Stanford has a goal to achieve zero waste through waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting. Both culture and systems change will be necessary to achieve this goal and to create a wasteless campus community. The university has consistently achieved a 60% diversion rate from landfill and continues to reduce waste despite population growth. Stanford continues to monitor diversion rates, waste trends over time, and the amount and types of materials generated on campus.

Tons of waste by year, with reference line of diversion rate by year

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Tons of waste by type for 2024

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Tons of waste by year, filtered by type

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Tons of landfilled waste per person by year, with reference line of total population by year

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1. In 2020, the campus population declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a significant increase in the tons of landfilled waste per person.

Construction and Demolition – Includes concrete, dirt, and other construction materials

Recyclables – Includes plastic, metal, glass, paper, and cardboard

Diversion Rate – The percentage of material diverted away from landfill through reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting

Diverted – The amount of material diverted from landfill through reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting

Electronics – Includes computers, monitors, printers, copiers, phones, and lab equipment

Landfilled – The amount of material sent to landfill

Organics – Includes food scraps, food-soiled paper, compostable serviceware, landscape/plant debris, yard trimmings, wood, and stable waste

Other Recovered Material – Includes mattresses, textiles, furniture, books, food donations, lab gloves, and other bulky items

Explore Stanford’s progress towards zero waste.