Materials
GOAL: Net zero waste. Increase diversion rate to 90%.
Goal update
Baseline: 25%
CY 2025: 22%
Goal: 90%
In the last 12 months, the med center has diverted 2.5 million pounds of waste from the landfill, equivalent to the weight of approximately 205 ambulances.
The med center is a complex organization that produces many waste streams including certain products required for patient care. These constraints make the 90 percent diversion rate an especially ambitious goal for the med center. Below are several ongoing and new initiatives working to meet this goal.
Recent Efforts
Construction and demolition recycling.
Since 2021, the med center has recycled more than 95 million pounds of construction and demolition material.
Writing instrument recycling.
Over 30,000 pens, markers, and highlighters (totaling over 500 pounds) have been collected and mailed to TerraCycle for recycling to date.
Zero-waste event.
In 2024, the med center hosted its annual #WeAreUNMC BBQ, an ongoing zero-waste event. This event aims to engage the med center community together around sustainability in a fun, engaging way.
Results from the event are below:
- Compost = 98.8 lbs
- Mixed Plastics and Metals Recycling = 31.6 lbs
- Cardboard Recycling = 31.6 lbs
- Orange Bag = 7.6 lbs
- Landfill = 15.8 lbs
- Diversion Rate = 91%
Single-use battery recycling.
Single-use battery recycling began in 2013. Since then, 71,051 pounds of batteries have been recycled. Currently, the med center recycles nearly 10,000 pounds a year.
Think Before You Print Campaign.
In October 2019, the LiveGreen Ambassadors (LGA) conducted the “Think Before You Print” campaign to reduce unnecessary printing at the med center. Complimentary to the campaign, IT has implemented SecurePrint, and the data show it’s working! FromSeptember 2024 to September 2025 SecurePrint saved approximately 375,000 pags from being printed. That’s equal to 3,196 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (kgCO2e) saved.
*Hover over the pie graph for more information. Wedges in the pie graph may not necessarily equal current diversion rate due to rounding.
Upcoming Projects
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) recycling
In March 2026, the med center launched an Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) recycling initiative at targeted, high-impact locations across campus to help reduce landfill waste and advance our net-zero waste goals. Commonly known as Styrofoam, EPS is a durable petroleum-based foam that can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, yet it is also 100% recyclable and can be fully reprocessed into new products—helping conserve resources and support a more circular economy. Over 400 pounds of EPS have been collected and recycled so far.
Orange Bag Recycling
The med center is piloting an Orange Bag recycling initiative through the Green Labs program and other select campus locations to capture hard-to-recycle plastic film materials that would otherwise be sent to the landfill. The program is designed to collect items such as sterile wrap and other clean plastic films, helping divert valuable materials from the waste stream, support circular recycling markets, and advance the campus net-zero waste goals.