Bucknell University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.93 / 8.00 |
Chris
Smalls Deputy Director, Facilities Operations Facilities |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 221.22 Tons | 364.79 Tons |
| Materials composted | 77.25 Tons | 1,679 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 12.31 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 1,293.88 Tons | 1,389.76 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,604.66 Tons | 3,433.55 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | Jan. 1, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2021 |
| Baseline Period | July 1, 2007 | June 30, 2013 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
Baseline from the 2014 STARS submission. Unable to locate historical data from this era. Note: Unable to verify historical data. Composting may have gone down a lot due to a change in landscape practices. In the past, leaves were collected then composted. In approximately 2015, leaves were mulched directly back into the grass which dramatically reduced the estimated amount of composted material.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,326 | 3,050 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 17 | 17 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 14 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 3,740 | 3,563 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,272 | 1,162 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 4,608.75 | 4,310.50 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.35 Tons | 0.80 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 |
| Electronics | Yes |
| Laboratory equipment | No |
| 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:
Shredded paper, Discarded library books, Light bulbs, Antifreeze, Auto Parts, Batteries, and Tires
Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
Does the institution use single stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
All Recycled material headed to the landfill is screened by Bucknell or contracted employees before it leaves campus.
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
The University has established a Pathway to Zero Waste Working Group which among other things is developing a plan that will enable the University to attain zero waste (90% waste diversion from Landfill) within a reasonable time frame. This Working Group is organized into three Subgroups - a. Messaging and Process. b.Landfill and Equipment and c. Waste Treatment (composting, recycling, digesting, mulching/digesting). Thus far, food waste digesting equipment has been installed and is diverting a daily average of 300 lb of food waste from landfill. Other activities of the Working Group include waste auditing, single-use plastic bag collection, conversion into ornaments, the establishment of the sustainable office supply store (SOSS), and annual sustainable move-out.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
Whenever possible, Bucknell specifies products that are durable; made from recycled materials; made of materials that can be recycled; made with materials that require less raw product (e.g. seat cushions are often a mesh material instead of thick foam); delivered in cartons with minimal packaging. On large orders, Bucknell requires the installer to recycle the packaging. Our bottle-less water coolers do not require plastic jugs. Since we don't need delivery of bottled water, there are fewer delivery trucks on campus.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Bucknell also actively searches for the reuse of older used classroom and resident hall furniture to charity programs such as Food for the Poor, Hand Up, local churches, etc. This in the past has resulted in tractor-trailer loads of furniture staying out of the landfill and being reused. Other items collected for reuse/recycling include solvent cleaning solution and oil from Garage, Ink and toners, electronic equipment to U.S. Prison, Lead acid battery, Tires, Antifreeze, and other hazardous materials.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
During move in, students are advised to minimize packing material prior to arrival. Near each of our residences, we setup large collection areas where boxes and packing material is collected, segregated and recycled appropriately. During move out, students are asked to bring household goods or clothes in good condition to collection areas. These items are collected and given to local charities. In May 2021, over 5,000 lbs of items were donated.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Bucknell also actively searches for reuse of older used classroom and resident hall furniture to charity programs such as Food for the Poor, Hand Up, local churches, etc. This in the past has resulted in tractor trailer loads of furniture staying out of the landfill and being reused. Other items collected for reuse/recycling include: solvent cleaning solution and oil from Garage, Ink and toners, electronic equipment to U.S. Prison, Lead acid battery, Tires, Antifreeze, and other hazardous materials.
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:
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.