Waste Reduction Accomplishment Certification for Institutions

This certification process is designed to recognize and document efforts by Institutions to minimize the amount of solid waste going to landfills and facilitate environmentally friendly and sustainable practices for handling wastes generated at their facilities.

Zero Waste Pittsburgh (ZWP) fully recognizes that there are many components to operating a fully “green” facility. These include environmentally sound and sustainable practices related to transportation, energy, water, procurement and air pollution as well as others. ZWP’s Waste Reduction Accomplishment Certification (WRAC) is focused solely on waste reduction, recycling and composting efforts.

WRAC for Institution Overview:

• *Have an official waste minimization/recycling policy, approved by the facility manager/director, that has been distributed to all staff/employees and/or has been posted in high visibility areas of the facility
  (10 points)

• *Provide for the collection and recycling of plastic, glass and metal containers (10 points)

• *Provide for collection and recycling of mixed paper (10 points)

• *Provide for collection and recycling of corrugated cardboard (10 points)

• *Document the types, quantities and/or volumes of materials collected and recycled or composted and identify processor, hauler or drop-off location. 
  (10 points)

• *Utilize signage to make staff and/or visitors aware of how they can participate in the facility’s recycling, waste minimization and/or composting efforts
  (10 points)

• *Comply with all State and local recycling/waste minimization regulations and ordinances (10 points)

• Provide for collection and composting (or other beneficial use) of food waste (20 points)

• Purchase 30% or greater post-consumer recycled content paper for all copiers/printers and/or tablets. (10 points)

• Institute a buy-recycled policy for purchase and use of items, supplies and materials made with recycled content (20 points)

• Limit the number or eliminate the use of single use beverage containers (5 points )
• Purchase and use recyclable/reusable items (i.e. plastics #s 1 & 2, china plates, cups, etc.) instead of Styrofoam, polystyrene and other non-recyclable materials (15 points)

• Utilize compostable and/or reusable serviceware in all staff break/lunch areas and/or cafeterias (25 points)

• Produce and install signage, displays or other means to educate staff and visitors about the importance of recycling, waste minimization and composting in the facility (15 points)

• Provide ongoing training to new and existing employees about current waste minimization programs (20 points)

• Designate a recycling coordinator that will act as a point of contact for all questions regarding the ongoing efforts of reducing waste (10 points)

• Designate a Green Team that will act to oversee and coordinate various departmental efforts towards waste minimization and other sustainable initiatives. (25 points)

• Develop and integrate waste minimization into existing required curriculum for students (schools, colleges, universities) (20 points)

• Recycle batteries, CFLs, fluorescent tubes, Freon appliances, cell phones, printer/toner cartridges and other e-waste (if generated) and provide documentation. (15 points)

• Set printer/copier defaults for double-sided printing (5 points)

• Donate useable office furniture, construction materials and other unwanted/unneeded materials to local non-profits and provide documentation (10 points)

• Sponsor or participate in a collection or cleanup event in your community. (15 points)

• Refer at least one other business to be certified under the WRAC program. (5 points

• Innovation Points: Institutions can earn up to 15 additional points for a waste reduction initiative not listed above, subject to approval by ZWP staff evaluator.

* Denotes a mandatory requirement

Certification Levels:
Each of the WRAC requirements is assigned a point value, certification levels are achieved by businesses providing documentation of attainment of point totals based on the following levels:

Platinum: 295 or more points

Gold: 220 – 290 points

Silver: 145 – 215 points

Bronze: 70 – 140 points

Institution Certification Registration Fees:

Large Institution: 500 or more staff/students/patients and/or 4 or more locations/offices (Institutions with 11 or more locations or in excess of 2,000 staff/students/patients will be charged an additional $50.00 for each location over 10 or for each block of 500 staff/students/patients over 2,000) 
First year - $500
*Re-certification - $250 (Institutions with 11 or more locations or in excess of 2,000 staff/students/patients will be charged an additional $25.00 for each location over 10 or for each block of 500 staff/students/patients over 2,000) 

Medium Institution: 250 to 499 total staff/students/patients and/or 2 or 3 locations/offices
First year - $250
*Re-certification - $125

Small Institution: Less than 250 staff/students/patients and one location/office
First year - $125
*Re-certification - $65

*re-certification is required every two years to maintain certification.

Certification Process:
The institution must register with and submit appropriate registration fee to ZWP.
ZWP will provide the following:

• WRAC registration form
• WRAC requirements checklist/ documentation form

Upon the implementation of the recycling, waste minimization and/or composting program or when the institution decides to pursue certification, the business must register with ZWP, pay the associated fee and submit the completed documentation form(s) to ZWP within 45 days of registering. Once the information on the completed documentation form(s) has been confirmed by ZWP, a certificate noting the certification level achieved by the facility will be issued to the institution. Contact Us today to certify your institution!