| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.32 |
| Liaison | Kirk Hemphill |
| Submission Date | April 24, 2020 |
Florida Institute of Technology
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.34 / 8.00 |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Parts 1 and 2. Waste per person
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 578 Tons | 759.71 Tons |
| Materials composted | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 7 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 1,247 Tons | 1,719.90 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,832 Tons | 2,479.61 Tons |
If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | May 1, 2018 | April 30, 2019 |
| Baseline Period | May 1, 2014 | April 30, 2015 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
The university first started the recycling program in the late 2000's so Facilities Operations wanted to have the baseline as the year prior to major changes in the campus collection schedule. The university's fiscal year 2015 represents May 1, 2014 - April 30, 2015. Starting in the summer of 2015, the University completed a waste generation study with our refuse partner, Waste Management. From this study, the university was able to recognize significant savings and waste diversion improvement by "right sizing" containers and optimizing the collection schedule. This is why May 1, 2015 - April 30, 2016 was utilized as the performance year.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 1,573 | 1,729 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 3 | 3 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 68 | 68 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 7,152.93 | 4,138 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,132 | 791 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,753.35 | 1,052 |
| Weighted campus users | 5,360.68 | 3,408.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.34 Tons | 0.73 Tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
53.02
Part 3. Waste diverted from the landfill or incinerator
31.93
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
31.93
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 | No |
| 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:
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Optional Fields
Active Recovery and Reuse
0
Tons
Recycling Management
Yes
Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Yes
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
No
Contamination and Discard Rates
33
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
The university is attempting to reduce overall contamination rates by raising awareness through the campus Sustainability Office. Periodically, the Sustainability Office sends out bulletins on proper recycling and waste diversion across campus. Proper recycling is also outlined in the University Sustainability Guide that was distributed to all incoming students starting in the Fall 2016 semester. The Sustainability Office is also actively placing signs in strategic campus areas to identify proper recycling containers and materials.
Programs and Initiatives
Periodically, the campus Sustainability Office sends out bulletins on proper recycling and waste diversion across campus. Proper recycling is also outlined in the University Sustainability Guide that was distributed to all incoming students starting in the Fall 2016 semester. The Sustainability Office is also actively placing signs in strategic campus areas to identify proper recycling containers and materials. In addition to the University Sustainability Guide, a voluntary Campus Sustainability Pledge has been created to encourage and entice more sustainable behavior.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
The University periodically works with our refuse vendor, Waste Management, to verify disposal efforts are improving. Facilities Operations recently changed the color of the trash and recycling bags to take a color coded approach, making it easier to identify areas where there is a higher contamination rate.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
N/A
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
The University's Property Administration Department oversees all surplus supplies and responsibly disposes of the materials via a third party vendor that meets the university's environmental certification requirements, or donates the materials to local non-profit groups.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
N/A
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
In the fall of 2016, the university's Business and Retail Operations Department, along with IT, rolled out new printers and copiers across campus that now require ID card access to track and discourage printer overuse and abuse of supplies. This system has the ability to see what individuals are using the most paper to allow for behavioral change.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
N/A
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
FIT started the first campus wide, "Leave Green" initiative at the end of the spring 2016 semester. This initiative looked to capture the reusable materials that often end up in roll-off dumpsters, and adequately donate them to local community non-profits. During this initiative, the university donated over three box truck loads of goods, totaling over 9,000 lbs to community groups and non-profits.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
The university has stations set up to collect batteries, aerosols and e-waste that are routinely collected and disposed of responsibly. The Office of Environmental and Regulatory Compliance also tracks and assists in collection efforts across campus.
Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
All data derived from the Office of Institutional Research, the campus Facilities Operations Department, campus Sustainability Office, and the Office of Environmental and Regulatory Compliance.
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.