Waste Reduction
New Goals in Development
With the existing waste reduction goal sunsetting in 2025, the Office of Campus Sustainability has been leading a workstream to review and recommend expanded waste reduction goals.
Get Involved!
- Stop by the Town Hall
- Thursday, November 14 from 4-6:30 pm
- Vandenberg Room in the Michigan League
- Host a listening session! Invite us to table in your space or speak to your group about U-M’s future waste reduction efforts and gather your ideas and feedback. Email [email protected] to schedule.
- Other ideas? Submit comments to [email protected] with the subject line “Future Waste Goals Feedback”
Proposed Waste Reduction Goals
The proposed targets below expand upon U-M’s current waste reduction goal, which is sunsetting in 2025. These targets will more accurately reflect our waste reduction strategy, which supports a circular economy in conjunction with zero waste efforts, while considering the embodied equity, environmental justice, and carbon neutrality impacts of materials management. These targets were informed by a campus waste audit and a workstream composed of U-M stakeholders.
- Achieve 50% diversion rate by 2030 and a continued 2% increase every year after.
- Additional indicator metrics:
- Single-Stream Recycling capture rate (↑)
- Compost capture rate (↑)
- Construction and Demolition Rates (↑)
- Reduction of Total Waste (↓).
- Additional indicator metrics:
- Waste per person (↓)
- Waste per square meter (↓)
- Regulated waste (↓)
- Move-out waste per resident (↓)
- Improvement of SCIP (Sustainability Cultural Indicators Project) waste indicators (↑)
- Establish a reuse goal by 2030
The proposed goals above apply to the Ann Arbor campus. Flint and Dearborn still need access to the detailed waste data necessary to establish goals. Efforts are underway to enhance data collection.
Workstream Process
The Office of Campus Sustainability convened a waste workstream of campus stakeholders. The workstream reviewed current waste data, researched peer institutions and best practices, and held a workshop to identify and prioritize potential new targets, metrics, and implementation strategies.
Workstream Partners
- Facilities & Operations – AEC
- Athletics
- Facilities & Operations – Custodial Services
- EHS
- LSA Facilities
- Medical School Facilities
- Michigan Medicine
- Procurement Services
- Property Disposition
- Student Life and Michigan Dining
- Student Representatives
- Facilities & Operations – Waste Management Services
Supporting Efforts
Take Action
2025 Goal Background
The 2025 waste reduction goal for the Ann Arbor campus, established in 2011, is to reduce waste sent to landfills by 40% by 2025. Here’s some historical information about this goal.
