Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.43
Liaison Jim Simon
Submission Date Sept. 23, 2020

STARS v2.2

Gonzaga University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.84 / 8.00 Ken Sammons
Director of Plant Services
Plant Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 246.25 Tons 1,241 Tons
Materials composted 185.83 Tons 1,598 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 6.78 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 1,057.87 Tons 895 Tons
Total waste generated 1,496.73 Tons 3,734 Tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
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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 June 1, 2018 May 31, 2019
Baseline Period June 1, 2011 May 31, 2012

A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:

We began tracking our Recyclables and Compost data in FY12, which are derived from the Waste Management invoices.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,776 2,958
Number of employees resident on-site 47 56
Number of other individuals resident on-site 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 7,364 5,178
Full-time equivalent of employees 1,440 1,423
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 1,330 2,465
Weighted campus users 6,311.25 3,855.50

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.24 Tons 0.97 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
75.51

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
29.32

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
29.32

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) Yes

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

Demolition waste is recycled as much as possible.


Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
0 Tons

Does the institution use single stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Yes

Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
No

Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
No

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
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A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
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A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
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A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:

Beginning in 2018, regular waste audits of campus buildings have been completed. Increasingly, zero waste practices are being implemented at basketball games. We also implement a single-stream recycling program.


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
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A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:

A new printer/copier system has been implemented campus-wide. The system, requires a code/authentication at the machine prior to printing. This gives employees and students the opportunity to cancel jobs if sent by accident


A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:

Course catalogs, directories, and course schedules as well as course evaluations and other resources are primarily available on "zagweb;" Gonzaga University's self-service web information system.


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

The end of the year student move-out process has been incorporated into Gonzaga's sustainability plan. At the end of the year the local Catholic Charities set up PODs at various points around campus to collect unwanted items. This process helped divert over 6 tons of waste and put unwanted items to use. Additional cardboard collection sites are set up during the move-in period and taken to the recycler.


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

Gonzaga University regularly donates old office equipment, computers, and other materials.


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:
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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.