Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 73.41
Liaison Jillian Leach
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

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

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.09 / 8.00 Eliza Miller
Recycling Program Coordinator
Associated Students
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 541.23 Metric tons 469.11 Metric tons
Materials composted 330.22 Metric tons 480.08 Metric tons
Materials donated or re-sold 5.72 Metric tons Metric tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion Metric tons Metric tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 1,039.79 Metric tons 1,737.62 Metric tons
Total waste generated 1,916.94 Metric tons 2,686.81 Metric tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
N/A

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2016 Dec. 31, 2016
Baseline Year July 1, 2010 June 30, 2011

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):
Well-documented baseline year used for previous STARS report.

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site
Number of employees resident on-site
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty)
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education
Weighted campus users

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.14 Metric tons 0.21 Metric 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 No
Plant materials Yes
Animal bedding No
White goods (i.e. appliances) No
Laboratory equipment No
Furniture Yes
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste Yes
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:
Appliances are recycled. Surplus furniture is largely donated, some taken to landfill. Empty ink and toner cartridges are recycled.

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) :
9.07 Metric 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?:
No

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?:
Yes

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:
In the student union building and main campus dining area garbage, recycling and composting bins include signage showing examples of what types of materials should be disposed of in which bin.

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:
AS Sustainability conducts regular campus outreach related to recycling and conservation through its student programs and events, signage throughout the student union and main campus dining areas.

A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
A comprehensive campus0wide waste audit was last completed in 2010, Spring 2018 the AS recycling program will be conducting a single-day audit of waste and recycling stream characterization from the student union.

A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
Sustainable Procurement: 1. Campuses will promote use of suppliers and/or vendors who reduce waste, re-purpose recycled material, or support other environmentally friendly practices in the provision of goods or services to the CSU under contract. This may include additional evaluation points in solicitation evaluations for suppliers integrating sustainable practices. (14-New) 2. To move to zero waste, campus practices should: (1) encourage use of products that minimize the volume of trash sent to landfill or incinerators; (2) participate in the CalRecycle Buy-Recycled program or equivalent; and (3) increase recycled content purchases in all BuyRecycled program product categories. (14-New) California State University Sustainability Policy Proposal (RJEP/CPBG 05-14-01)

A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Surplus Property: If the surplus property is still useful to the University it will be held in a surplus “viewing” area located at the Warehouse and will become available for reutilization to all University departments. The Property Management Office will frequently provide a listing of surplus equipment available for campus reutilization via Campus Announcements. Departments may contact PMO to inquire about existing property at any time. Surplus computer property is safeguarded for donation for educational purposes pending approval from the Property Management Survey Board. Surplus equipment, capitalized and non-capitalized, that is not reutilized by the campus will be reviewed by the Property Management Survey Board to determine the appropriate method of disposition (i.e. public auction, donation, competitive bids, salvage, or transfer to another state agency). AS Recycling / Sustainability Office Supplies Reuse: ASRP doesn't just recycle, it reuses! In the AS Sustainability Center (BMU 005) you will find bookshelves of FREE reuse school and office supplies, books, dishes and more. Feel free to bring in any of your extra school/office supplies and remember to only take what you can use. FreeCycle@Work: Freecycle@work is a free web application to make the reuse of furniture and office supplies easier for the campus community. It is a website that can be used to post unwanted office supplies or furniture or to search for things that your department may need. You may have a desk you no longer need or are in search of a chair, check out freecycle@work to either offer your item or to search among the items listed by our campus. http://www.csuchico.edu/pm/Freecycle.shtml

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):
AS Sustainability Free Store, materials donated and available.

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):
There is no free printing in computer labs or in the library. Students pay for printing via a print management system, using the campus WildcatCard debit account system.

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:
The 2011-2012 University catalog is only available oline and is not printed. Course Schedules and Directories are also available online. http://www.csuchico.edu/schedule/ http://webapps.csuchico.edu/directory/ The catalog, schedules and directory are clearly available at the top of the home page: http://www.csuchico.edu/

A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Diversion Excursion (DE) is annually hosted by University Housing and Food Services and AS Sustainability. The event aims to divert reusable and recyclable goods from the landfills; donating the goods to local charities while educating residents. DE tables, staffed with volunteers are located near each hall to collect the donations brought down by the residents. We collect non-perishable food items, clothing, books, office supplies, linens, and partially used shampoo, conditioner, soap, and laundry detergent, computers and more. This event is held the last two days of finals week. Over 20,000 lbs of material is recycled or donated to charity each year.

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

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

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.