Zero Waste
Zero Waste
Harvard is committed to a zero waste future where we sustainably manage every material stream, from plastics and electronics to organics and construction materials, while prioritizing waste prevention, resource efficiency, and smart use of our shared finances and assets. Guided by our Waste Stewardship framework and powered by strong partnerships across Schools and units, we are rethinking how we purchase, use, and reuse materials so that every member of our community can play a meaningful role in reducing waste.
Accelerating a Zero Waste Future: A Framework for Waste Stewardship was developed by a university-wide working group in 2024 to transition the university to a zero waste campus. The framework is grounded in the Zero Waste Hierarchy, which prioritizes:
- Waste prevention
- Reduction
- Reuse & repair
- Responsible material recovery
Guiding Objectives
Developed by the Waste Stewardship Working Group, these are the overarching goals we are working to achieve through our waste stewardship work:
Advance Sustainable Purchasing & Procurement
through the strategic procurement of goods and services aimed at reducing waste and negative impacts throughout their lifecycle. Prioritize durable products made from renewable or recycled materials, support fair labor practices, and integrate sustainable end-of-life practices.
Build and Develop Reuse Systems
through a university strategy that ensures consistent, equitable, and functional systems for reusing, sharing, and allocating physical resources.
Ensure Standard Recovery Infrastructure
by establishing and maintaining a standardized program and ecosystem across the university that supports waste reduction and maximizes diversion potential.
Educate and Engage Campus Community
by enacting structures and strategies to establish a baseline of accepted behaviors and knowledge regarding waste stewardship on campuses for all Harvard community members.
Build the Foundation
by providing fundamental support for waste stewardship through the collection and analysis of data related to waste generation and reduction, as well as creating a shared culture and values to guide the University's approach to zero waste.
Waste Stewardship Essentials
These are the framework's actionable strategies. Each category is organized into foundational strategies (Baseline & Compliance), then Progressing, and Excelling.
Baseline & Compliance
- Maintain separate, monitored, and clearly labeled collection areas for all MA waste ban items and regulated items
- Co-locate trash/recycling/compost bins
- Verify that all bins have approved signage
- Follow waste bins color standard of black/gray for trash, blue for recycling, green for compost
- Perform periodic audit/evaluation of collection bins (location, usage, labels, etc.)
Progressing
- Prioritize reuse/recycling during clean-outs, renovations or move outs
- Provide liquid collection adjacent to recycling bins (to empty beverage containers)
- Limit or control access to loading docks/waste collection areas
Excelling
- Centralize waste collection for offices, classrooms, etc. (e.g. elimination of deskside bins)
- Establish special collection programs: lab plastics, plastic film, PPE, etc.
Baseline & Compliance
- Establish an informal environmentally preferrable purchasing (EPP) policy (reference OFS Sustainable Purchasing Guide)
- Periodic audit of purchasing practices
- Regular mechanism for updating and training staff on purchasing guidelines
- Enforcement of policies (e.g. include in purchaser training)
- Develop process to check reuse options first before purchasing
- Formalize an EPP policy: purchasing recycled content
Progressing
- Work with vendors that have existing takeback programs
- Formalize an EPP policy: purchasing compostable or recyclable (aluminum or paper)
- Formalize an EPP policy: purchasing durable goods
- Create purchasing program evaluation
- Formalize an EPP policy: purchasing in bulk
Excelling
- Bans (e.g. single use items)
- Support or help implement new vendor takeback programs
Baseline & Compliance
- Establish a local reuse option (i.e., dorm swap shelf; Listserv)
- Create communal, shared resources (e.g., shareable office mugs, “Library of Things”)
Progressing
- Replace single-use items with bulk/reusable options when available
- Establish a system for office supplies reuse
- Promote and support reuse/repair events (i.e. Freecycle)
Excelling
- Provide reusable takeout containers
- Replace all Single-use items; redesign systems as necessary
- Develop a packaging reduction strategy (e.g. consolidating shipments; related to Sustainable Procurement Practices & Policies)
Baseline & Compliance
- Share information with your local community on waste resources and practices
- Include waste resources/info in orientation (staff/faculty and students)
- Include updates/resources in communications to your local community
Progressing
- Publicly communicate progress towards goals
- Perform awareness surveys
- Have an occasional waste stewardship section (brief updates, resources) in large department/unit meetings
Excelling
- Use audit findings to inform education campaigns (see “Tracking Waste Generation and Reduction”)
- Foster and utilize engagement teams
Baseline and Compliance
- Promote hierarchy of food service-ware: reusables if possible; then compostables or recyclables (inc. utensils)
- Use OFS Sustainable Events Guide
- Reduce/eliminate waste in event decorations and favors
- Co-locate Trash/recycling/compost bins with proper labels
Progressing
- Provide liquid collection (to empty beverage containers)
- Use bulk condiments instead of single serve
Excelling
- Limit event swag, programs, etc.
- Monitor and/or sort waste stations
Baseline & Compliance
- Monitor waste generation
- Assess/analyze any new waste reduction program
- Provide the correct size and number of exterior collection containers (dumpsters and totes) based on usage
Progressing
- Track specific specialty recycling streams (i.e. count/type of surplus items, e-waste, etc.)
- Set unit/school-level targets for waste reduction
- Perform regular waste audits to measure contamination
Excelling
- Analyze and evaluate data from purchasing, awareness, waste, and infrastructure audits
- Perform waste characterization assessments (determines material composition of waste stream)
Baseline & Compliance
- Set clear responsibilities for any Zero Waste process/program
- Assign any Zero Waste program to a leader/point of contact
Progressing
- Establish Leadership buy-in and active support
- Share publicly the commitment to waste stewardship and connect to mission statement
Excelling
- Support community outreach and lead by example (e.g. collection drives)
- Establish commitment to Waste stewardship as part of employee’s performance review
Resources
Top Tips
The most impactful actions you can take to reduce waste on campus.
Harvard Recycling Newsletter
Solid Waste Bans in MA
OFS: Zero Waste
Waste Sorting & Recycling
Sustainable Labs Guide
Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines
Sustainable Meeting and Event Guide
Recycling & Surplus Center
Waste Signage
Donations and Specialty Recycling
Looking to donate or recycle something, but aren't sure how to?
