| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 59.32 |
| Liaison | Lindsay Walker |
| Submission Date | Oct. 14, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Humber College
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.73 / 8.00 |
Lindsay
Walker Sustainability Manager Facilities Management |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 574.43 Metric tons | 452.23 Metric tons |
| Materials composted | 293.75 Metric tons | 312.53 Metric tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 44.68 Metric tons | Metric tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | Metric tons | Metric tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 743.80 Metric tons | 1,075.92 Metric tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,656.66 Metric tons | 1,840.68 Metric tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | Jan. 1, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2015 |
| Baseline Year | Jan. 1, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted (e.g. in sustainability plans and policies or in the context of other reporting obligations):
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 1,445 | 1,445 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 28,575 | 27,294 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 2,771 | 2,365 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 232 | 152 |
| Weighted campus users | 23,696.75 | 22,491.50 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 1,656.66 Metric tons | 1,840.68 Metric 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 |
| Laboratory equipment | No |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | Yes |
| Scrap metal | Yes |
| Pallets | Yes |
| Tires | No |
| Other (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
We have collection boxes at both campuses for pens (partner with Terracycle) and batteries. We also make sure carpet is recycled during renovations along with other construction waste (see OP-20).
Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year (e.g. materials that are actively diverted from the landfill or incinerator and refurbished/repurposed) :
Does the institution use single stream recycling (a single container for commingled recyclables) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
Does the institution use dual stream (two separate containers for recyclables, e.g. one for paper and another for plastic, glass, and metals) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling (multiple containers that further separate different types of materials) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed, e.g. efforts to minimize contamination and/or monitor the discard rates of the materials recovery facilities and mills to which materials are diverted:
Training of all Food Service and cleaning staff on conducting visual checks of recycling and waste bags so they are appropriately disposed of on site.
Facility where our material goes to has significant capability to separate various materials. Material recovery rate is:
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives, e.g. initiatives to shift individual attitudes and practices such as signage and competitions:
Have designed signage on all bins throughout college, in office kitchens and cafeterias. Developed a campaign including TV ads and videos with recycling characters that help educate students, staff and faculty on how to recycle on campus. Run a campus clean up twice per year encouraging participation through 'which department can pitch in the most'.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Annual waste audit conducted in the fall. Audit outlines a full 24 hours of waste and recycling collected from key selected areas for a representative sample. Conducted at both campuses. This provides information on what contamination is found in the recycling stream, and directs efforts of what needs more education to campus users.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
The college purchases paper through our mail room and then distributes to schools and departments as they require. This reduces the number of deliveries and packaging that would be required if each school and department ordered their own paper.
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 (e.g. of electronics, furnishings, books and other goods):
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption (e.g. restricting free printing and/or mandating doubled-sided printing in libraries and computer labs):
Students are given credits towards on-campus printing at the beginning of each semester. Once these run out, they must pay for printing. All library and computer lab computers are set to double sided printing by default. Staff and faculty are educated and encouraged to set their computer default to double sided printing.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials (e.g. course catalogs, course schedules, and directories) available online by default rather than printing them:
Humber directs current and prospective students to the college website for information. College directories are entirely on-line as is all registration information. Current students access grades and timetables through the web-based Student Registration Services, and all printing of these documents is done by individual request only. In the classroom, all course outlines, course schedules, and most assignments are posted on Blackboard, a virtual learning environment. The college prints a limited number of college catalogues.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Large cardboard totes are stationed in the residence common area for several recycling streams during move-out week: clothing, housewares (pots, pans, etc.), books, electronics, non-perishable food, etc. Signs, social media, email and communication through the Residence Assistants are directed at student residents during the 3-4 weeks leading up to move out week. At the end of move-out, the bins are picked up or delivered to appropriate organizations:
• Non-perishable food is donated to a local charity
• Clothing, housewares and books are donated to a local charity
• Electronic waste is sent to a certified e-waste recycling company
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Typically in Fall and Spring a 'White Elephant Swap' is conducted. Staff and faculty donate clothing and household items they are no longer using and students can pay as they can for any items. Money raised is given to a local charity and any leftover items are donated.
We are partnered with Terracycle to collect finished pens.
We have battery recycle bins at each campus.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Humber does not have any animal bedding on campus.
Humber does not have any animal bedding on campus.
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.