| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 46.39 |
| Liaison | Laura Draucker |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Amherst College
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.86 / 8.00 |
Laura
Draucker Director of Sustainability Office of Environmental Sustainability |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 227 Metric tons | 249 Metric tons |
| Materials composted | 156 Metric tons | 103 Metric tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 14 Metric tons | 7 Metric tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Metric tons | 0 Metric tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 995 Metric tons | 844 Metric tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,392 Metric tons | 1,326.08 Metric tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | Jan. 1, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2018 |
| Baseline Year | Jan. 1, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2010 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted (e.g. in sustainability plans and policies or in the context of other reporting obligations):
To coordinate with other baselines for energy/GHG
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 1,799 | 1,811 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 13 | 13 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 1,836 | 1,848 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 900 | 931 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 2,505 | 2,540.25 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 1,392 Metric tons | 1,203 Metric tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
In the waste figures reported above, has the institution recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold the following materials?:
| Yes or No | |
| Paper, plastics, glass, metals, and other recyclable containers | Yes |
| Food | Yes |
| Cooking oil | Yes |
| Plant materials | No |
| Animal bedding | No |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | Yes |
| Laboratory equipment | No |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | Yes |
| Scrap metal | Yes |
| Pallets | No |
| Tires | Yes |
| Other (please specify below) | Yes |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Mixed electronics and books
Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year (e.g. materials that are actively diverted from the landfill or incinerator and refurbished/repurposed) :
Does the institution use single stream recycling (a single container for commingled recyclables) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
Does the institution use dual stream (two separate containers for recyclables, e.g. one for paper and another for plastic, glass, and metals) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling (multiple containers that further separate different types of materials) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed, e.g. efforts to minimize contamination and/or monitor the discard rates of the materials recovery facilities and mills to which materials are diverted:
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives, e.g. initiatives to shift individual attitudes and practices such as signage and competitions:
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
The college stockroom stores unused furniture for offices and makes it available for future use.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse (e.g. of electronics, furnishings, books and other goods):
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption (e.g. restricting free printing and/or mandating doubled-sided printing in libraries and computer labs):
A small printing fee of $.05 per page helps to discourage students from printing items that they do not need in hard copy. Additionally, the public printers automatically print double-sided.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials (e.g. course catalogs, course schedules, and directories) available online by default rather than printing them:
The college recently stopped printing a comprehensive course catalog which it used to provide to every incoming student. Now the course catalog as well as the schedules are accessible via the Amherst College website. Additionally, the student and staff directories are available online rather than in paper form. There has been a measurable decrease in paper usage.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
During the move-in period the custodial staff arranges a location in each dorm to collect and recycle cardboard, the main waste product. During the move-out period, every student is provided with three labelled bags, one for single stream recycling, the second for clothing donations, and the third for other donatable items. These are collected and properly diverted from the main trash stream.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
We have just started a give away of items left behind by previous students ( fans, chairs, rugs, drawers, etc.)
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
We have not had data for total trash since 2016 due to a change in haulers, so that number is an estimate based on previous data. We are getting a scale and will be able to correct this in future years. We assume this has decreased based on increased compost around campus. Compost numbers are estimates.
We have not had data for total trash since 2016 due to a change in haulers, so that number is an estimate based on previous data. We are getting a scale and will be able to correct this in future years. We assume this has decreased based on increased compost around campus. Compost numbers are estimates.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.