Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 45.45
Liaison Monika Kamboures
Submission Date May 30, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 8.00 Monika Kamboures
Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Planning, Sustainability & Transportation
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 295.02 Tons 457.50 Tons
Materials composted 724.70 Tons 839 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 16 Tons 19 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 3,535.18 Tons 3,096.85 Tons
Total waste generated 4,570.90 Tons 4,412.35 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 Jan. 1, 2015 Dec. 31, 2015
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2007 Dec. 31, 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):
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Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 3,639 2,000
Number of employees resident on-site 3 3
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 19,741 19,493
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 2,187 2,640
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 17,356.50 17,100.50

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.26 Tons 0.26 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
22.66

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
22.66

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 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
Tires Yes
Other (please specify below) No

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

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?:
Yes

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?:
No

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

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:

Our staff is trained to know what materials can be recyclable to ensure that the proper items are placed in the correct dumpster. RecycleMania is a national recycling competition with universities and colleges that we participate in.


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:

There has a been a significant push toward implementation of a food waste program within the dining facilities. Training and signage was instrumental in the success of this program which continues to expand. We use the RecycleMania competition as a way to educate the campus annually about the campus recycling programs.


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

The student government and a few professors have completed waste audits in various locations on campus to get an idea of what type of materials are still going to landfills.


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:

The institution has a surplus department and an ‘informal’ office supplies exchange. The surplus is via the Procurement/Asset Management website.
Once an item is surveyed off a department inventory it is returned to Asset management. Procurement offers back out to the campus in “Re-Utilization”. If it is not redeployed to the campus then it is offered for sale via a Bid Sale or Auctioned. The office supply exchange is hosted by Procurement Staff, who send out a monthly list of offered items to facilitate an exchange program. The campus also stores furniture for re-use within the campus community.


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):

The Procurement department has a bid sale for electronics that are no longer used by the campus departments and the Green Team holds events for students to freely exchange goods with other students.


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):

CalPoly Pomona does not offer free printing to students. Students may print from library and computer lab workstations at a cost of $.55/b&w copy and $0.55/color copy.


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:

Directories, course catalogs and course schedules are all available online. The course catalog is only provided online. Additionally, it is the University's policy to use email as the primary means of communication.


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

Foundation Housing Services has a Salvation Army drive in June, at move-out, to collect used (but in good condition) belongings from students.
University Housing Services collects used unwanted items from residents and donates to Goodwill. In addition, extra recycle bins are provided at move-out to keep as much waste out of the trash as possible.


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