Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 53.49
Liaison Julia Angstmann
Submission Date Dec. 20, 2021

STARS v2.2

Butler University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.53 / 8.00 Dick Hamm
Director of Housekeeping
Office of Operations
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 59.44 Tons 111 Tons
Materials composted 0 Tons 20 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 0.37 Tons 0.49 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 321.15 Tons 305.25 Tons
Total waste generated 380.96 Tons 436.74 Tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility:

n/a


Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Period June 1, 2020 May 31, 2021
Baseline Period Jan. 1, 2016 Dec. 31, 2016

A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:

Butler uses Ray's Trash Service for disposal of trash and recycling. Waste data is tracked through Ray's and campus facilities by calendar year.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,903 2,045
Number of employees resident on-site 11 7
Number of other individuals resident on-site 15 17
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 5,828 4,156
Full-time equivalent of employees 1,069 1,144
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 98 0
Weighted campus users 5,842.75 4,505

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.07 Tons 0.10 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
32.74

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
15.70

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
15.70

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
Electronics 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) No

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

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?:
Yes

Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
No

Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
No

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
15.25

A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:

Building services staff are trained to separate any recycling from the trash and vice versa as they are collecting items when safe.


A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:

Butler participates in Campus Race to Zero Waste every year. A student intern at the CUES develops educational materials and holds events for the campus community on the benefits of recycling, minimizing waste, and circular economy principles.


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

Last year, student in a Sustainability Practicum class conducted a food waste audit in the main dining hall. Student collected uneaten food for two weeks and displayed the food in clear containers for diner to see.


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
---

A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

The procurement office receives items that are no longer usable by a specific office, department, or person and attempts to reuse the item on campus. If it can not be used on campus it is donated to Goodwill or Teacher's Treasures, depending on the type of item. Valuable items are sold via auction.


A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:

Butler uses Google Groups for a classifieds section where employees can buy and sell gently used items.


A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:

For students, beginning in the fiscal year 2010, Butler implemented a print allotment program, currently non-binding, which permits students a limited printing balance.


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:
---

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

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:

Data for current submission was during COVID19, which skews figures than compared non-pandemic years.


Data for current submission was during COVID19, which skews figures than compared non-pandemic years.

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.