| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.82 |
| Liaison | Pamela Mischen |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Binghamton University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.85 / 8.00 |
Martin
Larocca Resource Management Coordinator Physical Facilities |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 712.02 Tons | 473.83 Tons |
| Materials composted | 101.20 Tons | 13.50 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 39.39 Tons | 8.33 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 1,812.57 Tons | 2,376.70 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 2,665.18 Tons | 2,872.36 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 | July 1, 2017 | June 30, 2018 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2006 | June 30, 2007 |
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):
Baseline year was determined due to access to direct weight documents and creation of the Recycling and Resource Management Office.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 7,189 | 6,344 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 32 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 16,930 | 14,373 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 2,512.20 | 2,186 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 96 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 16,314.90 | 14,005.25 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.16 Tons | 0.21 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 | Yes |
| Animal bedding | No |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | Yes |
| Laboratory equipment | Yes |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | Yes |
| Scrap metal | Yes |
| Pallets | Yes |
| Tires | Yes |
| Other (please specify below) | Yes |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Donated materials during campus Move out includes: kitchen appliances, books, clothing, and sealed food items.
Wood Ash from heating plant is used as a soil additive.
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:
Quality control is done by rolling audit of all waste streams. As materials are picked up the number of containers emptied, the number of containers contaminated, and the type of contamination is recorded, he data collected is reported weekly. If a location on campus is found to have an elevated contamination level steps are taken to educate the building inhabitants including re-training of employees and students responsible for disposing of materials into different waste streams. To help reduce contamination bins and signs are updated.
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:
New signage, displays, and brochures have been created to foster a wider base of educated waste producers on campus. Along with updated physical media new social media platforms are being used (ex. Twitter, facebook events, campus email, listserv) to spread awareness and change cultural behavior regarding sustainable waste habits.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
During all daily recycling pick ups employees of Recycling and Resource Management perform a rolling audit of each location picked up. The audits cover the location of recycling containers, number of containers collected, number of containers contaminated, type of contamination, total weight of material picked up during that shift.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
Binghamton University follows New York State Executive Order #142. The executive order directs all State agencies to maximize opportunities to increase recycling, reuse, and to identify better procurement policies to prevent waste.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Inter-office program is established for the reuse of folders, envelopes, other office materials.
Property Control office:
Property Control provides a service to all departments on campus for the pick up and re-distribution of surplus equipment throughout Binghamton University.
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):
All campus printers are set to double sided printing. There is no free printing on campus. Students have a set amount of starting funds for printing that they may replenish. Offices are encouraged to use network printers for whole departments, instead of individual printers per office.
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:
All course schedules, course catalogs, and campus directories are available online.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Recycling runs are increased along with the placement of donation bins in residence halls, during move out week and finals week.
Donation bins are placed to collect sealed food items, kitchen items, and shoes.
Campus wide emails are sent out to students, and signs are set up in all dorm buildings.
Collaboration with several campus departments is established in order to reduce the amount of waste during this period along with and increased effort for students to donate unwanted equipment and goods.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Presentations along with campus wide events are held throughout the calendar year. These events inform the campus and local community about different waste minimization techniques they can implement, along with education on current campus sustainability programs. End of year Move Out event looks to target collection of clothing, appliances, food, and other household items. These items are donated to local charities.
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:
Dining hall Lean Path and Food Co programs were implemented within the last few years. These new initiatives account for reduction of compost collected.
http://www.binghamton.edu/physical-facilities/recycling.html
Dining hall Lean Path and Food Co programs were implemented within the last few years. These new initiatives account for reduction of compost collected.
http://www.binghamton.edu/physical-facilities/recycling.html
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.