Waste
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Definition:
Scope 3 emissions from waste include emissions from the disposal and treatment of all streams of waste generated due to the university’s operations, including treatment of both solid waste and wastewater. At Stanford, emissions from trucking and shipping of solid waste are also included, which is listed as optional in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
View the full Waste White Paper
Methodology:
- Solid Waste: Emissions factors from the EPA Waste Reduction Model (WARM) are used to calculate Stanford’s emissions from solid waste. We have elected to incorporate carbon sinks for any reused, composted or recycled goods. Stanford sends its landfilled waste to a landfill that employs methane capture technology. The carbon sinks associated with this technology are also incorporated in the university’s waste footprint.
- Transportation: Custom transportation calculations that include precise truck and shipping routes were developed at Stanford, rather than using the averages that are built into WARM.
- Wastewater: Emissions from processing Stanford’s wastewater were calculated in the Sustainability Indicator Management & Analysis Platform (SIMAP).
Stanford’s waste emissions will become even more negative in conjunction with the university’s efforts to achieve our goal of Zero Waste by 2030. Read more information on the university’s pathway to zero waste.