| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 47.09 |
| Liaison | Tom Hartzell |
| Submission Date | June 28, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Calvin University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.43 / 8.00 |
Henry
Kingma Groundskeeper Physical Plant |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 255.71 Tons | 226.90 Tons |
| Materials composted | 432 Tons | 0.30 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 | 704.07 Tons | 943.95 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,391.78 Tons | 1,171.15 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
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, 2009 | Dec. 31, 2009 |
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):
Baseline year was chosen because a building project was completed and Calvin Energy Return Fund projects were first implemented.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,189 | 2,284 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 11 | 10 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 18 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 4,104 | 3,983 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 781 | 816 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 13.90 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 4,221.33 | 4,172.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.33 Tons | 0.28 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 | 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 | No |
| Other (please specify below) | Yes |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Hazardous waste, styrofoam, corrugated cardboard, asphalt, concrete, ballasts, electronics, copper wire, clothing from student move-out, batteries, mattresses,
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) :
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?:
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?:
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?:
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:
Recycling crew inspects recyclable materials for contamination and sorts accordingly.
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:
n/a
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Totals calculated annually.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
n/a
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
n/a
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):
Information Technology department tags and monitors all computer equipment for periodic replacement. Secondary and tertiary applications extend the working life of computer equipment.
Bookstore has a textbook buy-back program.
During remodeling projects Physical Plant saves good office furnishings, plumbing equipment, waste containers, etc., for reuse.
"Calvin Deals" is located in the college Portal and is a place for employees to exchange goods.
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):
Printer access is by login. Departments and student accounts are billed.
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:
College has a Portal for staff and students where they can access information about anything from a course syllabus to committee information to items for sale.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Recycling stations are set up at each residence and a local church has a donation site for thrift items in each dorm lobby.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Composting of material generated by Grounds Department. ~250 cubic yards/year. Concrete and asphalt is sent to be crushed and re-used.
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:
Re: Materials donated, re-used, re-sold.
Calvin donates a large amount of student move-out surplus to a local church, but the material is not weighed.
Re: Materials donated, re-used, re-sold.
Calvin donates a large amount of student move-out surplus to a local church, but the material is not weighed.
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.