| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 47.15 |
| Liaison | Sergio Alza |
| Submission Date | Nov. 24, 2020 |
Brock University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.10 / 8.00 |
Jay
Ismailovic Manager, Custodial Services Facilities & Services |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Parts 1 and 2. Waste per person
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 987.94 Metric tons | 898.20 Metric tons |
| Materials composted | 377.28 Metric tons | 327.20 Metric tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 85.17 Metric tons | 40.40 Metric tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Metric tons | 0 Metric tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 530.66 Metric tons | 673.70 Metric tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,981.05 Metric tons | 1,939.50 Metric tons |
If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | Jan. 1, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2018 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
Brock University has elected to utilize the 2013 benchmark for its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory; therefore, the waste generation baseline was created to coincide with the GHG baseline.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,438 | 2,331 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 16,357 | 16,151 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,424 | 1,428 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 64 | 30 |
| Weighted campus users | 13,897.25 | 13,744.50 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.14 Metric tons | 0.14 Metric tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0
Part 3. Waste diverted from the landfill or incinerator
73.21
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
73.21
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) | No |
| Electronics | Yes |
| Laboratory equipment | No |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | No |
| Scrap metal | Yes |
| Pallets | Yes |
| Tires | No |
| Other (please specify below) | Yes |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Brock University donated and/or re-sold textbooks, and recycled batteries.
Optional Fields
Active Recovery and Reuse
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Recycling Management
No
Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Yes
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Yes
Contamination and Discard Rates
11.10
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
Brock University conducts annual waste audits with the services of Waste Reduction Group Inc. The waste audit provides estimates of the annual amount of solid non-hazardous waste materials disposed and diverted.
Through Facilities Management, the University employs two permanent full-time custodial staff who are designated ‘Recyclers’. The dedicated role of these employees is to ensure recycling protocols are being followed, and the employees also help determine contamination issues surrounding recycled goods.
Through Facilities Management, the University employs two permanent full-time custodial staff who are designated ‘Recyclers’. The dedicated role of these employees is to ensure recycling protocols are being followed, and the employees also help determine contamination issues surrounding recycled goods.
Programs and Initiatives
Brock University has installed 44 water bottle filling stations across the University campus. These stations feature a “green ticket” that tracks the usage and displays the number of plastic water bottles saved and diverted from the landfill. In 2018, reusable water bottles were refilled approximately 930,000 times, keeping around 9.3 metric tonnes of plastic from the landfill. Having these water bottle filling stations around campus encourages students to bring their own reuseable water bottle and reduce the use of single-use plastics.
The Brock University Students’ Union owns and operates the “General Brock” store on campus. At General Brock, customers who bring in a reusable cup of any size pay just $1.25 for coffee - which makes it the cheapest cup of coffee on campus. This initiative encourages students, staff and faculty to reduce waste and not use single-use coffee cups, and instead to bring their own reusable cup.
In 2017, Brock University’s Hospitality Services launched a “Green 2 Go” reusable container program. The program aims to divert waste by providing customers with the option of having their food put into a reusable plastic container instead of a regular single-use takeout container. The first time a customer opts to use a reusable plastic container, they will be charged $5, but the container can be taken anywhere by the customer. When they are finished with the container, it can then be returned dirty to any of the four participating dining areas. In exchange for the dirty container, customers will receive a Green-2-Go card, which can be handed to a food server to get a clean container. This initiative promotes the reuse of materials instead of having to recycle them, thus helping build a vibrant, healthy, sustainable dining community at Brock University.
The Brock University Students’ Union owns and operates the “General Brock” store on campus. At General Brock, customers who bring in a reusable cup of any size pay just $1.25 for coffee - which makes it the cheapest cup of coffee on campus. This initiative encourages students, staff and faculty to reduce waste and not use single-use coffee cups, and instead to bring their own reusable cup.
In 2017, Brock University’s Hospitality Services launched a “Green 2 Go” reusable container program. The program aims to divert waste by providing customers with the option of having their food put into a reusable plastic container instead of a regular single-use takeout container. The first time a customer opts to use a reusable plastic container, they will be charged $5, but the container can be taken anywhere by the customer. When they are finished with the container, it can then be returned dirty to any of the four participating dining areas. In exchange for the dirty container, customers will receive a Green-2-Go card, which can be handed to a food server to get a clean container. This initiative promotes the reuse of materials instead of having to recycle them, thus helping build a vibrant, healthy, sustainable dining community at Brock University.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Brock University retained the services of Waste Reduction Group Inc to conduct a solid non‐ hazardous waste audit at its campus located in St. Catharines, Ontario. A waste audit was conducted during the Fall of 2018 to determine waste composition. Twenty‐four hour samples of trash and recyclables were collected for the waste audit from 26 buildings. The collected samples were audited over eight days in November/December 2018. Waste materials collected for the audit were tagged to indicate the functional area of the building that generated the waste, including office, public, food service kitchens, food service dining areas, food service tenant areas, washrooms, labs, self‐contained residences and outdoor bins.
Waste diversion programs have been implemented on campus for cardboard, mixed containers, mixed papers, confidential papers, scrap metals, organics, coffee cups, oil & grease, bulbs & ballasts, electronic wastes, batteries, yard wastes, wood pallets, printer toners, used furniture/clothing donations, lab bottles, LCBO/Beer Store returns, and waste reduction initiatives. Through discussions with waste management and recycling service providers, estimates of the annual amounts of solid non‐hazardous waste materials disposed and diverted were determined.
Waste diversion programs have been implemented on campus for cardboard, mixed containers, mixed papers, confidential papers, scrap metals, organics, coffee cups, oil & grease, bulbs & ballasts, electronic wastes, batteries, yard wastes, wood pallets, printer toners, used furniture/clothing donations, lab bottles, LCBO/Beer Store returns, and waste reduction initiatives. Through discussions with waste management and recycling service providers, estimates of the annual amounts of solid non‐hazardous waste materials disposed and diverted were determined.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
No formal waste prevention purchasing policy is in place at Brock University. However, when purchasing cleaning chemicals from suppliers, employees are instructed to purchase more concentrated chemicals to reduce the number of plastic bottles used. By purchasing chemicals at a higher concentration, they can be diluted on-site, and reduce unnecessary waste of plastics. The also University purchases Green Certified supplies and has a Green Housekeeping Site gold certification. Brock is committed to reducing waste, and purchasing departments do consider environmental impacts of their purchases when the options are available and feasible.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
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A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
Brock’s Student Life and Community Experience hosts a ‘Swap n’ Drop Move Out Madness’ event. The Swap n’ Drop encourages students, faculty/staff to drop off washed, gently used clothing. For each item of clothing donated, contributors receive a staff card they can use to trade for a different piece of clothing at the Swap n’ Drop. Whether or not they intend to swap, contributors can donate used clothing or purchase items. The Move Out Madness component includes local organizations coming to campus during the Swap n’ Drop and provides students with move-out tips and educating them about furniture, appliances and household items donations as well as item pick up. This initiative helps students redirect unwanted items to community agencies, recycling facilities or for student reuse — options they may have not been aware of.
The Brock University Campus Store offers a guaranteed buyback program for students. The guaranteed buyback program assures students that their specific book will be bought back directly by the Campus Store at the end of the term for a pre-confirmed price. These books are then sold to students the following year at a reduced price.
The Brock University Campus Store offers a guaranteed buyback program for students. The guaranteed buyback program assures students that their specific book will be bought back directly by the Campus Store at the end of the term for a pre-confirmed price. These books are then sold to students the following year at a reduced price.
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
Brock students do not have access to free printing, the cost of printing for a standard paper size is 11 cents for single B&W and 10 cents per side for duplexed. There is a slight reduction in the cost of printing duplexed to encourage students to use less paper. Brock students load funds onto their print/copy account, which is completed online.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
Brock University has made course calendars available online by default for over 15 years, and the last campus directory was printed for the 2010-2011 academic year.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Brock has an Annual Swap n’ Drop initiative, which includes a Move Out Madness component implemented Spring 2018. Local organizations were present at Brock on the day of the event, providing students with move-out education on how community organizations can help provide recycling and reuse opportunities for things like furniture, appliances, household item donations, and large item pick up.
Students are permitted to bring one small, compact sized refrigerator with no separate freezer compartment to all residence bedrooms. During move-out day, students are instructed to take their fridge home with them. If the fridge is left behind, then it is donated to students in the following year.
Students are permitted to bring one small, compact sized refrigerator with no separate freezer compartment to all residence bedrooms. During move-out day, students are instructed to take their fridge home with them. If the fridge is left behind, then it is donated to students in the following year.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Electronics/eWastes Program: Electronic wastes are collected across campus and stored in dedicated locations. Service is provided by Greentec as required.
Printer Toner Cartridges Program: Brock U’s Printing Services returns all empty toner bottles from the new MFD (Multi-Functional Devices) to Xerox for recycling. It is estimated that approximately 200 bottles per year are recycled. Printer toner cartridges are collected from various areas across campus and sent to a private contractor to be processed.
Used Furniture/Equipment Initiative: Brock U collected and stored used furniture for on‐campus reuse or for donations to local charities. In 2018, approximately eight to ten, 5‐ton cube trucks were used to collect used furniture.
Amber Bottles Laboratory Initiative: Labs on campus have implemented an in‐house reuse program.
LCBO/Beer Bottle Returns: Brock U returns glass beer, wine and spirit bottles via the LCBO/Beer Store return program.
Textbooks Initiative: Collect numerous textbooks, all of which were donated, repurposed and/or recycled.
Clothing Donations: Clothing is collected and then donated to local charities.
Printer Toner Cartridges Program: Brock U’s Printing Services returns all empty toner bottles from the new MFD (Multi-Functional Devices) to Xerox for recycling. It is estimated that approximately 200 bottles per year are recycled. Printer toner cartridges are collected from various areas across campus and sent to a private contractor to be processed.
Used Furniture/Equipment Initiative: Brock U collected and stored used furniture for on‐campus reuse or for donations to local charities. In 2018, approximately eight to ten, 5‐ton cube trucks were used to collect used furniture.
Amber Bottles Laboratory Initiative: Labs on campus have implemented an in‐house reuse program.
LCBO/Beer Bottle Returns: Brock U returns glass beer, wine and spirit bottles via the LCBO/Beer Store return program.
Textbooks Initiative: Collect numerous textbooks, all of which were donated, repurposed and/or recycled.
Clothing Donations: Clothing is collected and then donated to local charities.
Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Waste audit (2013): https://brocku.ca/sustainability/about/plans-policies-and-audits/#2013
Water Bottle Refill Stations: https://brocku.ca/sustainability/initiatives/water-bottle-refill-stations/
Green-2-Go program: https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2017/02/brock-launches-green-2-go-re-usable-container-program/
Swap n' Drop event: https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2018/03/clothing-needed-for-brock-swap-n-drop-2/
Water Bottle Refill Stations: https://brocku.ca/sustainability/initiatives/water-bottle-refill-stations/
Green-2-Go program: https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2017/02/brock-launches-green-2-go-re-usable-container-program/
Swap n' Drop event: https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2018/03/clothing-needed-for-brock-swap-n-drop-2/
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.