| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.28 |
| Liaison | Michelle Seppala Gibbs |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2023 |
Hope College
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.46 / 8.00 |
Tim
Scholten Custodial Services Manger Physical Plant |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Parts 1 and 2. Waste per person
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 63.10 Tons | 83.65 Tons |
| Materials composted | 82.70 Tons | 100 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 41.73 Tons | 8.90 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 1.10 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 985.90 Tons | 776.05 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,174.53 Tons | 968.60 Tons |
If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:
Our compost at our dining hall was stopped as the only hauler in our area stopped picking up compost. Our Grounds department did compost pickup on a small scale for our cottages and apartments. We then increased our composting and have added 3 dorms in order to help offset the loss of the dining hall compost that stopped in September of 2022.
Baseline year was not accurate as no scales were on trucks. WM has scales and arrow is still doing a rough estimate for us on trash and compost.
All of our used oil is picked up and converted to fuel by Stoddard and sons inc.
Baseline year was not accurate as no scales were on trucks. WM has scales and arrow is still doing a rough estimate for us on trash and compost.
All of our used oil is picked up and converted to fuel by Stoddard and sons inc.
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | Jan. 1, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2022 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2018 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
The waste service provider does not have an extensive record history for the college, so we are not able to provide any data prior to 2010.
*During Covid we had to use a lot of disposable items including take out containers and masks. This increased our trash. There was so much contamination due to the large amount of trash that many of our recyclables were being thrown out due to contamination.
Compost was not accurate as our supplier used estimates on full containers because their trucks do not have scales. This year we worked with them on getting a more accurate number as they still do not have scales. We took in to account summers having less folks around eating food (we still have camps but can have weeks with no dining services).
*During Covid we had to use a lot of disposable items including take out containers and masks. This increased our trash. There was so much contamination due to the large amount of trash that many of our recyclables were being thrown out due to contamination.
Compost was not accurate as our supplier used estimates on full containers because their trucks do not have scales. This year we worked with them on getting a more accurate number as they still do not have scales. We took in to account summers having less folks around eating food (we still have camps but can have weeks with no dining services).
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,595 | 2,284 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 12 | 12 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 20 | 20 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 3,155 | 2,967 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 771 | 731 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 3,616.25 | 3,367.50 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.32 Tons | 0.29 Tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0
Part 3. Waste diverted from the landfill or incinerator
15.97
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
16.06
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 | Yes |
| 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:
Approximately 120,000 cardboard boxes are added to our compost bins each year to help absorb moisture and help in the composting process. (This was stopped on 9/9/22 when our hauler no longer serviced us) Cardboard is recycled.
In 2022 - 13,338 pounds of food were donated to Community Action House.
In 2016, faculty in the Schaap Science Center began working with a local organization to collect and recycle Styrofoam materials. This was seen as a major source of waste for the labs due to shipping materials. The faculty in the Schaap Science Center are also making significant efforts to clean and re-use lab materials whenever it is possible (while complying with safety protocols). Used blankets were donated to local animal shelter for animal bedding.
As renovation projects come up across campus, we reach out to area partners to see if any of the materials would be useful for them (items include desks, dressers, chairs, tables, beds, hundreds of mattresses, couches, and lights in 2019-2020 the Haworth Conference Center and Hotel was renovated and we worked to salvage and find new homes for the the items still in good shape).
Styrofoam recycling.
Other annual programs to note:
Soles 4 Souls, Donations of Hope, mattress donations, e-waste (CIT and archives), batteries, Light bulbs, TerraCycle, other divisional clean-out events, and Paper Gator.
In 2022 - 13,338 pounds of food were donated to Community Action House.
In 2016, faculty in the Schaap Science Center began working with a local organization to collect and recycle Styrofoam materials. This was seen as a major source of waste for the labs due to shipping materials. The faculty in the Schaap Science Center are also making significant efforts to clean and re-use lab materials whenever it is possible (while complying with safety protocols). Used blankets were donated to local animal shelter for animal bedding.
As renovation projects come up across campus, we reach out to area partners to see if any of the materials would be useful for them (items include desks, dressers, chairs, tables, beds, hundreds of mattresses, couches, and lights in 2019-2020 the Haworth Conference Center and Hotel was renovated and we worked to salvage and find new homes for the the items still in good shape).
Styrofoam recycling.
Other annual programs to note:
Soles 4 Souls, Donations of Hope, mattress donations, e-waste (CIT and archives), batteries, Light bulbs, TerraCycle, other divisional clean-out events, and Paper Gator.
Optional Fields
Active Recovery and Reuse
1.25
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?:
Yes
Contamination and Discard Rates
20
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
When our staff empties the recycling they pull out contamination if possible.
Programs and Initiatives
We have implemented new containers and signage in a few buildings to help people put trash/paper/recyclables in the correct container. As part of the annual RecycleMania Competition Hope College hosts an event on campus during one of our basketball games to collect as much recyclables and compost as we can then weigh it to see how much was diverted from the trash. In 2022 we did a month long competition to keep track of how much trash and recyclables came out of one of our dorms (VanVleck)
Other behavior change activities include: student hosted informational tables and sustainability/custodial team meets with different departments.
Annually we host an event for America Recycles Day https://americarecyclesday.org/
In 2019 we purchased a "Water Monster" Water bottle filling station which we utilize at lots of campus events (examples include: graduation, move in/out days, community picnic, staff picnic, spring fling, and stationed in the center of campus during summer camps) to reduce single use items.
Other behavior change activities include: student hosted informational tables and sustainability/custodial team meets with different departments.
Annually we host an event for America Recycles Day https://americarecyclesday.org/
In 2019 we purchased a "Water Monster" Water bottle filling station which we utilize at lots of campus events (examples include: graduation, move in/out days, community picnic, staff picnic, spring fling, and stationed in the center of campus during summer camps) to reduce single use items.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
In the fall of 2016 Hope brought in an outside consultant to complete a waste audit on two of our residential buildings.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
In the Dining Service area, historical food consumption data is used to forecast future production quantities which significantly reduces the amount of leftover foods produced. In addition, the amount of food displayed for use toward the end of each meal is reduced by lowering production and closing of non essential serving stations.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
All excess furniture and materials from office re configurations are put in storage for future use or donated to local resale stores. 50 Chairs were reused for cottages and seating areas instead of being thrown out.
2022 saw over a 1000 used chairs (picked up from Fredrick Meijer Gardens)and used to in classrooms all over campus.
Item quantity
blankets 100
pots/pans misc.
Couch 1
Chair 1
Large Desk 1
Large Bookcase 1
Small Cabinet 1
Small Credenza 1
couches 3
Chairs 12
vacuums 7
end table 2
2 chairs coffee table
chairs 14
woden mail slots 1
queen mattress 1
plastic picnic tables 4
metal trash cans 3
Blankets 100
Metal chairs 10
metal folding table 1
200 mattresse 200
41 Mattresses 41
40 beds 40
32 beds 32
12 mattresses 12
6 ft tables 15
8 ft tables 5
2022 saw over a 1000 used chairs (picked up from Fredrick Meijer Gardens)and used to in classrooms all over campus.
Item quantity
blankets 100
pots/pans misc.
Couch 1
Chair 1
Large Desk 1
Large Bookcase 1
Small Cabinet 1
Small Credenza 1
couches 3
Chairs 12
vacuums 7
end table 2
2 chairs coffee table
chairs 14
woden mail slots 1
queen mattress 1
plastic picnic tables 4
metal trash cans 3
Blankets 100
Metal chairs 10
metal folding table 1
200 mattresse 200
41 Mattresses 41
40 beds 40
32 beds 32
12 mattresses 12
6 ft tables 15
8 ft tables 5
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
On our Intranet there is a website called Marketplace which is like the classified ads or Craigslist for Hope College. "Have an item for sale? Post it on Marketplace. Lose something? Post it on Marketplace. Want to give something away? Post it on Marketplace. Want to buy something? Post it on Marketplace."
Students and alumni have also created a Facebook Page called "Hope College Garage Sale" where they can sell/buy/trade items.
And departments even announce special events like the Theater Department: The Costume Shop is hosting a Costume Sale. It's a great opportunity to find that perfect costume for an upcoming Halloween party or just purchase a one-of-a-kind costume from one of our productions.
Students and alumni have also created a Facebook Page called "Hope College Garage Sale" where they can sell/buy/trade items.
And departments even announce special events like the Theater Department: The Costume Shop is hosting a Costume Sale. It's a great opportunity to find that perfect costume for an upcoming Halloween party or just purchase a one-of-a-kind costume from one of our productions.
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
Hope College's Computer Information Technology (CIT) Team sets all campus computers to default on a duplex (or double-sided) printing. This helps to reduce the amount of paper wasted. They also encourage using a lower ink level for standard printing as well.
We are looking at reducing the amount of printed materials for our games and events. We are hoping to go more digital as time goes on. With an older fan base we have not been able to go 100 percent but records are kept for days and teams played to help reduce the amount of left over items that are printed.
We are looking at reducing the amount of printed materials for our games and events. We are hoping to go more digital as time goes on. With an older fan base we have not been able to go 100 percent but records are kept for days and teams played to help reduce the amount of left over items that are printed.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
Hope attempts to make as much information available online as possible - including, but not limited to, course catalogs, course schedules, directories, handbooks, etc.
Printed materials are highly encouraged to be printed only in limited amounts.
Hope also strongly encourages the use of systems like Google Docs so materials can be shared between students, faculty, and staff.
Printed materials are highly encouraged to be printed only in limited amounts.
Hope also strongly encourages the use of systems like Google Docs so materials can be shared between students, faculty, and staff.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Hope’s Volunteer Services with the support of the “Green Team” and Physical Plant Staff has participated with Goodwill for the past four years to provide an alternative for students to donate food, clothing, electronics, furniture and carpet during our end of the year move out to promote the mission of the college. This program is called "Donations of Hope." In addition, we provide recycling containers for all items not donated.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Annually the college collects old phone books from students, faculty, and staff. starting in 2015 this was opened up to the community by sharing information on the Holland-Hope College Sustainability Institute's website. Once the old phone books are collected, Physical Plant and Custodial staffs transport books to Holland Rescue Mission's Gateway Recycle Center.
Hope College student-athletes are teaming up with an awesome organization, Soles4Souls, to share our love for athletics and make a difference in the lives of others! Soles4Souls is an organization that reaches out to impoverished people and gives them hope by providing them with a pair of shoes to put on their feet. The organization also takes used shoes and gives them to entrepreneurs in other areas of the world who can re-purpose them.
Hope College student-athletes are teaming up with an awesome organization, Soles4Souls, to share our love for athletics and make a difference in the lives of others! Soles4Souls is an organization that reaches out to impoverished people and gives them hope by providing them with a pair of shoes to put on their feet. The organization also takes used shoes and gives them to entrepreneurs in other areas of the world who can re-purpose them.
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:
Compost is estimated by our hauler as they do not have scales on their trucks.
Our compost hauler discontinued service to our community 9/9/22, but we are looking at other potential contractors. In response to that we have been able to work with our grounds team and have increased composting in our cottages/apartments and have a pilot program in three of our residential halls.
Also hand pickup trash is estimated as they do not have scales on their trucks (162.5 tons of trash picked up curbside)
collected 638 lbs of shrink wrap in 2022.
WM has scales on their trucks and is more accurate this time. Previous numbers were estimated.
15.53 tons of scrap metal was sold to padnos during 2022
Trash numbers have increased due to the large amount of online shopping by students after Covid. Our mail center processed over 400 packages in one day. We try to recycle the cardboard and plastic but often it ends up in the trash or recycling is contaminated.
*number of students went up along with staff and faculty.
In 2022 we also collected 2.30 lbs of trick or treat wrappers and sent them to terracycle instead of the landfill.
Our compost hauler discontinued service to our community 9/9/22, but we are looking at other potential contractors. In response to that we have been able to work with our grounds team and have increased composting in our cottages/apartments and have a pilot program in three of our residential halls.
Also hand pickup trash is estimated as they do not have scales on their trucks (162.5 tons of trash picked up curbside)
collected 638 lbs of shrink wrap in 2022.
WM has scales on their trucks and is more accurate this time. Previous numbers were estimated.
15.53 tons of scrap metal was sold to padnos during 2022
Trash numbers have increased due to the large amount of online shopping by students after Covid. Our mail center processed over 400 packages in one day. We try to recycle the cardboard and plastic but often it ends up in the trash or recycling is contaminated.
*number of students went up along with staff and faculty.
In 2022 we also collected 2.30 lbs of trick or treat wrappers and sent them to terracycle instead of the landfill.
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.