Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.09
Liaison Joseph Kahn
Submission Date Oct. 15, 2020

STARS v2.2

Central Michigan University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.75 / 8.00 Jay Kahn
Facilities Operations Director
Facilities Managment
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 79.69 Tons 557.81 Tons
Materials composted 332.42 Tons 16.39 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 136.27 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 16.79 Tons 14 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 1,545.73 Tons 1,792.79 Tons
Total waste generated 2,110.90 Tons 2,380.99 Tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility:

Central Michigan University releases all of its used or unwanted cooking oil to a company called Darling, where it is converted into bio-fuels.


Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Period Jan. 1, 2018 Dec. 31, 2018
Baseline Period Jan. 1, 2010 Dec. 31, 2010

A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:

The 2010 baseline was adapted because this was the year which Central Michigan University began implementing major sustainability efforts, such as composting, student sustainability clubs, and healthier waste disposal practices.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 5,096 5,695
Number of employees resident on-site 17 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 16,902 19,705
Full-time equivalent of employees 2,379 2,254
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 2,112 1,386
Weighted campus users 14,155 16,853.50

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.15 Tons 0.14 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
25.98

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
26.77

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
Electronics 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:

Every year, CMU has a large surplus sale in which classroom, dorm, office, and facilities materials are resold to the general public.


Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
338.06 Tons

Does the institution use single stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
No

Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Yes

Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
No

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
15

A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:

The following information was obtained from the Central Michigan University Waste Management Procedures and Guidelines. This document is attached below.
PROCEDURE:
Facilities Management will be responsible for implementing this policy by:
1. Organizing, funding, hiring, and all other activities necessary to implement a recycling program.
2. Coordinating with the Purchasing Department to ensure recycled content products are purchased when feasible and that criteria for recycled content products are included in the purchasing bid process.
3. Designating personnel in Facilities Management to ensure that all new construction includes designated areas for recycling and solid waste collection and removal.
4. Designating personnel to promote recycling and waste reduction in employee and student orientation events and materials.
5. Ensure proper training and oversight of all Custodial Services employees on recycling practices.
6. Provide outreach and education on recycling policies and processes for the CMU community.
7. Encouraging all contractors to adhere to on-campus recycling policies and procedures.
8. Taking other appropriate action necessary to implement this Policy.
9. Conduct an annual review of the recycling program to ensure continuous improvement.


A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:

Central Michigan University is home to an immensely dedicated recycling team. A main focus of the Recycling department is outreach & education. Currently, CMU participates in the annual Recycle-mania tournament: a ten week recycling competition. Additionally, CMU clearly labels the top of all recycling bins with descriptions and pictures of what can be recycled in each bin, all while placing recycling bins in central locations. Finally, CMU advocates for student involvement in recycling through the Central Sustainability Coalition outreach programs such as sustainability themes, monthly meetings, and the Environmental Advocacy Conference.


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

The following information was retrieved from the Central Michigan University Waste Management Procedures and Guidelines. This document is attached below.
Minimizing Waste:
All members of the University are responsible for implementing operational practices that prevent waste from being produced. Examples include printing reports and documents on both sides of the paper; printing appropriate numbers of documents; using email rather than printed correspondence; and using products that are reusable, refillable, repairable, non- toxic, and recyclable. Items requiring the least possible packaging should be purchased when practical. Every effort should be made to prevent excess or unneeded materials from being purchased.

Encouraging Reuse:
All members of the University are responsible for reusing products whenever possible. Examples include obtaining office furniture from the University Purchasing Department or using dishes, glasses, and reusable flatware rather than disposable paper and plastic ware.

Maximizing Recycling:
All members of the University are responsible for separating identified recyclable materials and placing them in appropriate recycling containers. Campus Recycling includes aluminum cans, batteries, cardboard, glass bottles, hard back books, microfiche, mixed paper, news blend, office blend, plastic bottles, Styrofoam and peanuts, toner cartridges, transparencies, videotapes, and additional items as implemented.

Purchasing of Recycled Content Materials:
All University departments are responsible for taking efforts to purchase and use products manufactured from or containing recycled materials.


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:

The Central Michigan University Department of Diversity and Facilities Management is currently developing a 2020 Sustainable Purchasing Policy. This will be a detailed procedure to prevent unsustainable purchasing through a Life-Cycle Assessment approach.


A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

Central Michigan University has multiple programs dedicated to diverting waste and reusing materials on campus and in the community. Within the purchasing department, Jeffery Peavy and Bradly Brookens are responsible for the resale and donation of surplus or used office supplies, infrastructural items, electronics, vehicles, machinery and other equipment. Each month an auction is held for the community, to allow individuals to purchase surplus and used items at extremely reduced rates. Additionally, every May, a large scale, everything must go, auction is held to clear out surplus inventory from the University storage space.


A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:

Many of CMU's departments has set up electronic pages, encouraging students to buy, sell and trade textbooks, as well as other materials needed for corresponding classes. Forums, facebook pages and other social media platforms have been created by, both the University and students, to create the space for the exchange of educational materials between peers.


A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:

All public space printers are set on eco-friendly settings, utilizing black and white/grey scale printing. Most printers print in grey instead of solid black to reduce the total amount of ink used per print job. Unless specified, all printers will print double-sided in order to reduce total amount of paper used per print job. Additionally, each student receives a pre-determined allotted amount of printing credits. Once used, the student is required to purchase additional credits. This policy is in an effort to encourage students to reduce the amount of printing they do during their academic studies.


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

All course catalogs, schedules and directories are available through the CMU portol inline at cmich.edu. Students can drop/add and manage their schedules from CMU's online services. These initiatives drastically reduce the amount of paper/materials created for mandatory student use. Additionally, CMU offers program syllabus information, class information and other required informative materials for ALL classes offered at the University through blackboard as well as through outlook email services found within the CMU portol.


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

Luanne Goffnett runs a move-in, move-out program that allows students to procure items from peers for personal use, as well as create the opportunity for outward-bound students to donate living space items. These items are then displayed within Finch Fieldhouse as a free store for incoming students and community members.


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

Recycling containers collect peelings and scraps from food preparation and leftovers scraped from bowls and plates. Facilities Management picks up and trucks the waste to Morgan Composting in Sears, Michigan, three times a week. The food waste is then composted, and sold back to CMU as soil which is used throughout campus. This is a full circle process which recovers all food waste from dining halls.


Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts is available:
https://www.cmich.edu/news/article/Pages/Sustainability-2018.aspx

Additional documentation to support the submission:
Solid_waste_management_policy_1.pdf

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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.