| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.56 |
| Liaison | Natalie Hayes |
| Submission Date | June 22, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Bentley University
OP-22: Waste Minimization
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.87 / 5.00 |
Natalie
Hayes Associate Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
Waste generated::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 274 Tons | 168.73 Tons |
| Materials composted | 180 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials reused, donated or re-sold | 7.60 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 470 Tons | 1,361.36 Tons |
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of residential students | 3,337 | 3,330 |
| Number of residential employees | 14 | 12 |
| Number of in-patient hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Full-time equivalent enrollment | 5,227 | 4,989 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 974 | 779 |
| Full-time equivalent of distance education students | 0 | 0 |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2014 | June 30, 2015 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2010 | June 30, 2011 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
Bentley only started tracking solid waste tonnage in FY2011. As such this year has been adopted as the baseline year. We created a baseline in order to measure our progress towards a better diversion rate.
A brief description of any (non-food) waste audits employed by the institution:
N/A
A brief description of any institutional procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
N/A
A brief description of any surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
The Office of Sustainability created an online office swap on our employee portal so that people could exchange supplies at any time for free.
A brief description of the institution's efforts to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
Bentley University has been in the process on moving all essential university functions online including, employee time sheet tracking, human resource paperwork, admissions procedures, student financial services, class registration and the sharing of class materials (via BlackBoard). The university's website is equipped with all essential information that should not require print-outs.
A brief description of any limits on paper and ink consumption employed by the institution:
Each Bentley student gets an annual printing balance based on part or full time status. Additional printing balance must be paid for outside of tuition. The maximum black and white copies allowed for full-time students are 800 per semester for $40. Fewer copies are allotted if printing in color. In July/August 2014 all University office converted to "multi-functional devices"- copier/printer/fax machines. All employees are required to print double-sided in an effort to reduce the amount of paper consumed.
A brief description of any programs employed by the institution to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Give 'N Go is a sustainable move-out program that reduces trash generation, encourages community engagement via student exchange, and promotes donation. This program provides a convenient solution to redistribute reusable items that students no longer need or want as they are moving out of their residence halls each May. The program is run over the course of the move out week with five, staffed drop off locations. Students are allowed to swap at each location as a means to educate the student body about reusing materials. All leftover material is donated to local charities.
A brief description of any other (non-food) waste minimization strategies employed by the institution:
The university's Purchasing Office works to redistribute as much existing office furniture as possible on the campus instead of throwing used furniture away. If furniture cannot be reused on campus, the office seeks to donate materials to local community colleges and public schools.
A brief description of any food waste audits employed by the institution:
The Office of Sustainability and Sodexo organize annual "weigh the waste" days to audit the amount of post consumer organic waste generated dining halls. This event serves both as an audit and a food waste educational campaign.
A brief description of any programs and/or practices to track and reduce pre-consumer food waste in the form of kitchen food waste, prep waste and spoilage:
In 2013 Bentley's food service provider, Sodexo, implemented "Leanpath" a program and online tool used to track pre-consumer food waste through kitchen prep and spillage. Execution of this program has been inconsistent.
A brief description of programs and/or practices to track and reduce post-consumer food waste:
Bentley instituted trayless dining in 2010 to reduce post-consumer food waste. The university's first compost program was launched in 2012. July, 2014 Bentley launched new compost prorgam where all pre-consumer and most post-consumer waste is collected in toters to be composted at a local farm. This new system has resulted in much more accurate data and a cleaner waste stream.
A brief description of the institution's provision of reusable and/or third party certified compostable to-go containers for to-go food and beverage items (in conjunction with a composting program):
Dining services provides compostable plates and cups for to go food and beverage items. However, these items do not get composted because the university's current compost program does not allow for that type of material.
A brief description of the institution's provision of reusable service ware for “dine in” meals and reusable and/or third party certified compostable service ware for to-go meals (in conjunction with a composting program):
The university's main dining hall is purely dine-in, so reusable service ware (trayless) is the only option. China, silverware and glassware is also used in the university's Faculty/Staff Dining Room. Catering operations offer china/silverware/glassware however customers must pay an additional fee. The university's third dining room on campus is utilizes only to-go containers, however 95% of the containers provided are recyclable and a recycling education campaign is aimed at diners in this location.
A brief description of any discounts offered to customers who use reusable containers (e.g. mugs) instead of disposable or compostable containers in to-go food service operations:
Faculty, staff and students who bring their reusable mugs to Einstein's or Starbucks franchises on campus, receive 25 cents off of beverage purchase. This applies to both cold and hot drinks.
A brief description of other dining services waste minimization programs and initiatives:
The website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.