Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 48.07
Liaison Debbie Liddick
Submission Date April 21, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Black Hills State University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.48 / 8.00 Petrika Peters
Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 50.11 Tons 3.52 Tons
Materials composted 5.37 Tons 0 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 405 Tons 401 Tons
Total waste generated 460.48 Tons 404.52 Tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2015 June 30, 2016
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):

FY 2007 was the first year BHSU performed a greenhouse gas emission report. The recycling program on campus began in FY 2005.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 848 736
Number of employees resident on-site 7 3
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 4 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 3,034 2,950
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 399 337.70
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 332.60 760
Weighted campus users 2,543.05 2,080.52

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.18 Tons 0.19 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
6.87

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
12.05

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
12.05

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 Yes
Tires No
Other (please specify below) No

A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:

At least once a year, Facilities Services holds a sale of surplus equipment. Departments have first choice, then the sale opens to the community. What is not sold is recycled, if possible. Weights are not recorded for this sale, so data is not available.


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) :
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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?:
No

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?:
No

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?:
Yes

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
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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:
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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:

In 2016/17 we introduced the "trash buddy" system for desk side recycling in all offices. We met with departments across campus to explain the new system and educate them on recycling. We also updated our website, created brochures and increased signage around campus.

We streamlined our recycling and landfill collection, so that landfill waste collectors were trained on recycling protocol.

We participate in RecycleMania efforts every year. This year we conducted a "caught green handed campaign" and a trash audit at one of our residence halls to draw attention to recycling on campus.

We send monthly recycling updates campus wide.

Eco-Reps and RA's frequently run education programs around recycling.


A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:

Recycled material is weighed and recorded by type (plastic, metal, motor oil, cardboard, paper, phone books, and batteries) throughout the year.
For RecycleMania, students and sustainability staff sifted through and weighed all trash generated at one 2016 basketball games, totaling 325 lbs. Over 92% of the materials by weight were recycled or composted.

During our 2017 trash audit, we dissected the trash from one resident hall to discover almost 50% of the material deposited in the trash could be recycled. We used this information to further educate campus about recycling.


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
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A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

At least once a year, Facilities Services holds a sale of all surplus equipment. Departments have first choice, then the sale opens to the community. What is not sold is recycled, if possible. Weights are not recorded for this sale, so data is not available.


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):

At least once a year, Facilities Services holds a sale of surplus equipment. Departments have first choice, then the sale opens to the community. What is not sold is recycled, if possible. Weights are not recorded for this sale, so data is not available.


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 fee was instituted for printing on campus. Students are given a small stipend each year for printing and are required to pay for anything over that amount.


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:

Professors are required to make class agendas available online rather than printed.


A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:

Cardboard recycling is available for residence hall move-in/move-out days. Collections for donations are made available. Toward the end of the Spring 2014 semester, BHSU's Student Senate organized a clothing swap to allow students to share clothing and accessories rather than buy new or throw away their old items.


A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:

The BHSU bookstore's used book/book rental program keeps textbooks in circulation longer, reducing the amount of paper waste.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.