| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.33 |
| Liaison | James Biesecker |
| Submission Date | Nov. 1, 2022 |
Gettysburg College
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.07 / 8.00 |
Eric
Richardson Grounds Manager Facilities Services |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 172.09 Tons | 49.79 Tons |
| Materials composted | 16 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 32 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 246 Tons | 648.36 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 466.09 Tons | 698.15 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | June 1, 2021 | May 31, 2022 |
| Baseline Period | June 1, 2004 | May 31, 2005 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,193 | 2,068 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 19 | 13 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 2,518 | 2,545 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 747 | 669 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 3,001.75 | 2,930.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.16 Tons | 0.24 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 |
| Electronics | 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:
Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
Does the institution use single stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
For over 20 years the College has provided recycling cans for each student bedroom and apartment. In 2016 while conducting student interviews on our sustainability efforts we learned that alot of students would use their recycling can as their trash can. Since Facilities Services coordinates the Summer Conference program and owns enough trash cans to put one in each bedroom we started leaving the trash cans in the room as well. We fell this significantly helps us in recycling/reusing over 50% of our generated campus waste.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Used and unwanted office furniture is stored in our warehouse for future use. If no alternative use can be found for these items, we will either put them up for sale to our employees or donate them to the local United Way of Adams County. We have a twenty year partner ship with the United Way to either get unwanted office furniture into the local non profit organizations or used for the annual Give it Up for Good sale.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
The annual Give it Up for Good program gives students the opportunity to donate unwanted furniture, clothing, kitchen supplies etc to the United Way for distribution or resale.
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
Students' individual course schedules are only available online. Course catalogs are available online and an in-print version is available for pickup in the registrar's office for students who wish to have a paper copy; however, these are not widely distributed (most students use the online version). Although the institution formerly put course directories in student mailboxes, this practice has been eliminated, as they are now available online.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
The college, partnering with the United Way of Adams County, organizes the collection and sale of reusable items at the end of the year. Items are also collected from community members who wish to donate. Students donate books, furniture, clothing, et cetera. The donated items are organized in the gym and sold in a large sale. In 2022, the sale raised $27,000 and prevented 30 tons from entering the waste stream. Since the program program began in 2004 it has raised over $325,000 and diverted over 450 tons from the waste stream.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts 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.