Furman University
OP-11: Materials Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 4.00 |
11.1 Surplus and reuse programs
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s surplus program:
Furman maintains a surplus warehouse were office furniture, supplies, and a range of their institution-owned items can be stored for reuse or sold at auction through a third-party auction service. Additionally, many items from recent residence hall renovations, including beds, dressers, desks, etc, were donated to our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Furman's surplus policy 371.1 states, "Periodically, the inventory of surplus assets will be communicated to the Furman community in an attempt to find a useful purpose for the surplus asset. Ownership rights to surplus assets are relinquished when it is declared surplus. If a department determines that it would like to obtain a surplus asset, a Fixed Asset Transfer Request will be completed. There will be no value attached to surplus items and cost to the department obtaining the asset."
Does the institution have or participate in a reuse program through which employees and/or students can donate personal items for redistribution?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s reuse program:
The Shi Institute hosts an annual 2-day clothing swap for all employees. Employees are encouraged to take what they can use (no limits) and any non-claimed items are taken to a local donation center.
Eco Reps also hosts an annual student clothing swap.
Furman maintains a "Classifieds" listserve that allows anyone in the Furman community to post personal items for sale.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
11.2 Single-use disposable plastics program
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s composting program:
Our robust composting program accepts all food waste along with compostable dining items such as bamboo plates and compostable utensils. Our catering program uses only compostable or reusable dining items. The program uses large-scale pile composting, in-vessel anaerobic composting, and small scale demonstration composting.
Does the institution have or participate in a reusable container program designed to reduce the use of single-use disposable plastic?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s reusable container program:
Has the institution eliminated the on-site use of at least one form of single-use disposable plastic?:
Has the institution eliminated the on-site sales and distribution of all single-use disposable plastic food containers, utensils, and beverage cups?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s single-use disposable plastics program:
https://www.furman.edu/sustainability/initiatives/food-and-dining/
With support and encouragement from students, Furman's dining service provider, Bon Appetit, removed plastic straws from all on-campus dining facilities in 2018.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
11.3 Electronic waste management
Does the institution have or participate in a program designed to collect e-waste from students for recycling and/or preparation for reuse? (required):
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s e-waste collection programs:
Furman's Information Technology Services department issues and collects all employee electronics. They are able to prepare many electronics for reissue and reuse. Those that cannot be reused are recycled through a partnership with Cleanlites Recycling South, LLC.
Students and employees may recycle personal e-waste, including cell phones, computers, batteries, lightbulbs, and printer ink cartridges, at a designated drop-off location in the Student Center where they are collected and added to electronics recycling pick-ups.
Does the institution use an e-waste recycler that is certified to a qualifying standard?:
Standard to which the institution’s e-waste recycler is certified:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
11.4 Hazardous waste management and disclosure
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s hazardous waste management program or protocol:
The hazardous waste management program at Furman University is managed by the Risk Management Department. The program is designed to coordinate the collection, classification, analysis, labeling, packing, and shipping of both hazardous and non-hazardous waste chemicals generated at the University. This also includes the management of universal waste such as batteries and mercury-containing lamps to include collection and disposal.
Part of the hazardous waste management program of Furman University (managed by the Risk Management department) is a waste minimization program with the goal of reducing the use and ultimate disposal of hazardous materials. This goal is achieved by both substituting for less hazardous chemicals and the use of micro-scale techniques in the laboratory setting.
The Chemistry department has a shared inventory file that lists the chemical inventories of the general stockroom and the private research labs. We always check that list before ordering (or reordering) chemicals. We also send out a notice if we are disposing of a chemical to see if anyone in the department can use it
Does the institution publish information about the specific types of hazardous waste it generates and how they are disposed of, recycled, and/or prepared for reuse?:
Online resource that provides information about the specific types of hazardous waste managed by the institution:
Document that provides information about the specific types of hazardous waste managed by the institution:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
We do not publish information about our hazardous waste, but we do file an annual report with SCDHEC annually (SCDHEC 8700) that establishes basic quantities of broad chemicals we handle.
Additional documentation for this credit:
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.