| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 55.91 |
| Liaison | Jessica Spence |
| Submission Date | July 26, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Central New Mexico Community College
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.72 / 8.00 |
Molly
Blumhoefer Campus as a Living Lab and Sustainability Project Manager PPD |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 32.80 Tons | 26.43 Tons |
| Materials composted | 13.90 Tons | 0 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 | 557.19 Tons | 290.73 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 603.89 Tons | 317.16 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
2019
It was discovered that prior to 2016, Waste Management was using a conversion factor (volume to weight in lbs) of 139 for recycling (probably because this is what the RecycleMania Org required) and 90 conversion factor for Waste. After speaking with Waste Management Rep (Dan Darnell, July 2019) this doesn't make sense as waste is always heavier than recycling (we do not recycle glass). He explained that Waste Management has since been using conversion factor of 21 for recycling and 60 for waste (cubic yards to lbs). Therefore, we had to recalculate the baseline data so that our reports are "apples to apples". Baseline was 175 tons for recycling (350,000 lbs/139=2,517.98 cubic yards). New conversion is 2,517.98*21 = 52,878 lb s=26.43 tons. Materials disposed of in landfill (Baseline) was 436.1 tons (872,200 lbs/90=9691.1 cubic yards). New conversion is 9691.1*60 = 581,467 lbs= 290.73 tons. Dan Darnell (WM) also said that this doesn’t seem to make sense because since 2010 (baseline) we have been diverting more and more waste from landfills every year, evidenced by data collection, our participation in RecycleMania and the removal (or recommended removal) of several roll-away trash receptacles from buildings as they are no longer needed. He thinks that perhaps the baseline year data was recorded incorrectly. Oh well.
Furthermore, as a part of our Waste Minimization and Recycling efforts, Waste Management tracked recyclables and trash on all campuses for 8 weeks during spring 2019 for RecycleMania Competition. Summer semester is much slower and fall semester is about the same or slightly busier than spring, so these weeks are representative estimate of what is collected during the rest of the year (probably slightly higher).
Culinary arts had a contract with Soilutions compost facility. They reported 13.9 tons of compost that was sent from CNM (Chris Morosin reported to Molly Blumhoefer via email).
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2018 | June 30, 2019 |
| Baseline Year | Jan. 1, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2010 |
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):
The first year under contract with Waste Management and a clear directive to reduce waste through the CNM Environmental and Climate Neutrality Plan. Since, the college has participated in RecycleMania and has been overhauling it's operational and educational programs related.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| 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 | 14,813 | 12,144 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 1,412 | 1,112 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,121 | 2,219 |
| Weighted campus users | 11,328 | 8,277.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.05 Tons | 0.04 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 | No |
| Plant materials | Yes |
| Animal bedding | No |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | Yes |
| Laboratory equipment | No |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | Yes |
| Scrap metal | Yes |
| Pallets | Yes |
| Tires | Yes |
| Other (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
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:
CNM has run an operational campaign to reorganize all recycling bins across campuses (2017-2019) so that they are paired with trash receptacles to reduce contamination. There also been installed new signage across all campuses that show and tell (in Spanish & English) what goes in each bin. We won the waste minimization case-study competition from RecycleMania Organization in 2018 and received an "honorable mention" in 2019 competition.
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:
Recycling bin coca-cola grant was awarded to CNM in 2017. A recycling/trash bin reorganization (a part of RecyceleMania Campaign) has been implemented every spring semester by M&O Department. Educational outreach efforts reach across the entire institution. The CNM Sustainability Project Manager attends every New Employee Orientation, individual schools and departments, classrooms, and has online resources and other resources that are distributed at New Student Orientation. These presentations and resources go over recycling basics and details about contamination. CNM won a "waste minimization" RecycleMania competition in 2018 and received an honorable mention in 2019. We also just finished the installation of signage in all buildings across all campuses (see above).
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
We ran a recycling audit in 2018 and 2019 as a part of RecycleMania competition. The 2018 was a "visual" inspection, and in 2019 we got our hands dirty to see the "real" diversion and contamination rates, which were slightly higher than previously recorded. We are running another audit in Fall 2019 that will last the entire semester as it is a project being implemented in one of our on-campus classes.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
We adhere to LEED criteria for all new construction and renovations. Additionally we have an in-house "re-purpose" program for furniture. Furniture that we do not wish to re-purpose goes to Bentley's Auction house, where is is sold.
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):
We have a Bring Your Own Device initiative that accepts donated electronics for student use, free of charge. IT Department takes and refurbishes desktop computers.
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):
LEED has mandates that inhibit printing in common areas so we have in-house policies that are applied to printers that only allow specific number of pages to be printed from specific machines. Additionally, we have a PaperCut Policy in place so that students are only allowed to print a specific # of paper free of charge.
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:
A lot of instructors have adopted no-print policies and are encouraged to do so through CNM's "Paper-cut" Policy. This has resulted in only "2 truck loads" of printing paper ordered to the college in 2019 compared to 6 truckloads in 2014 (as reported by Greg Van Wart, senior buyer).
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
N/A
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
LEED has mandates that require the reuse of builing materials (reported in next STARS Category, OP-20).
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:
2019 Update:
All stats reported by Waste Management. Averages were determined based on waste and recyclables measured during Spring 2018.
2019 Update:
All stats reported by Waste Management. Averages were determined based on waste and recyclables measured during Spring 2018.
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.