Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 39.53
Liaison Ellie Perry
Submission Date July 27, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

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

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.86 / 8.00 Ellie Perry
Sustainability Manager
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 86 Tons 85.70 Tons
Materials composted 15 Tons 15 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 251.16 Tons 637.10 Tons
Total waste generated 352.16 Tons 737.80 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 July 1, 2017 June 30, 2018
Baseline Year July 1, 2014 June 30, 2015

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 687 687
Number of employees resident on-site 0 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 11,325 10,472.40
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 1,178.40 996.33
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 1,680 1,000
Weighted campus users 8,289.30 8,023.30

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.04 Tons 0.09 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
53.80

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
28.68

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
28.68

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
Laboratory equipment Yes
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:

There is a hazardous waste program to recycle batteries, printer cartridges, and chemicals from the campus.


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) :
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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?:
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):
4

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:

The Office of Sustainability periodically conducts waste audits to evaluate diversion rates and contamination rates for recycling.


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:

In October of 2017, the campus began putting recycling guidance stickers and signs on exterior recycling bins.

The Office of Sustainability has also periodically sent out campus-wide e-mails with recycling guidance infographics and general information which are listed on its website for permanent reference. It also included a tabling event during March's Race to Reduce Month campaign to educate students on how to recycle properly.


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

In 2018, the Office of Sustainability conducted several internal waste audits as well as partnered with Rubbermaid to conduct a professional waste audit of campus buildings. It also released a staff/faculty survey that received 119 responses requesting feedback on a potential foodscraps collection program and whether employees were satisfied with their level of recycling access.


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:
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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):

Staff are encouraged to use the all-staff e-mail to let others know when their items are available for pick-up or exchange (e.g .furniture, filing cabinets, printer ink, etc.).


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):
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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:

All course catalogs and course schedules are available online. There are no hard copies distributed unless requested from the Office of Academic Records.


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

Housing provides a move-out recycling services program where residents are encouraged to think about donating or recycling their unwanted items prior to move out. This included an in-person visit by the Salvation Army to stage unwanted items (furniture and household) on Monday, April 30th and reminders about Housing's Soles4Souls donation boxes for clothing and shoes.


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.