Oregon State University has been recognized as a top performer in the 2022 Sustainable Campus Index, ranking 9th in the area of Waste. A publication from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the Sustainable Campus Index recognizes top-performing sustainable colleges and universities overall and in 17 impact areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS).
OSU achieved top performer status by earning a high score in the Waste subcategory in STARS. Specifically, OSU has demonstrated excellence in waste reduction, waste diversion, and hazardous waste management. Some of the institution’s waste-related initiatives include Waste Watchers (a waste reduction-oriented volunteer club), Repair Fairs, Grads Give Back, community Master Recycler classes, and the OSUsed store. In 2020-21, OSU saw a 56.48 percent reduction in total waste generated per campus user compared to the 2005-06 baseline. The university also saw 33.56 percent of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating, or re-selling.
OSU’s STARS reports are publicly available here.
“Congratulations to Oregon State University for their incredible sustainability accomplishments,” said AASHE’s Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “Upon reading the innovative and high-impact initiatives within this report, I’m encouraged that the global sustainability transformation that we desperately need is, in fact, happening.”
About STARS: The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS was developed by AASHE with broad participation from the higher education community. The credits included in STARS span the breadth of higher education sustainability and are organized into four categories: Academics, Engagement, Operations, and Planning & Administration. All reports are publicly accessible on the STARS website. For more information, visit stars.aashe.org.
About AASHE: AASHE empowers higher education administrators, faculty, staff, and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. AASHE enables members to translate information into action by offering essential resources and professional development to a diverse, engaged community of sustainability leaders. We work with and for higher education to ensure that our world’s future leaders are motivated and equipped to solve sustainability challenges.
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