Advancing USC Sustainability Goals Through Spatial Analysis

In this StoryMap, we advance USC’s Assignment Earth’s Zero Waste Goal (90% waste diversion) with results from the second iteration of a Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) activity held by SC Mappers and the Student Sustainability Committee in April 2023. Student volunteers collected data for 141 single- and multi-stream campus waste bins, including characteristics such as contamination level. This activity and the subsequent StoryMap illustrate the efficacy of waste disposal and diversion education efforts to USC’s Offices of Sustainability and Facilities, Planning and Management (FPM). Through spatial analysis, we learn that contamination levels are high in single- and multi-stream trash bins indicating confusion when disposing of waste. Detailed examinations of areas around heavily trafficked dining locations demonstrate that people are not sorting their waste even if the proper infrastructure – i.e. a compost, landfill, liquids, or recycling bin – is present. It appears that members of the USC community struggle with placing their waste in the correct bin or do not think closely about their waste disposal habits. By visualizing spatial data in this context, we can communicate the importance of waste diversion and increase awareness about the need for additional education to the Office of Sustainability, FPM, and the USC community.