Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.26
Liaison Jillian Leach
Submission Date Nov. 19, 2013
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

California State University, Chico
OP-18: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.70 / 3.00 Eli Goodsell
Sustainability Program Coordinator
Associated Students Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Materials recycled, composted, reused, donated, re-sold, or otherwise diverted :
1,262.30 Tons

Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
959.66 Tons

A brief description of programs, policies, infrastructure investments, outreach efforts, and/or other factors that contributed to the diversion rate:

The Associated Students adopted a goal of zero waste by 2015. This goal is even more aggressive than the UC system’s goal of zero waste by 2020.

As Recycling setup enclosure to collect block Styrofoam on campus.

Recycling Program: AS Recycling Program provides campus wide recycling collection services for office paper, beverage containers and compost at CSU, Chico. Student staff collects white paper, mixed paper, newspaper, shredded paper, magazines, books, cardboard, aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles, and bi-metal (tin cans). Collection programs include Office Recycling, the Faculty Call-in Program, Special Event Recycling, Phone Book Collections and the Saturday Donation Center. (see www.aschico.com/recycle)

Construction Waste Diversion: Construction contracts incorporate waste management specifications requiring contractors to plan and divert concrete, asphalt, aluminum, metal and other recyclable construction by-products from the landfill.

Other Recycling:
Sensitive documents that are taken in bulk to the State shredding facility.

Contract waste hauler provides recycling bins at the housing units outside the AS pick up area.

1-yard “metal shop scrap”, 20-yard miscellaneous metal scrap and wood waste collection containers.

Reduction of Paper Use:
Double sided printing is encouraged for all copier and computer printing jobs.
The campus utilizes recycled paper in all towel dispensers on campus.
Housing Department refuses delivery of 80% of offered phonebook deliveries.
On-line Campus Catalog and e-mail use also accounts for reducing paper use.

Office Supply Swap:
Offices and departments donate office supplies they no longer want. AS Recycling gives away reusable office supplies such as folders, binders, envelopes and paper to campus and to non-profit organizations.

Composting:
Food scraps are collected from five kitchen areas on campus, including the Garden Café, Whitney Dining Hall, and the Primo Espresso Cart and Café are taken AS Recycling to the University Farm or on-campus Compost Display Area for composting.

Housing Department collects grass clippings and delivers them to the farm for composting. Annual leaf fall is collected and dropped off at City of Chico collection sites for transport to the municipal composting facility.

The university contract waste hauler provides two 18-yard green waste containers, the contents of which are composted or converted to cogeneration.

Grasscycling: Mulch mowing is used on our main campus playfields and lawn areas.

Tree and Limb Removal: Tree and limb removal is either taken away by tree service or converted to firewood, green waste, or lumber.

Cardboard: contract waste hauler provides cardboard collection receptacles at various locations on campus.

Newspaper Recycling: Newspaper companies provide dedicated collection bins to facilitate their recycling efforts. AS Recycling collects all other newspapers that do not end up in these bins.

Rendering:
The CSUC Farm Meat Lab sends all by-products to rendering service for making animal feed.
oAS Food Service collects unusable fryer oil at all food service areas on campus.

Used Book Buy Back:
AS Bookstore buys back over 30,000 books that are either used for the next semester’s program or sold to a used book wholesaler. All unusable books are recycled through AS Recycling.

•Diversion Excursion:
A cooperative effort between the Housing Department and Associated Students Recycling collects reusable materials and recyclables from Resident Hall move out. The materials are then sorted and distributed to local charities and recycling centers: In 2009 over 17,000 lbs were diverted.

Reuse of Materials and Equipment
Both Main Campus and AS Receiving Departments collect and reuse packaging materials (plastic peanuts). Toner and laser cartridges are collected and recycled.
Both Main Campus and AS Receiving Departments reuse pallets or sell them to pallet recyclers.
Efforts are made to store surplus furniture for reuse, resale, or donation.

Reduction of Hazardous Materials Use
Micro-scale chemistry is used whenever possible to reduce chemical use.

PROGRAMS
Bring your own cup
Reuse to go containers

POLICIES

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS

OUTREACH
Zero Waste Group
Compost Education Coordinators
Phone Books


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Performance Yaer: FY '12/'13


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.