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-23: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.25 / 3.00 Mike Nunn
Supervisor
Custodial Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
334.94 Metric tons

Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
468.67 Metric tons

A brief description of programs, policies, infrastructure investments, outreach efforts, and/or other factors that contributed to the diversion rate, including efforts made during the previous three years:

Signage indicating what types of materials are suitable for the different recycling and composting bins are located at most waste and recycling areas. Additionally, composting and recycling information is available on the Office of Environmental Sustainability website and table demonstrations and information booths occur several times a year at different student events. A co-op student working with Facilities and the Office of Environmental Sustainability was hired in the Spring of 2015 to conduct a waste audit in addition to developing more effective recycling and compost signage. A pilot program is also in place right now where certain offices have been targeted and their desk garbage bins have been removed to see if it results in a higher diversion rate as individuals are forced to go to recycling sorting stations rather than simply throwing waste into garbage bins. This work is still ongoing.


A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:
---

A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

Camosun college provides composting bins across campus for pre and post consumer food waste, organic waste and other acceptable products such as compostable napkins, cutlery and stir sticks. Small compost bins are located strategically in hallways and offices while larger bins can be found in food service areas. The compost is collected by ReFuse, however, some compostable materials from targeted areas are collected and used for either of the two pilot compost programs taking place at Camosun; The Cone Digester Project and Vermicomposting Project.


A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

Camosun college provides composting bins across campus for pre and post consumer food waste, organic waste and other acceptable products such as compostable napkins, cutlery and stir sticks. Small compost bins are located strategically in hallways and offices while larger bins can be found in food service areas. The compost is collected by ReFuse, however, some compostable materials from targeted areas are collected and used for either of the two pilot compost programs taking place at Camosun; The Cone Digester Project and Vermicomposting Project.


Does the institution include the following materials in its waste diversion efforts?:
Yes or No
Paper, plastics, glass, metals, and other recyclable containers Yes
Food donations No
Food for animals No
Food composting Yes
Cooking oil Yes
Plant materials composting Yes
Animal bedding composting No
Batteries Yes
Light bulbs Yes
Toner/ink-jet cartridges Yes
White goods (i.e. appliances) Yes
Laboratory equipment Yes
Furniture Yes
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste No
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets ---
Motor oil ---
Tires ---

Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:

At each campus, cigarette butts are collected from smoking areas and recycled through TerraCycle. Cigarette butts are used to make industrial materials like low-grade plastics. The program began in February 2014 and since then 5 lbs have been collected at Lansdowne. New ashtrays with recycling signage that promote the ease of collection will be installed at each smoking station.


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The number reported for "Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator" is a best estimate only. Camosun does not track items re-used or sold based on weight. In order to get this number the weight of each item re-used and sold by the college was estimated.


The number reported for "Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator" is a best estimate only. Camosun does not track items re-used or sold based on weight. In order to get this number the weight of each item re-used and sold by the college was estimated.

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.