Overall Rating Platinum - expired
Overall Score 85.05
Liaison Lisa Kilgore
Submission Date March 5, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Cornell University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.55 / 8.00 Spring Buck
R5 Manager
Facilities Operations
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Parts 1 and 2: Waste Minimization 

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 1,170.16 Tons 1,834.63 Tons
Materials composted 3,702.40 Tons 7,430.36 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 61.55 Tons 77.21 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 3,349.61 Tons 3,011.31 Tons
Total waste generated 8,283.72 Tons 12,353.51 Tons

If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
The Cornell College of Vetrinary Medicine utilizes an alkaline hydrolysis digester (a state-of-the-art, water-based process) that combines high pH, heat and pressure to treat animal remains, leaving an environmentally safe liquid effluent and treated solid remains. The effluent material is then taken to the local Ithaca waste water treatment plant where it is processed by anaerobic digesters and converted into biogas, contributing to the plant being able to produce around 60 percent of the energy required to run the facility.

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2018 Dec. 31, 2018
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2013 Dec. 31, 2013

If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:

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):
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Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 6,954 7,447
Number of employees resident on-site 33 35
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 481 459
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 23,503 21,424
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 11,364 12,607
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 745 0
Weighted campus users 27,819.25 27,852.75

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.30 Tons 0.44 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
32.86

Part 3: Waste Diversion

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
59.56

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
59.56

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 Yes
White goods (i.e. appliances) No
Laboratory equipment Yes
Furniture Yes
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste No
Scrap metal No
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:
mattresses

Optional Fields 

Active Recovery and Reuse

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) :
553.74 Tons

Recycling Management 

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?:
Yes

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?:
No

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?:
No

Contamination and Discard Rates 

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
4

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:
Campus single stream recycling is sorted at local county recycle center. County recycle program provides direct feedback on contamination and quality regarding single stream recycling. Feedback is used to focus education and engagement efforts as well as operational efforts.

Programs and Initiatives 

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:
Outreach and education has been a large strategy for waste minimization including but not limited to: Recyclemania; presentations to classes, student clubs, and campus groups; staff training's; engagement with event coordinators in planning for low waste events; and the new "Think Big Live Green" outreach education campaign that was piloted in the College of Engineering in 2013 with a component on waste reduction, and has been expanding through additional colleges to current year.

A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Campus single stream recycling is sorted at local county recycle center. County recycle program provides direct feedback on contamination and quality regarding single stream recycling. Feedback is used to focus education and engagement efforts as well as operational efforts. Additionally, a waste audit of a large administrative facility was performed in 2015 to identify potential impacts of converting campus desk-side landfill bins to "mini-bins" with a centralized self-carry system.

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:
Cornell University surplus programs are currently decentralized and include the CATS program, the STACS Program, and donations to not for profit groups. Additionally, the University contracts with Sedgwick Business Interiors utilizing their Asset Inventory Management (AIM) program: CATS Program: The Cornell Assets Transfer System (CATS) run by the Division of Financial Affairs - Cost and Capital Assets Department. This system is intended for items with a value exceeding $5,000 (though often used for items under $5,000), and is designed to connect those with available campus assets with those who can put the assets to further use. The Office of Community Relations coordinates equipment requests from the off-campus community where it is appropriate for assets to be gifted to an individual or outside agency. STACS Program: R5 Operations manages both the System for Trade and Auction of Cornell Surplus (STACS) and the Facilities Services Reuse Program. As items are collected for disposal R5 Operations appropriately sorts furniture and office supplies for use by University Departments, for sale to the general public, and for the annual Dump and Run sale organized by Campus Life. Sedgwick Business Interiors Asset Inventory Management (AIM) program: AIM Program inventories all furniture for an account/project. The Sedgwick project team generates a customized Internet based asset inventory (AIM) list of all items stored. Items cataloged are rated as to their present condition to be used as a reference when items are re-deployed to other areas. AIM allows users to view all reserved, stored products online for future moves and reconfigures, leaving anything un-used stored. By managing active customer inventory, through reliable consistent information, better utilization of assets may be achieved and less product will be purchased; customer standards may be identified and managed, allowing for reduction in asset levels and customer storage costs. Current accounts/projects on the Cornell campus include those in the College of Human Ecology, the Statler Hotel, Campus Life, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and more. Donations: Donations of Cornell owned items are coordinated by the Department of Community and Government Relations. Human Services Coalition Listserv: The mission of the Human Services Coalition is to identify information and service needs, to provide planning and coordination, and to enhance the delivery of health and human services in the Tompkins County area. The listserv is open to persons who are affiliated with the non-profit sector. This may include employees or volunteers at not-for-profit agencies, county and city departments, elected officials, board members, or other affiliates. An award by the Appalachian Regional Commission to the Tompkins County Collaborative Communications Project, in cooperation with Cornell University, provided funding for this service. Over 11,000 individuals subscribe to the listserv. Departments at Cornell University frequently utilize the listserv to post items available for reuse. Listserv addess: http://www.hsctc.org/

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):
N/A

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):
There is a cost for all printing at libraries and computer labs. Printing at these facilities is managed through a program named "Net-Print" which allows students, faculty, and staff to create an account, make payments in advance or, for students, be charged monthly on one's University Bursar bill. Costs vary depending on location, paper size and color choice (black and white or color print). In addition to printers, photocopy machines are located in libraries. There is no charge for scanning a document to a flash-drive, or sending a scan of a document to an email account. All printed photocopies incur a cost paid by cash, or with advance purchase of a copy card. Costs vary depending on location, paper size and color choice (black and white or color copy).

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:
Cornell has placed its course catalog online for a number of years while reducing the number of paper copies that are printed. As of the 2011-2012 academic year, paper catalogs were eliminated altogether. Users can select pages or sections of the online catalog and turn them into pdf files that they can keep on their computers and/or print themselves. http://courses.cornell.edu/ Cornell has a searchable "course and time roster" posted online. https://classes.cornell.edu/browse/roster/SP20 The university has an online directory that replaced a printed phone book that was discontinued in 2009. http://www.cornell.edu/search/?q=&submit=go&tab=people

A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Dump & Run is Cornell’s annual campus-wide waste-reduction and recycling program to reduce move-out waste. Student and staff volunteers collect items students might otherwise throw away when leaving campus in May, sort and organize the collected items over the summer, and resell them at a large community sale when students return in August. Items are collected from both university owned residence halls and apartments, as well privately owned apartments and houses. Items collected include clothing, shoes, organizational units, working appliances and electronics, furniture, sporting items, coat hangers, decorations, new toiletries, non-perishable food, text books, etc. Proceeds from each Dump & Run sale are donated to local nonprofit organizations. This year's sale will benefit Cops, Kids & Toys; Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC); Loaves & Fishes; Shelter Outreach Services, Finger Lakes ReUse, and United Way of Tompkins County. Since Cornell's Dump & Run program began in 2003, the university's program has contributed more than $275,000 to Ithaca-area charities. In 2013, 30 tons of reusable items were diverted from landfills. Dump & Run is organized by Cornell students, with support from Campus Life. Cornell's program is modeled after a national program. Visit https://sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/campus-initiatives/materials-management/reuse-recycling/dump-run

A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Outreach and education has been a large strategy for waste minimization including but not limited to: Recyclemania; presentations to classes, student clubs, and campus groups; staff trainings; engagement with event coordinators in planning for low waste events; and the new "Think Big Live Green" outreach education campaign that was piloted in the College of Engineering in 2013 with a component on waste reduction.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://recycle.cornell.edu/

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.