Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 46.94
Liaison William Clancey
Submission Date Feb. 7, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Durham College
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.26 / 8.00 Tanya Roberts
Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 293.11 Tons 199.40 Tons
Materials composted 0 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 584.14 Tons 419.90 Tons
Total waste generated 877.25 Tons 619.30 Tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
---

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2019 Dec. 31, 2019
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2018 Dec. 31, 2018

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 baseline was adopted in 2018, with the introduction of an annual 3rd party waste audit.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 1,171 1,229
Number of employees resident on-site 8 6
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 7 1
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 11,624 10,873
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 838.58 818.91
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 455.50 0
Weighted campus users 9,307.06 9,078.68

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.09 Tons 0.07 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:
33.41

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
33.41

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 No
Animal bedding No
White goods (i.e. appliances) No
Laboratory equipment No
Furniture No
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste No
Scrap metal No
Pallets No
Tires No
Other (please specify below) Yes

A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:

Textbooks through the company Textbooks for Change
e-waste through Greentec
batteries through Raw Materials Co. (RMC)
Pens through Terracycle


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?:
No

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?:
Yes

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:
---

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:

The College has implemented a Green Office Certification program to help foster and guide sustainable waste reduction behaviors throughout campus admin and faculty offices.


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

waste/recycling audits are performed across campus annually by a third party contractor


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):

Our Purchasing Policy states the following:

3.6. Where possible, and without compromising overall best value, purchasing
preference will be given to locally sourced goods and services.

3.7. Where possible, and without compromising overall best value, purchasing
preference will be given to environmentally friendly goods and services.


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

Durham College has piloted and will soon be launching a pen recycling program through Terracycle


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):
---

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):

Students are allocated a specific dollar amount per academic year to go towards printing.
Signage is located at printers across campus to encourage students and staff to limit printing waste.
Computers default to double sided.


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:

Course catalogs and descriptions, course schedules, information about the school and employees contact information can be found online. Students can access class powerpoint's and handouts online to prevent paper copies of notes. Online versions of some textbooks can also be purchased at the bookstore. As an institute of technology, electronic versions are encouraged.


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

Both Durham College and our campus partner Ontario Tech University host a bi-annual Thrift Swap event in Partnership with Residence Life. Clothes, e-waste, batteries, paper, books, non-perishable food, pens, clothing and plastic bags are collected and recycled twice a year through this program


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

Signage is located above co-mingle bins to remind people to recycle appropriately. Waste audits are also completed on campus.

Our Whitby campus has implemented a steel recycling program as well as wood recycling program, where wood skids are recycled internally where possible

There is an on-site composting area designated for grounds maintenance


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:

OP 22 is reported as performance year of Jan 1 - Dec 31 2018, while IC 3 is reported as current 2019 data


OP 22 is reported as performance year of Jan 1 - Dec 31 2018, while IC 3 is reported as current 2019 data

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.