Waste Audits
How to: Plan and Perform
Objective: To collect quantitative and qualitative data on waste produced by buildings at WWU
through collaborative efforts between Zero Waste Western and the Residence Resource
Awareness Program.
Executive Summary:
Waste audits are an in-depth analysis of waste produced in a given building. Waste audits
have been performed since 2009 by the Huxley student chapter of the Air and Waste
Management Association, Residents for Sustainable Living, Zero Waste Western and other
entities. These audits are held every quarter and serve as an excellent opportunity to
collaborate and educate between programs, students and the general community.
Waste data is collected/recorded by weight and volume and is sorted by volunteers into
different categories. The waste is split into three main categories: 1. Compost 2. Recycling
3. Landfill. Categories are then split into further subcategories like “Glass” or “Paper
Cups”.
After a waste audit is performed, the data is compiled and presented to the building that
was audited. This process allows entities on campus to be informed about current trends
in the waste stream and how habits and systems can be improved upon.
Contacts:
Zero Waste Western Program:
Coordinator (Gwen Larned) - Gwen.Larned@wwu.edu
Residents’ Resources Awareness Program:
*Coordinator (Maddie Gavigan Martin) - ResRAP@wwu.edu*
Assistant (Kellen Erb) - ResRAPAsst@wwu.edu
AS Recycle Center:
*AS Recycle Center Educator (Camilla Paine) - AS.Recycle.Educator@wwu.edu*
Procedure:
Pre Audit
1. Decide specific information: Proposed Date, Time, Building and Location. These details should all
be based on space availability, volunteer availability, weather, and waste pick up time/date. Give
at least 3-4 weeks for setting up an audit.
2. Contact and meet with Zero Waste Coordinator. Bring proposed plan (date/time/location).
Meeting should last approximately 30 minutes.
3. Fill out required Waste Audit Application Form and return to Coordinator via email or in person.
4. Wait for first confirmation of plan from Zero Waste Western via email or phone call (within one
week in most cases). Follow-Up will include scheduling a waste audit training session with the
Coordinator.
5. Create and set up waste education plan with AS Recycle Center Educator (Email at
AS.Recycle.Educator@wwu.edu)
a. This is an excellent opportunity to engage and educate students/staff/faculty on proper waste
sorting behavior. Include: recycled golf, speed sorting game, incentives and prizes
6. Recruit all of the volunteers needed for the audit. 4-6 volunteers per hour during waste audit is
recommended in order to have optimal sorting efficiency and fun!
 Contact donors to ask for donations/prizes to give out to volunteers or participating students
(incentives to volunteer). Consider providing beverages or food for volunteers at event.
 Two weeks before audit and the day before the audit: Email and announce Waste Audit to
students/staff/others in your area on campus about waste audit. Invite them to join!
 Design posters or decorations to put on Waste Audit tables that represent your housing
community. For example, a sign for a Nash Waste Audit could simply be a medium sized
piece of paper with “Nash Pride” painted or drawn on.
During Audit (Audit typically goes from 9am-5pm at the longest)
1. Show up to Waste Audit 1 hour earlier than your volunteers in order to set up. Tables and
chairs must be brought to site from the VU (Zero Waste Western will do this), trash must be
collected from the dumpsters you are sampling from, and your educational piece should be set
up (as well as any music or drinks/food that you brought).
2. Collect waste audit data with volunteers. Weigh each bin when they are full, record weight and
volume before sorting waste into larger bin options (compost, paper recycling, container
recycling and landfill). Note: Reusable materials and plastic film are still sorted into landfill.
3. Engage students in recycling education. Either yourself, a volunteer or Zero Waste Western
staff should be at an educational table to the side of the audit, engaging students/staff who are
walking by the audit. This is what you planned for with the AS Recycle Center Educator.
a. Waste guides or information
b. Games
c. Incentives/prizes
4. Clean up after audit. Organize all materials at site to be picked up easily.
Post Audit
1. Work with Zero Waste Coordinator to create signage with data from waste audit to put back
up into the dorm halls
2. Email a summary of the audit and data results to residents and/or hall counsel. Include tips
and suggestions to decrease waste and decrease contamination rates.
Waste Audit Application Form
Name of Organizer(s):
____________________________________________
Date of Planned Audit: ____________________________________________________
Location of Audit: ________________________________________________________
Building Title:
_________________________________________