A LEED certification is a major win for campuses looking to reduce their environmental footprint and boost their green credentials. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognized certification system developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) that promotes sustainable building practices. The LEED certification acknowledges buildings and campuses that meet the standards for sustainability based on categories like energy use, water efficiency, indoor environment quality, and waste management.

This certification is awarded to campuses that reduce waste and improve environmental practices. Managing waste on a busy college campus can be daunting due to the large and diverse operations. However, doing so is an essential part of meeting these sustainability goals.

This article will explore the effective strategies for waste reduction on college campuses and highlight the role of technology in improving these efforts.

Importance of Waste Reduction in Achieving LEED Certification

LEED certification proves that a building or campus meets high environmental performance standards. The certification evaluates various aspects of sustainability, including energy consumption, water conservation, and, most importantly, waste management. Waste reduction is significant because it directly affects a campus' overall environmental impression.

Encompass Onsite reports that having high scores in the "Material and Resources" category can contribute to a campus' LEED certification status. This category assesses ongoing purchase practices, waste policies, and solid waste management.

Key Areas for Waste Reduction

1. Sustainable Procurement and Material Selection

One of the first steps in reducing campus waste is choosing eco-friendly materials. This means buying products made from recycled or biodegradable materials, avoiding single-use plastics, and looking for or using materials that slightly impact the environment. Also, when renovating or building new spaces, it is best to use materials that have a high chance of being recycled or sustainably sourced materials. These changes can make a big difference.

These same principles can also be applied to everyday purchases like foodstuffs and groceries, office supplies, and more.

2. Recycling Programs and Waste Diversion Strategies

Recycling programs that work are essential. These programs and strategies use clear signage and well-placed bins to encourage proper waste sorting. In addition to recycling, composting organic waste like food scraps can help to cut back on landfills. Regular waste audits can also be carried out to help spot areas for improvement and ensure that recycling and composting programs are working as intended.

These waste management strategies will assist campuses to actively manage their waste and move closer to LEED certification goals.

3. Composting and Food Waste Reduction Initiatives

Food waste is a significant problem on most campuses because of the large quantities of meals produced daily. Composting food scraps, leftovers, and organic waste can turn this problem into an opportunity for campus landscaping and gardening. Colleges can also reduce food waste by promoting portion control, using leftovers creatively, and educating staff and students on the importance of not wasting food.

Campuses can also introduce programs like zero-waste dining halls and food recovery initiatives to help manage food wastage.

4. Introducing Digital and Paperless Strategies

Going paperless on campus will drastically reduce waste, as the majority of the waste on campus is paper. The Assistant Director of Students' Success at Michigan Technology University, Dawn Corwin, stated that the schedule books given to students during Orientation are usually discarded all around campus as waste. Because of this, they plan to go fully digital by 2025. Instead of printing thousands of schedule books, students will use a digital platform to access all necessary information. This move will help with LEED certification and align perfectly with the university's green initiative. This move will be orchestrated with the help of Guidebook.

Digital tools can replace printed materials for many campus activities. Event apps and online platforms can manage schedules, invitations, and communication, reducing paper waste.

Engaging the Campus Community

Education and Campaign Awareness

Assigning a dedicated team to manage and reduce waste will advance the cause. However, the impact will be significantly greater if those generating the waste know the environmental harm they are causing. It is essential to engage both students and staff in event sustainability efforts. Involving everyone in waste reduction will include raising awareness and explaining why it's imperative. This can be achieved through educational campaigns that include workshops, posters, and social media updates.

Additionally, events like sustainability fairs can be held. Here, successful green events can be shared to inspire others to join the movement and adopt similar practices.

Incentives

Incentives can play a considerable role in the participation of students and staff in waste reduction programs. The idea that money or some equivalent is attached will make more people interested in being involved. There could be rewards for people who recycle the most, use digital tools instead of paper, and participate actively in composting. The rewards could be money, recognition, or a shout-out in the campus publication. This strategy will contribute substantially to building a community committed to environmental sustainability.

The Role of Mobile Apps in Waste Reduction

Waste Tracking and Reporting

Mobile apps offer a range of tools for tracking and managing waste. These apps can record data on the types and quantities of waste collected across campus, providing valuable insights for waste management. This information can enhance recycling programs and identify opportunities for improvement and upgrades.

Digital Tools for Organizing Events

It is easier to plan zero-waste activities with the help of mobile applications. Create an event app to manage specific parts of event planning, such as creating virtual schedules and digital tickets. This will also decrease the use of paper. The event app can also facilitate coordination with the event vendors and attendees to ensure all materials are eco-friendly.

Increase in Student Engagement

Mobile apps can be used to increase students' engagement in environmental sustainability. Campuses can recruit someone to build an app specifically for the school to help with waste reduction. These apps will help to increase students' engagement through the use of interactive challenges. For instance, the app can create sustainability challenges where students can earn rewards for reducing light and energy consumption, using recyclable products, active composting, and participating in recycling products. These can turn the heat up, making sustainability a more engaging and exciting experience while motivating more people to participate.

Real Campuses Making Changes

Some campuses have been actively involved in the activities and programs mentioned above to protect the environment. Some of these campuses have success stories of campus waste reduction. Many colleges have successfully implemented waste reduction strategies as part of their efforts to secure the LEED certification.

One instance is the University of California, Irvine (UCI). This school has achieved notable success with its zero-waste program, which includes comprehensive recycling, reusing, and composting strategies. This approach has not only helped them significantly reduce waste but has also contributed to their LEED certification.

Impact of Technology on Waste Management Efforts

Mobile technology has a transformational effect on campus waste management. Universities that have implemented technology like digital tools in sustainability have seen a remarkable improvement in their waste reduction efforts. This is because these technologies have made it much easier to monitor waste, coordinate sustainability programs, and achieve green goals more effectively.

Reduce Waste to Support Lead Certification

Reducing waste is essential for a campus that wants to earn LEED certification and practice environmental sustainability. By focusing on strategies like effective recycling processes, composting, and digital tools, campuses can track waste production and effectively manage the waste. Engaging the campus community through education, incentives, and mobile app interaction will simplify this task.

Colleges can achieve their environmental goals and contribute to a greener future if they embrace technology to track waste, organize zero-waste events, and motivate students. If you want to be a part of saving the environment and integrating healthy green practices, visit Guidebook.

"In the past, Orientation has printed over 2000 schedule books (they are on glossy paper, look like a magazine, about 20-25 pages each). Once orientation was over, most of the time, the students would just toss them or maybe recycle them, leading to a lot of waste.

Our university has a mission to be more green by 2030 which in turn leads to the LEED certification. Our goal for Orientation is to be all digital 2025, Guidebook is providing us that platform to do that. It will also give our incoming students the ability to create their schedules.

All of the student affairs departments have been tasked with 'how can we move towards programming that is green' so we are looking at the items we give out for orientation and how to communicate with our incoming students. Hopefully Guidebook will start to be used in other areas of student affairs once we roll it out moving forward."

- Dawn Corwin | Assistant Director of Student Success | Michigan Technology University