Our Impact
Waste Reduction and Recycling strives to achieve a campus-wide 70% waste diversion rate.
Waste Reduction and Recycling tracks and manages the majority of waste disposal streams that are generated from NC State University. This data collection allows WRR to better manage the waste disposal processes on campus and also work with generators to reduce their waste.
NC State University views waste as a potential loss of resources that would otherwise have economic, social and environmental benefits.
The university set a goal to achieve a 70% waste diversion rate as outlined in the Sustainability Strategic Plan by 2022. NC State currently diverts 55% of its total generated waste from everyday campus operations. This rate does not include the many construction projects on campus.
Explore NC State’s waste data for the last 5 fiscal years, starting July 1 through June 30.
| Fiscal Year | Recycling | Campus Food Waste/ Organics | Reuse | Landfill | Diversion Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,368 | 2,950 | 356 | 3,755 | 55% |
| 2023 | 1,494 | 2,837 | 329 | 3,755 | 55% |
| 2022 | 1,451 | 2,248 | 272 | 3,230 | 55% |
| 2021 | 1,232 | 2,395 | 284 | 1,232 | 61% |
| 2020 | 1,467 | 2,348 | 255 | 3,423 | 54% |