| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Principle 6 | Waste Reduction and Recycling – Promote strategies to encourage waste reduction and re-use and acknowledges the importance of preventative measures. |
| Goal 6.1 | Employ strategies around preventative measures in waste diversion to promote source reduction, re-use and recycling of used materials. |
| Metric | Annually report on materials recycled, reused, composted, and disposed |
Define the goal issue and provide background info to understand the goal in lay terms.
This STARS reporting standards recognizes institutions that are diverting materials from landfills and incinerators and conserving resources by recycling and composting. Further, the University must be focused on minimizing the production of waste. While the benefits of recycling and composting cannot be overstated, the importance of preventative measures to avoid the waste should be a primary focus. Decreasing the total amount of materials that are used and discarded offers significant environmental benefits.
Why is this goal important to highlight?
The reduction of waste disposed and enhanced recycling efforts can dramatically impact the carbon footprint of the University. These efforts are highly visible and require some educational context. In order to be successful, people must adjust their habits to help produce the desired results.
Where does the University/campuses currently stand in meeting this goal?
Each campus has been consistently involved in notable recycling and waste reduction efforts helping to involve students, faculty, and staff while educating the entire campus community about the benefits to recycling and reducing waste. The campuses track their progress and achievements in this area in their own ways.
Are there other groups/departments who will be critical in meeting this goal?
The University will need to be actively engaging students, faculty, staff, administrators, and the general public in this goal. Additionally, the University should evaluate if there are current vendors or other parties that could assist with programs or other infrastructure to assist in accomplishing this goal.
What has been done in the past to advance towards this goal?
The campuses can point to marked progress in this area through the substantial programing taking place around this issue. The University’s annual Sustainability Report highlights many of the initiatives underway across UMass.
What does the University/campus need to do in order to reach this goal?
UMass must sustain the progress achieved by the campuses and capitalize on the enthusiasm for this issue, thereby generating more programs and strategies such as: the University’s total annual waste generation (materials diverted and disposed).