| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 47.82 |
| Liaison | John Stolz |
| Submission Date | March 4, 2022 |
Duquesne University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
6.46 / 8.00 |
Brianna
Marks Graduate Assistant Center for Environmental Research and Education |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 57.97 Tons | 138.08 Tons |
| Materials composted | 171.89 Tons | 59.65 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 41.99 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 246.84 Tons | 1,342.14 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 518.69 Tons | 1,539.87 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
We collect commingled recycle product through asingle stream process. The product is collected and transferred to a GreenBuilt Marathon Compactor for recycle material only. This compactor is transported directly to the recycle company for processing. Composted materials are only collected at two locations - Hogan Dining Center and the Catering Kitchen in the Student Union Building.
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2020 | June 30, 2021 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
The baseline year of 2014 was chosen because this year is the earliest year that compost, recycling, and landfill data were all available.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,068 | 3,822 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 12 | 17 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 2 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 7,818 | 9,502 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,818 | 2,238 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 749 | 310 |
| Weighted campus users | 7,437.25 | 9,532.25 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.07 Tons | 0.16 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 | 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:
Batteries, light bulbs, and printer cartridges are collected and recycled.
Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
Does the institution use single stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
Signage is provided on each recycling container throughout campus. Facilities team members also spot check recyclables to reduce contamination.
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
Duquesne University's Evergreen Club initiated the annual Waste is Wack event during Earth Week which aims to educate the campus community about how to reduce their waste footprint, promoting reusable materials and recycling effectively. The event has not occurred since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but will be restarted this coming year (2022). Additionally, Hogan Dining has initiated the semesterly Weigh the Waste event so that students can see how much food waste they are generating per person every meal.
This year Duquesne's Center for Environmental Research and Education hosted an hour-long virtual EnviroBytes program titled "Recycling 101 at Duquesne". Students and faculty that attended the Zoom event learned about the signage that is used at the University and how to wash/sort recycled materials before putting them into the bin as to avoid contamination.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Hogan Dining has initiated the Weigh the Waste event once every semester so that students can see how much food waste they are generating per person every meal.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
Duquesne University supports Green Purchasing, upholding the philosophy of a Green Campus by assessing the environmental impacts of incoming commodities and outgoing waste. We encourage vendors to minimize waste, reduce excess packaging, recycle, reduce, reuse, prevent pollution and/or offer resource efficiency. It is our goal to maximize environmental responsibility on the University Campus.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
No official policy - but Sustainability Manager assists in facilitating exchanges.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
No official policy - but Sustainability Manager assists in facilitating exchanges. Campus Computer Store assists with buying back and re-selling computers and other technology.
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
Yes, the campus library has restricted free printing for students. Students can print 3000 pages per academic year. Any additional pages must be purchased at approximately $0.03 per page.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
These materials are available for free on Duquesne University's website. In July, 2010, Duquesne University implemented an automated payroll process that eliminated three paper processes. Other programs have been successfully used such as FAMIS, a computerized maintenance management system that reduces paper usage. Another paperless program assists us in managing the custodial operations and building inspections via handheld PDAs (Personal Data Assistant) instead of the paper checklists of the past.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
During move-in, cardboard is separated and collected for recycling. Duquesne also permits reuse of student items purposely left behind after moving out of the Living Learning Centers. In addition, the Office of Residence Life promotes a reuse rental program for in-room mini-fridges and microwave ovens.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
No official policy - but Sustainability Manager assists in facilitating exchanges both on campus and with local non-profits.
Used furniture that is being displaced by renovation projects and is not needed by other University users is often donated to organizations such as Construction Junction and Habitat for Humanity. This is done on a project-by-project basis, at the discretion of project managers and user groups, and is not quantitatively tracked.
Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.