Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.32
Liaison Robert Monico
Submission Date Aug. 23, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Fleming College
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.69 / 8.00 Andrew Lloyd
Project coordinator
OOS
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 248.71 Tons 151 Tons
Materials composted 7.50 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 276.46 Tons 167 Tons
Total waste generated 532.67 Tons 318 Tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year April 1, 2017 March 31, 2018
Baseline Year April 1, 2012 March 31, 2013

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):

Our baseline year is the start year of our first Sustainability Plan.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 661 506
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 6,396 5,915
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 798.50 668
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 5,561.13 5,063.75

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.10 Tons 0.06 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:
48.10

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
48.10

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) No

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

Fleming College tracks the weight of landfilled waste only. Recycled waste is tracked per lift and tonnage. We recycle cooking oil, plant material, scrap metal, and appliances. Furniture is reused or donated, students have the option to donate unwanted items and tires are recycled through the supplier. There is also a free market run by the Office of Sustainability.


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:

Fleming College has developed a new waste diversion plan during 2015/16. In 2017, we rolled the Sort It Out Campaign which included educational materials and rebranded signage on waste bins. In 2018, we launched the Waste Buddies program to engage and educate staff and students on the importance of waste diversion and contamination reduction.


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

The most recent 3rd party audit was conducted by Waste Reduction Inc. in the spring of 2019.
Fleming College's Waste Hauler performs an annual waste audit. In addition, mini waste audits are conducted by Fleming College's staff to assess diversion and contamination rates in specific areas. The new cleaning contract with Best Services was negotiated to include 3 additional waste audits per year.

The Office of Sustainability has also conducted annual waste audits and in 2019, hosted 17 students from the Sustainable Wastement Management program for their co-op placement and weekly audits were conducted over a five-week period.


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:

Fleming does not have a surplus department but does have a formal process in place to facilitate reuse of materials. Any surplus college equipment is returned to the Physical Resources Department. Dependant upon the state and vintage of the equipment, it is then sold through on line auctions, traded in, donated or lastly disposed of.


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):

Fleming students are provided $1.00 of printing credit at the beginning of each semester - printing or photocopying is $0.10 per page. Students are required to purchase additional credits thereafter.


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 very limited number of course catalogs printed each year. In general, all resources noted are availabe on-line through the Fleming website.


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

Cardboard recycling is the main focus of the move-out waste reduction program. For each of the 3 moveouts during the year, extra cardboard bins are set up, the largest taking place in April when 4 x 40 yd. bins are brought in and emptied three times/week.

Extra signage to promote waste diversion is utilized during the move-out period. Also, several student/staff diversion ambassadors are on hand to advise students of waste diversion opportunities.

Other communication vehicles used to promote waste diversion opportunities during move-out include traditional mail, email, and Facebook.

Charity Diversion - Fleming picks a charity each year to whom is donated non-perishable foods, clothing, pots/pans, bar fridges, tv's, etc. - must get items out quickly - the program is communicated through hard & electronic mail "get ready for move-out /recycling/diversion".

In addition, students are encouraged to utilize the on-site Eco-Shed for their compactor & recycling needs, and the vermicomposter for their food waste disposal. Each residence suite has a compost bucket.


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

In 2018, we formed a relationship with Compass Early Learning and Care. This organization uses used material from our Trades programs to construct learning devices/opportunities for early childhood locations throughout central Ontario.

"At Compass Early Learning and Care, we are working to build a better future for our children. We believe that this vision includes rethinking the materials and resources that find their way to landfill as junk or to the recycle bin. We are excited by the idea that many of these materials offer excellent learning tools for children. We are planning an initiative to re-purpose unwanted manufacturing cut-offs and discards for use by children, educators, families, and artists".


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:
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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.