| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 55.58 |
| Liaison | Stephen Ellis |
| Submission Date | April 26, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Boston University
OP-23: Waste Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.10 / 3.00 |
Dennis
Carlberg Associate Vice President for Sustainability BU Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
3,390
Tons
None
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
5,838
Tons
None
A brief description of programs, policies, infrastructure investments, outreach efforts, and/or other factors that contributed to the diversion rate, including efforts made during the previous three years:
In November 2009, the University began to roll out the recycling infrastructure needed to support a more complete recycling program on the Charles River Campus. This project was completed during the spring 2010 semester. The campus was divided into sections to best implement the system. Each week a new area was addressed by a team from Facilities Management & Planning, the Sustainability Liaison from the school or college, and a representative from Save That Stuff, the University’s recycling vendor. The team walked each floor in every building within the area to design a system that would integrate the recycling and waste stream systems to increase the convenience of recycling and reduce the volume of the University’s waste. In July 2016 Facilities Management & Planning was combined on both campuses. Through this change in management structure, a more complete recycling infrastructure is being implemented on the Medical Campus matching the systems deployed on the Charles River Campus. The roll out is anticipated to be completed by July 1, 2017.
None
A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:
Dining Services donates on a daily basis to several local food banks and shelters through BU's Community Service Center’s Student Food Rescue (SFR) which was founded by a group of BU student volunteers in the spring of 1988, and has since become an integral part of the Community Service Center.
None
A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
BU's pre-consumer food waste program started in 2008 and has expanded to almost every location on campus. Clear containers are used to collect food trimmings from production waste. Clear containers, along with the weight, helps us analyze the contents of our waste. Barrels are provided as a means of aggregating organic waste for collection for employees to dispose of all organic waste. Each semester, trainings are provided for employees. Organics are sent to one of several commercial composting facilities in the greater Boston area.
None
A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
BU's post-consumer food waste program started in 2008 in the residential dining halls and since, has spread to retail locations as well in the student union. Universal signs and product identifiers are posted at retail locations with instructions on how to sort waste. Most retail tableware on campus is compostable, allowing for it to go into the compost bin. Also, waste from staffed catered events is always diverted to compost, and customers have the option to divert organics at their non-staffed events. The Massachusetts DEP has used Boston University Dining Services as a case study to assist other institutions in the state to prepare for the organics waste ban, which went into effect in July 2014. Boston University Dining Services was also the recipient of Mayor Menino and the City of Boston's Sustainable Food Leadership Award in 2012 for our commitment to sustainable food service, including our composting efforts.
Does the institution include the following materials in its waste diversion efforts?:
| Yes or No | |
| Paper, plastics, glass, metals, and other recyclable containers | Yes |
| Food donations | Yes |
| Food for animals | No |
| Food composting | Yes |
| Cooking oil | Yes |
| Plant materials composting | Yes |
| Animal bedding composting | Yes |
| Batteries | Yes |
| Light bulbs | Yes |
| Toner/ink-jet cartridges | Yes |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | Yes |
| Laboratory equipment | Yes |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | Yes |
| Scrap metal | Yes |
| Pallets | Yes |
| Motor oil | No |
| Tires | No |
None
Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
http://www.bu.edu/sustainability/what-were-doing/waste-reduction/
http://www.bu.edu/sustainability/campus-resources/reduce-reuse-recycle/
http://www.bu.edu/sustainability/campus-resources/reduce-reuse-recycle/exchange/
http://www.bu.edu/dining/about-us/sustainability/re/
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.