Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 46.40
Liaison Shannon Craig
Submission Date Nov. 25, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Camosun College
OP-22: Waste Minimization

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.22 / 5.00 Mike Nunn
Supervisor
Custodial Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Waste generated::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 330.10 Metric tons 211.20 Metric tons
Materials composted 0 Metric tons 0 Metric tons
Materials reused, donated or re-sold 4.84 Metric tons 6.76 Metric tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 468.70 Metric tons 401.95 Metric tons

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of residential students 0 0
Number of residential employees 0 0
Number of in-patient hospital beds 0 0
Full-time equivalent enrollment 9,792.90 9,574.25
Full-time equivalent of employees 929 954
Full-time equivalent of distance education students 0 0

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2014 Dec. 31, 2014
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2013 Dec. 31, 2013

A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
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A brief description of any (non-food) waste audits employed by the institution:

Sustainability Services and Waste Management of Canada Corporation has carried out two waste audits at Camosun College in 2013 and 2014. In order to characterize the material stream, visual observations and samples were obtained from various collection areas. Labels were placed on the waste bags to identify from which areas the material was collected. The collected material was collected in a designated location separate from other waste collection areas. Samples were collected from a total of 53 source areas (in 2013) and 56 source areas (in 2014) across both campus locations over a 24 hour period. Materials were divided into categories and weights of each material were recorded. Waste categories included papers, organics, plastics, metals, glass and other.


A brief description of any institutional procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
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A brief description of any surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

Surplus office supplies are handled by Receiving and Facilities in which they are either redistributed on campus, donated to local organizations such as Compassionate Warehouse, sent to BC Asset Disposal, sold or recycled.


A brief description of the institution's efforts to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:

Camosun continues to seek out ways in which it can reduce its printing by making applicable resources and departments "paperless". For example, efforts to reduce office printing have resulted in all of Camosun's reports and documents being available online. Receipts handled by finance, including parking and registration receipts have gone paperless. The bookstore offers ebook options as well.


A brief description of any limits on paper and ink consumption employed by the institution:

Free printing for students is not provided. All printers at Camosun are set to default to printing double sided.


A brief description of any programs employed by the institution to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:

Camosun does not have any residence buildings.


A brief description of any other (non-food) waste minimization strategies employed by the institution:
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A brief description of any food waste audits employed by the institution:

Organics, including food waste were included in the waste audits performed in 2013 and 2014.


A brief description of any programs and/or practices to track and reduce pre-consumer food waste in the form of kitchen food waste, prep waste and spoilage:
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A brief description of programs and/or practices to track and reduce post-consumer food waste:
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A brief description of the institution's provision of reusable and/or third party certified compostable to-go containers for to-go food and beverage items (in conjunction with a composting program):

Camosun dining services use compostable plates, takeout containers, soup bowl and coffee cups.


A brief description of the institution's provision of reusable service ware for “dine in” meals and reusable and/or third party certified compostable service ware for to-go meals (in conjunction with a composting program):

All dine-in meals are served with reusable containers and cutlery. Takeout containers, soup bowls and coffee cups are compostable. All napkins are made of 100% recycled materials.


A brief description of any discounts offered to customers who use reusable containers (e.g. mugs) instead of disposable or compostable containers in to-go food service operations:

Receive $0.10 off drinks when a reusable mug is used.


A brief description of other dining services waste minimization programs and initiatives:

Dining food services divert materials and separate waste into glass, plastics, cans/ aluminum, paper and cardboard and soft plastics for recycling. Styrofoam is not accepted from suppliers. Organic waste is separated into pre and post consumer waste for separation in compost stream. A company called Level Ground pick up 100% of plastic vacuum bags from coffee for reuse in coffee regions as small business supplies (women make bags and purses and sell to tourists). All Coffee grounds, kitchen waste paper towels are composted. Food services purchase in bulk whenever possible.

Separation bins are located throughout our foodservices – both front and back of house for recycling purposes. Staff is trained as to what products go where and students are encouraged verbally and with directive signage to divert waste into the correct stream. Food services continue to look for more efficient and environmentally sound packaging solutions.


The website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Camosun actively participates in several composting programs. However, the waste audit preformed at Camosun included composted materials into the category of "Waste recycled" which is why it is reported that 0.0 tonnes of waste was composted for the performance and baseline years.


Camosun actively participates in several composting programs. However, the waste audit preformed at Camosun included composted materials into the category of "Waste recycled" which is why it is reported that 0.0 tonnes of waste was composted for the performance and baseline years.

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.