuring business efficiencies.

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year April 1, 2016 March 31, 2017
Baseline Year April 1, 2014 March 31, 2015

If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:

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 baseline was chosen because it was the first year data was available for campuses beyond the main Fort Garry campus.

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 1,350 1,350
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 29,663 29,254
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 4,810.20 4,896.60
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 1,485.50 1,459.60
Weighted campus users 25,078.27 24,855.75

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.05 Tons 0.07 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
27.51

Part 3: Waste Diversion

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
35.08

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
35.08

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:
Vehicle Oil and Filters are recycled as per the regulations of the Manitoba Used Oil and Antifreeze Program requirements by the Manitoba Association for Resource Recovery Corporation (MARRC).

Optional Fields 

Active Recovery and Reuse

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) :
---

Recycling Management 

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

Contamination and Discard Rates 

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
29.96

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:
Recycling bins around campus have consistent stickers indicating items that can be recycled. The Office of Sustainability also runs a Waste Sorting Game at outreach events to increase education on recyclable and non-recyclable everyday items.

Programs and Initiatives 

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:
The Lug-a-Mug campaign is intended to reduce the number of coffee cups purchased on campus that are often wrongly placed in recycling bins and destined for landfill. If you bring a reusable mug to any coffee or tea vendor on campus you receive an automatic discount.

A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
The On-Site Solid ‘Non-Hazardous’ Waste and Recycling Audit for the University of Manitoba was conducted between January 27 and February 10, 2017. The audit included a fine sort of the waste sample into 32 categories in order to identify contamination levels in the general waste and recycling streams. Following the on-site waste and recycling material sort, the team performed a composition analysis of the samples to obtain data and provide detailed observations and recommendations for the Waste Audit Report and the Organics Feasibility Study Report.

A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
---

A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
The Waste Prevention Re-Shop is open all year long on campus! The Re-Shop is open for students, staff and faculty from both Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses to browse through the inventory and take away what you can use. A variety of file cabinets, desks and tables are always in stock at the Re-shop. Drop by and see what might be suitable for your office or living space or your Charity's needs. On occasion we also stock bookcases, magazine racks, room dividers and an assortment of other office furnishings. At the Re-shop, the re-use possibilities are endless! In the 2016/2017 fiscal year, 16.5 metric tonnes of office supplies and furniture was redistributed.

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):
Libraries and computer labs have a fee for printing. Most printing labs are approximately $0.15 per black and white page and $1 per coloured page. In Offices, paper and ink must be accounted for in annual budgets.

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 of Manitoba course catalogue is available online in a program called Navigator Suite. Scheduling and registration can all be done through the online system called Aurora and University administration can run the back end of Aurora through a program called Banner. Desire2Learn is the University's learning management system, allowing online posting of course materials. Such technology supports the University community as it creates, preserves and communicates knowledge that contributes to the cultural, social and economic well-being of the people of Manitoba, Canada and the world. The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning, The Division of Extended Education, Information Services & Technology, and Desire2Learn, Inc. have committed to continuing their strong partnership to advance the University of Manitoba’s mission and to support your efforts to enhance teaching and learning. For example, the recent integrations of ePortfolios and Insights in the learning management platform will further position the University of Manitoba as a leader in higher education. "On Manitoba" alumni magazine is available in digital format (and by digital subscription).

A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
The Office of Sustainability and Physical Plant coordinate residence move out donation campaigns where they provide blue bags to each student to collect their waste that could be reused/recycled. Residence students are also offered the service to remove unwanted or broken refrigerators for recycling. Diabetes donations bines are also available all year for students to donate their reusable clothing.

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

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.