Operations

UWRF completes an annual Greenhouse Gas Inventory of all scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

• UWRF has made efforts and is committed to reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the university.
• UWRF uses less thermal and electric energy than it did 15 years ago even though 500,000 square feet has since been added to campus.

• Jessie H. Ames Suites is rated LEED-NC v2009 Gold Certification.
• UWRF has reduced its total building energy consumption per unit of floor area from baseline data collected in 2005 by 23.64%.
• Jessie H. Ames Suites has solar panels which are used to heat the hot water for the building. The Regional Development Institute utilizes solar panels for hot water as well as some electrical needs for the building.
• 63.28% of products purchased by the custodial staff at UWRF are third party verified and meet recognized sustainability standards.

• At least 14 specific areas on campus utilize energy savings through LED lighting.
• UWRF has purchased 2,616 MMBtu of third-party certified renewable energy.
• Jessie H. Ames Suites has solar panels which are used to heat the hot water for the building.
• The Regional Development Institute utilizes solar panels for hot water as well as some electrical needs for the building. See how much energy these solar panels are producing!

Dining Services at UWRF made a huge transition when it moved out of Hagestad Student Center and Rodli Commons to the new University Center (UC) in 2007. Both previous facilities and the equipment were extremely inefficient. In addition, spreading dining operations between two separate facilities created layers of duplication and inefficiencies in equipment, labor and overall operations. Now, there is a very efficient single production kitchen in the UC for all dining locations on campus and a high percentage of the dining production equipment is much more efficient than that previously used.

UWRF has been raising beef cattle and offering meat products for sale for years. Dairy science students also have a hand in producing cheeses and ice cream for sale at the Falcon Food Store.

UWRF is committed to being a socially, economically and environmentally responsible college. Our fair-trade campaign aims to make fair choices when buying food and clothing for students, faculty, staff and visitors. The food we purchase also has an impact on the environment. Becoming certified helps us assist our role as the buyer.

• Fair Trade prioritizes our people and our planet
• By Being a Fair Trade Designated Campus, UWRF builds on its sustainability commitment by purchasing products that are environmentally, socially and economically responsible
• UWRF prioritizes our purchasing by taking action for our planet and our people
• Along with purchasing Fair Trade Certified products, UWRF has a responsibility in educating the public about these products and their impact

Energy and Water Savings:

• Trayless system for 20-40% savings in energy, water, labor and waste.
• Water reuse system saves hundreds of gallons of water daily.
• Annual replacement of ineffective gaskets on all coolers, freezers and cooking equipment.
• Concerted effort to shut down underutilized equipment whenever possible, such as during breaks and summer.
• Replace outdated equipment with Energy Star® and other more efficient products.
• Determine the feasibility of installing heat recovery units in the exhaust hoods and installation of more efficient display lighting over foods.
• Night curtains are drawn each evening/weekend to minimize air loss from the reach-in refrigerators.
• In 2015, production schedules were modified to conserve utilities to one-day processing instead of two-day processing 
• Collaborate with Central Heating Plant to reduce energy usage when possible
   

Compostable Cups and Cutlery:

• RFP for a new food service contract required that all disposables be biodegradable and compostable.
• In conjunction with CAFES, establish an on-campus food and disposable container composting facility.
• In 2014, made the change from disposable to reusable lab jackets. 
• In 2012, began using recyclable ice cream tubs
   

Environment-Friendly Cleaning:

• Apex chemicals are used in the warewasher; one of the most environmentally friendly commercial warewashing chemicals available.
• In 2011, began using bio-enzymes to assist in dissolving grease going into the septic system. 
• Inedible product fed to swine at lab farm instead of disposed, when possible.
   

Local Foods / Campus Garden:

• Aggressive efforts on increasing the amount of locally provided product and in enhancing the nutritional content of the product being used.
• Pursuing establishment of an organic vegetable garden on campus (with the produce being utilized by Dining Services) operated and managed by students, with ties to many academic disciplines.

• Rotationally grazed, grass-fed beef at Lab Farm 2.
• Falcon Food Store

• Food Waste Audit Results Spring 2017
• Food Waste Audit Results Spring 2018

• UWRF has reduced its usage of sand/silt in winter months by 50% in the past five years.
• The Campus Mall plan developed in 2013 focused on the use of native plants and grasses to minimize the use of irrigation techniques.

• Facilities Management has supported the purchase of flex fuel vehicles into the UWRF campus fleet along with the development of a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) ordinance. University Production Services, Postal Services, and Police and Parking utilize electric vehicles throughout the year while Grounds and Maintenance rents three e-gators in the summer months.
• 46.40% of UWRF students use a more sustainable method of transportation to and from class such as walking, bicycling, carpooling and/or vanpooling.
• 25.40% of UWRF employees, faculty and staff report using a more sustainable method of transportation such as walking, bicycling, carpooling and/or vanpooling.
• UWRF has many programs and organizations that support sustainable transportation including:
  • Students living on UWRF campus have access to 90 individual bike lockers.
  • UWRF provides students with bicycle parking near all residential and non-residential buildings within 50 feet.
  • UWRF supports multiple community bicycle programs such as the RF Bicycle and Pedestrian plan created in 1995 and the We Bike River Falls campus community collaboration.
  • In 2015, UWRF collaborated with the City of River Falls to establish the Blue Bike Program.
  • In 2013, all bicycle rentals were available for free for students at Kinni Outdoor Adventures.
• An active ‘UWRF Carpooling’ Facebook pages links students in need of a ride together along with a carpooling billboard in the UWRF University Center.

In 2016, 43.9% of materials were diverted from landfills through recycling, composting, donating or reselling efforts. This is accomplished through the Surplus Property Program, the end of the year "Don’t Throw It, Donate It" move out program, repurposing items to campus and donations to nonprofit organizations. 

UWRF utilizes a Hazardous Waste Program that lists specific protocols for disposal of waste depending on the university department. UWRF complies with the new Globally Harmonized System of Classification of Chemicals and has completed a 100% inventory of on-campus chemicals. Recycled and refurbished electronics are sold through the monthly Surplus Sale. 

The Surplus Property Program at UWRF is designed to remove items from campus buildings that are no longer used or needed in an environmentally and fiscally responsible manner. The goals of the Surplus Property Program are to promote item reuse and to divert items from going into a landfill. 

Surplus Property Process:

1. Items in good condition that are collected are often issued back to a different campus department in an effort to reduce campus expenses of having to buy something new. For more information on how to send an item to surplus or how to get an item from surplus for an on campus department, please visit the Departmental Process page. 
2. Items that are not issued back to campus are then sold through online auctions or a surplus sale held on campus. For more information on current or upcoming sales and auctions, please visit the Sales and Auctions page.
3. Items that are not sold are donated to non-profit organizations.

UWRF has an active recycling program.

Recycled items include:

• Paper
• Cardboard
• Aluminum
• Steel
• Glass
• Plastic
• Lead-acid batteries
• Tires
• Oil and oil filters
• Used Computer Components
• Ink jet cartridges
• Light bulbs and fluorescent tubes
• Yard clippings are brough to the Community Compost
• Wood materials are brought to the City of River Falls for chipping

National Recyclemania Competition Participation: Previous Results

All types of batteries are recyclable on campus following the instructions. Batteries cannot go in the normal recycling containers on campus. This is a specialty program that UWRF is participating in.

Lead-Acid Batteries

• Please turn in all lead-acid batteries to a member of the custodial staff or email sustainability@uwrf.edu to coordinate a pickup

Dry Cell Batteries

• Dry cell batteries include alkaline, nickel, nickel-cadmium, lithium, lithium-ion, zinc air, ets. Certain drycell batteries require that their terminals be covered with a piece of tape before being added to the collection containers. Please review Instructions for Recycled Battery Taping before recycling your batteries
• There is a publicly accessible battery collection tube in the University Center Involvement Center just around the corner from the Information Desk. There is also a little bucket in each mailroom in the academic buildings for faculty and staff
• Email sustainability@uwrf.edu with any questions regarding the battery collection and recycling process.

View our resources here.

UWRF has a program for recycling plastic film and bags. Please note that this material cannot go in the normal recycling bins located on campus. There are four drop off locations where this material can be placed:

• University Center
• North Hall, Room 32 
• Centennial Science Hall 1st Floor Hallway
• Ag Science 1st Floor Hallway, Near room 99

Accepted material includes grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, case overwrap, cereal bags, Ziploc bags, dry cleaning bags, newspaper sleeves, ice bags, plastic shipping envelopes, produce bags, wood pellet bags and salt bags. All material must be clean and dry.

The mission of the Don’t Throw It, Donate It program is to divert items from landfills by promoting item reuse and supporting our local community. Collecting items to donate from students moving out of the residence halls started in 2006 and has become an annual celebration of our campus sustainability. 

During spring end of semester move out, collection bins for nonperishable food, clothing, household items, school supplies and more are set up in every residence hall. Volunteers then collect, sort and clean all donated items to inventory into categories. Items are donated to local nonprofits such as the River Falls Food Pantry, The Closet at Our Neighbor's Place, Treasures of the Heart and the River Falls School District. Overall, this program is an excellent opportunity to divert items for landfill, give items new purpose and foster campus-community relationships. 

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Lab farm manure and animal bedding composting began at UWRF in the 1990s. Lessening the environmental impacts from these wastes and maintaining the comfort of lab farm animals is of utmost important while we balance the economic challenges of continuing these operations.

Composted Bedding and Manure Handling System at Lab Farm 2

UWRF has reduced potable water use per unit floor area by 40.66% and water use per unit of vegetated area by 24.64%, compared to a baseline established in 2005 as part of State Executive Order 145 for energy reduction goals.

In 2004, a Stormwater study was commissioned by UW System. In partnership with various agencies, the DNR and City of River Falls in particular, UWRF has developed a Stormwater plan. While still in draft form, it is a guiding document in our stormwater efforts. Fortunately, we have a long history of being good stewards of our land and resources. The City of River Falls also is nationally recognized for their efforts and assists the university in the implementation of our plan.

While we currently meet all DNR standards for Stormwater Management, it is our goal through each construction project to further enhance our program. We also work to actively manage our efforts throughout the year through inspections as well as repair and mitigation projects.

• Stormwater Brochure
• UW System Stormwater
• River Falls Stormwater
• Rains to Rivers
• 2022 Stormwater Report