| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 63.54 |
| Liaison | Carly Thibodeau |
| Submission Date | Aug. 8, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Endicott College
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.13 / 8.00 |
Meghan
Wrenn Sustainability Coordinator Sustainability |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 134.84 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials composted | 237.35 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 11.01 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 556.23 Tons | 1,800 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 939.43 Tons | 1,800 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, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2018 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2008 | July 1, 2009 |
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):
This is the first year for which we have reliable data. The recycling program was started in 2008.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,493 | 1,800 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 12 | 10 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 4,256 | 2,500 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 670.70 | 385 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 688.90 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 3,804.60 | 2,616.25 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.25 Tons | 0.69 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 |
| 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:
Books
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:
The Sustainability Coordinator conducts ongoing analysis of recycling contamination and dumpster overage occurrences.
Facilities personnel have been trained to deal with contamination and remove contaminating material from the recycling dumpsters when they find it.
Multiple behavior change campaigns and surveys have been created to communicate changes in the recycling industry to students.
The Office of Sustainability created universal waste signage to inform students, staff, and guests about what goes in the trash, recycling, and compost bins.
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 participates in the annual RecycleMania competition every February and March, during which we host multiple waste-related events such as a Game Day Recycling Challenge at a home basketball game and an Office "FreeCycle." This year we added a waste diversion competition between 3 of the largest residence halls on campus. We also developed universal waste signage that was rolled out this year for the entire campus and have been working to standardize all waste bins for size, color, and signage to improve communication.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Trash, recycling, and food waste is tracked first-hand 3x a week during RecycleMania. We have also done multiple waste audits with environmental science students and visiting camps. In the audits we sort the materials from a trash dumpster outside of a residence hall.
Every month, the Sustainability Coordinator tracks recycling contamination and dumpster overage occurrences. A Solid Waste Annual Report is completed yearly to evaluate the current status of waste management on campus, and waste bin inventories are completed periodically.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
We purchase all toilet paper, paper towels and other custodial supplies in bulk. The following statements are included in the College's Purchasing Guidelines:
- Minimize the consumption of non-replaceable natural resources
- Minimize waste from packaging materials and waste generated by the eventual disposal of the product
- Maximize the reuse and recyclability of materials
- Avoid the purchase of polystyrene (Styrofoam)
- Durable, long lasting, reusable or refillable products are always preferred when feasible
- Packaging should be reusable, recyclable or compostable, if possible
- Request vendors review the manner in which their goods are packaged, and work with them in the areas of reduction, reuse and recyclability of packaging materials
- Consolidate orders to minimize campus deliveries and transportation distances when possible
- When possible, vendors should be encouraged to remove waste, debris, packaging or used products in the same vehicle with which they are delivering purchased equipment or goods
- Reuse and/or recycle packaging materials and pallets on campus
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
We host Office FreeCycle events where members of the community can bring office supplies, home items, toys, clothing, etc. to a central location so that others can "shop" the materials in a free store.
Community Service allows Endicott staff and faculty to browse through donation items collected during move-out every year.
Our copy center makes notepads out of recycled paper that are available to faculty, staff and students.
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 host Office FreeCycle events where members of the community can bring office supplies, home items, toys, clothing, etc. to a central location so that others can "shop" the materials in a free store.
Community Service allows Endicott staff and faculty to browse through donation items collected during move-out every year. Students are also able to take any items that they need. Community service sets aside specific material for international students such as lamps, shelving, linens, etc.
Faculty often coordinate their own book-exchange platforms.
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 pay to print at all locations on campus.
Double-sided printing is the default setting for Endicott-owned computers. Offices are encouraged to print double sided and on recycled paper whenever possible.
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:
Our directory, course catalog and course schedules are all available online. We also offer full online courses and use an online interface (Canvas) where students are able to access course materials, submit papers, download articles and have discussions on topics.
The Communications and Marketing Department is transitioning to making College publications (magazine, "Facts and Figures", etc.) available online.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Every residence hall has donation bins/areas located in the main lobby during move-out. Items collected include clothing, non-perishables, toiletries, books and school supplies, working appliances, furniture, etc. Community Service and the Office of Sustainability work together to collect, sort, and transport these items to local charities. There are also Cradles to Crayons and Planet Aid clothing collection bins on campus.
During move-in, specific dumpsters near each residence hall are designated as "cardboard only" to collect packaging waste.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
We have multiple water refill stations located in various buildings on campus that have helped encourage the use of refillable water bottles and reduce the amount of plastic water bottles used on campus.
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:
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.