Develop & Enact a (Towards) Zero Waste Action Plan

This initiative proposes establishing a dedicated Zero Waste Manager position within University Facility Services to develop a comprehensive (Towards) Zero Waste Action Plan for the University of Arizona. This centralized role focused on sustainable waste management does not currently exist and would improve collaboration across campus units, including the Office of Sustainability, to enhance waste diversion efforts and reduce overall campus waste tonnage. Building on past research, the university aims to formalize a (Towards) Zero Waste Action Plan with specific goals and engagement strategies to achieve a 75% waste diversion rate by 2040 and reduce solid waste tonnage by 50% per campus user. Actionable items include:

• Hire a dedicated Zero Waste Manager within University Facility Services to oversee and coordinate zero waste initiatives and efforts.
• Establish a Zero Waste Advisory Committee comprising stakeholders from across campus to facilitate the development and socialization of the (Towards) Zero Waste Action Plan.
• Conduct a thorough review of past waste data and implement standardized waste auditing practices to effectively monitor progress and inform future waste reduction strategies.
• Contract a third-party consulting agency to consolidate and analyze campus-wide waste management data, providing expert guidance throughout the planning and implementation phases of the (Towards) Zero Waste Action Plan.
• Integrate all waste-related initiatives from the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan into the (Towards) Zero Waste Action Plan to align efforts and prioritize sustainability goals across the university.