Waste - Sustainability Data Hub

Stanford has a goal to reach zero waste – defined as diverting 90% or more of waste from landfill 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 hit its highest waste diversion in 2023 at 69% by reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting. Explore Stanford’s historic diversion rates, waste trends over time, and the amount and types of materials generated on campus.

Student throwing away apple in compost bin

Waste

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

Tons of waste by type for 2023

Tons of waste by year, filtered by type

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

1. In 2020, campus population declined due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Construction and Demolition – Includes concrete, dirt, and other construction materials
Diversion rate – The percent 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
Traditional Recyclables – Includes plastic, metal, glass, paper, and cardboard

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For more details about Stanford’s waste system and innovations, visit Stanford Zero Waste.

Stanford Zero Waste