University at Buffalo (UB)
Zero Waste & Circularity
Rethinking the materials we purchase, use and dispose of is a key component of our journey to achieve climate neutrality, protect our environment and reduce inefficiencies here at UB. Through our circularity and zero waste efforts we are working to minimize the amount of waste and pollution generated and consumed on campus in an effort to achieve 90% diversion by 2030.
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Strategy
Zero Waste: A Climate Action Strategy
Finalized in September of 2024, this report focuses on progressing the university's Climate Action Plan by addressing one of the 10 in 10's key strategies: diverting 90 percent of waste generated as a result of campus operations. The goal of this report is to guide this work and provide a current baseline to measure progress against.
Implementing the strategic priorities outlined in the Zero Waste strategic plan, along with leveraging the achievements of the past decade, will provide UB with a practical approach to reaching a 90 percent diversion rate. UB is committed to rethinking its consumption and disposal of resources by shifting from a linear disposal model to a circular one. This involves reintegrating materials back into the economy through reuse and recycling, a crucial component of this initiative.
The strong support from top leadership presents a unique opportunity to utilize available funding and human resources, allowing for significant improvements to be made swiftly. By engaging campus stakeholders, forming working groups, and embracing these recommended strategies, UB can cultivate the long-term collaboration necessary for effective implementation. This will position the university as a leader in the fight against climate change.
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- Develop Strong Management and Metrics Across All Zero Waste Initiatives. Ensure efficient and effective management, coordination, and governance of all zero waste initiatives across the university enterprise by defining clear roles and responsibilities including leveraging external professional services, while also ensuring strong metrics and measurement for operations, reporting and success.
- Create Standardized and Unified Zero Waste Infrastructure for UB. Ensure collection equipment across campus is easily identifiable and consistent; reduce confusion and barriers to participation; include clear, engaging and informative signage and labeling; is serviceable; and works within the existing built environment.
- Acquire and Deploy New Zero Waste Collection Infrastructure Across Entire University. Overhaul existing front-of-house trash, recycling, and organics infrastructure with new R/O/T (recycling/organics/trash) system across 200 buildings and outdoor space, leveraging the new infrastructure standards.
- Capture and Recycle All Organics. Integrate organics recycling as a new practice within university building zero waste infrastructure (recycling, organics and trash) and divert all yard and grounds organics (leaves, brush, etc.) from landfill.
- Enhance Zero Waste Toolbox. Create a comprehensive toolbox (building from existing web presence) for all things zero waste that empowers the campus community with information, knowledge, and action steps.
- Create and Advance Policy Recommendations to Institutionalize University Zero Waste Practice. Develop policies that will support circularity and zero waste practices across the campus that will be adopted through the UB Policy Process and ultimately incorporated into the UB Policy Library.
- Advance Zero Waste Through Campus Participation. Require campus community to deposit their own trash, recyclables, and organics in centralized infrastructure, thereby creating better awareness by the individual and increased capacity for custodians to focus on critical infrastructure including restrooms and common areas.
- Institutionalize Custodial Zero Waste Practices. Create and implement standard procedures and protocols fro custodial teams to ensure management of resources are aligned with institutional zero waste goals.
- Capture and Reduce All Construction and Operational Landfill Material. Waste created from construction, renovation, and other "back of house" materials must be tracked and reduced, repurposed, or recycled.
- Compostable To-Go Dining. Ensure all single-use dining materials are compostable.
Circularity
In January 2020, UB began the process of identifying high impact areas to guide the University on its journey to zero waste and circularity. Areas of focus include the following:
- Re-think Campus Purchases and Practices: Develop an understanding of the materials required to keep UB operating and identify institutional opportunities which have far reaching impacts.
- Identify and Measure the Scope of our Waste: Define the materials we purchase, and use, and those which are brought from outside the University and disposed of on campus by members of the community.
- Create Campus Standards for Zero Waste: Clear, informative material is imperative to ensuring participation and service goals are met.
- Redistribute Usable Goods On and Off Campus: Ensure all usable property is redistributed for use either on or off campus.
- Improve Zero Waste Education: Clear and consistent communication regarding expectations is critical.
- Divert All Organics from Waste: Organic materials are a critical resource to maintain within a circular system.
- Eliminate Prepared Foods Waste: Edible food will be provided to those in our community experiencing hunger (and if not fit for consumption than to animals).
- Eliminate Single Use Plastic Use: Identifying compostable and durable alternatives is not only possible and consistent with our zero waste goals but is also occurring at most peer institutions.
- Finance: Develop a business and funding plan for the initiatives.
Updates
Fall 2025
- Organics collection program launched in all on-campus apartments ensuring student residents have the ability to divert organics in their kitchens.
- The Student Sustainability Impact Team (SSIT) begins offering organics collection to departments. This serivce provides employees the ability to divert organics from the solid waste stream in kitchenettes. SSIT service the collection bucket weekly.
- Working group established to assess and plan for installation of standard Recycling/Organics/Trash (R/O/T) collection equipment for all interior areas of campus. Equipment will be installed in phases and begin Summer 2026. This equipment will ensure all areas of campus provide the ability to recycle and divert organics from solid waste.
- UB issues RFP for a comprehensive Resource Management contract. This contract will be a first of its kind within the SUNY system and will assist UB in reaching our Zero Waste goals.
- UB's Professional Staff Senate's Sustainable Living Committee holds 16th annual Electronics Recycling Event for the campus community and initiates collection of used sporting goods to support local non-profit, Leveling the Playing Field.
Fall 2024- Spring 2025
- Finalized UB's institutional Zero Waste Strategic Plan
- Organics collection pilot program is implemented at select buildings within South Lake apartment complexes.
Fall 2023- Spring 2024
- Institutionalized collection of food scraps to ensure capture continues when Food Recovery Network student chapter may not be active i.e. summer, winter and spring breaks.
- Conducted campus-wide waste audit to determine compostion of UB's waste. Shared process, findings and lessons-learned with NYS DEC and across state agencies to guide compliance with Executive Order.
- Conducted campus-wide site assessement to identify potential improvements related to internal waste collection equipment, with goal of ensuring access, improving education and expanding opportunties to engage in zero waste behaviors.
- Shared food rescue planning and procedures with campus colleagues to assist with compliance of NYS Food Recycling and Donation Law.
Fall 2022- Spring 2023
- Hired resource managment consultant to draft a strategy to achieve zero waste on campus.
- Food Recovery Network student chapter and Campus Dining and Shops, continued to collect food from C3, Starbucks and added Governor’s Dining Hall to their list of recovery sites.
- Post-consumer compost collection launced in One World Café.
- PSS Sustainability Committee and Sustainability hosted public collection events for individuals to properly dispose of paint, electronics and clothing.
- HIRED professional clothing boutique partnered with local banks and businesses to collect professional clothing items that students can obtain for free by appointment.
- UBReUSE also conducted its 6th move out collection and sale, diverting potential waste from landfills.
- University worked with the Center of EcoTechnology to divert food to community partners and expand community impact.
- The Student Sustainability Impact Team (SSIT) begins offering Green Event Kits to help campus departments avoid plastic and paper disposables at events. The kits include reusable plates, bowls, cutlery, and cold cups.
Fall 2020- Spring 2021
- Removed and recycled over 12 and ½ tons of electronics from South Campus buildings to ensure space is efficiently utilized.
- Developing revised contracts for university recycling service and sustainable flooring options.
- Participated in educational campaign promoting Campus Race to Zero Waste in April to engage UB community in zero waste activities on campus and at home.
- Created a model for a professional clothing distribution center on campus to support students. HIRED will collect professional clothing and accessories from the greater UB community. The items will be available to students at no charge, ensuring they are ready for their interview, job fair or internship. HIRED will also be a safe place for LGBTQ students to obtain professional clothing.
Committee
- Captain: Carmen Gonzalez, Assistant Vice President, Purchasing and Contract Services.
- John Atkinson, Associate Professor, Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering.
- Nicole Dell, Assistant Dining Director, Campus Dining and Shops.
- Elizabeth Hladczuk, Assistant Director for Events & Reservations, Student Unions.
- Erin Moscati, Zero Waste Manager, UB Sustainability.
- Michael Walker, Custodial Supervisor, Campus Operations.
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