Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 72.07
Liaison Katie Koscielak
Submission Date May 7, 2020

STARS v2.2

Cal Poly Humboldt
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.75 / 8.00 TallChief Comet
Director, Office of Sustainability
Facilities Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 555.30 Tons 214.60 Tons
Materials composted 127.80 Tons 6.25 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 91.40 Tons 2.90 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 424.50 Tons 713.20 Tons
Total waste generated 1,199 Tons 936.95 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 July 1, 2018 June 30, 2019
Baseline Period July 1, 2005 June 30, 2006

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

This is the same baseline year that was used to report on this credit when HSU submitted its first STARS report in 2013. We continue to use this baseline to track progress in our waste reduction efforts.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,089 1,271
Number of employees resident on-site 6 3
Number of other individuals resident on-site 5 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 7,353 6,850.85
Full-time equivalent of employees 1,252 1,231.02
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 106 0
Weighted campus users 6,903 6,379.90

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.17 Tons 0.15 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
64.60

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
64.60

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:

Dining Services uses Kimberly-Clark nitrile disposable gloves. These are recycled through the KC RightCycle program (http://www.kcprofessional.com/brands/kimtech/rightcycle). Ceramics (from the Art Department), porcelain, plate glass, concrete and other hardscape materials are hauled to Kernen Construction (www.kernenconstruction.com), where these materials are ground up to be re-used as road base. Sheet rock is hauled to Alves Inert Debris Recycling Center (www.thinkalvesinc.com/recycling). Electronics are recycled through a contracted vendors. Ink cartridges (used and un-used) are recycled through PCR America (www.pcramerica.com).


Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
2.57 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:
7

A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:

The university’s contract with the local resource recovery facility stipulates that the facility conduct a minimum of three waste characterization studies of the university’s solid waste stream each calendar year.


A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:

The Waste Reduction & Resource Awareness Program (WRRAP) is a paid student program that implements education and behavior change focused projects for the entire campus community. For example, WRRAP conducts “trash talks”, manning the trash, recycling and compost bins in the eateries to help educate campus users about proper disposal. WRRAP works with Residence life to hold a compost competition with the residence halls, which includes a prize for the least amount of contamination per person in the compost bin for your building. WRRAP works with the Office of Sustainability to implement “Zero Waste Zones” on campus, working with departments and custodial staff to reduce waste in office spaces.


A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:

Facilities Management conducts spot audits of dumpsters of concern, reporting the results to departments using the dumpsters in question. WRRAP conducts pre- and post-audits of departmental workspaces when developing Zero Waste Zones. Often Facilities works with an Environmental Science capstone course to conduct waste audits of a certain area on campus and to develop behavior change projects. Campus franchise hauler conducts formal audits of recycling materials for contamination at least 3 times per year.


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:

In addition to the items below, HSU Dining services eliminated the public availability of plastic straws in the fall of 2018 ahead of the CSU-wide policy to reduce single-use plastics (see ICSUAM section 5236.00). In 2014 HSU Dining, which manages all campus eateries and markets, and the HSU
Bookstore phased out single-use plastic bags. In 2011 HSU Dining and the Bookstore
phased out the sales of bottled water. HSU Contracts, Procurement and Accounts
Payable has a Sustainable Procurement group that works on integrating sustainability
into procurement policies and procedures. Go to
https://procurement.humboldt.edu/sustainable-procurement for more information.


A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

The Office of Sustainability (OS) oversees disposal of capital and non-capital assets, including computer equipment, science equipment, office furniture, vehicles, Grounds and building materials. If a capital asset, departments are required to determine whether or not an item slated for disposal is still in working condition. If a non-capital asset, the OS determines whether or not the item should be kept for surplus. The OS prioritizes re-use over recycling, and to this end stores surplus until it can hold a give-away (to other State and Public Agencies first, then to non-profits) and auction (general public). The OS also works with local non-profits and charities that take used building materials, clothing, and other unusual items. The Reusable Office Supply Exchange (ROSE) depot is located on campus, where the campus community can donate and shop for lightly used classroom and office supplies. ROSE has two paid students to oversee its inventory, conduct outreach and hold workshops on creative re-use.


A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:

During Fall 2018 WRRAP implemented a platform to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse (e.g. of electronics, furnishings, books and other goods) called "Campus Wall" (an online website for exchange of goods, designed to be restricted to the Humboldt State campus community). Read more about Campus Wall here: http://humboldt.mycampuswall.com/get-started/


A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:

Networked campus copiers and printers with duplex capability can be remotely set to automatically print double sided, unless the default is over-ridden. In April of 2014, as per mandate from the Vice President of Administrative Affairs, Information Technology Services (ITS) set networked printer/copiers in all of the Administrative Affairs division to default two sided, black and white printing. ITS has also set computer lab printers to default two-sided.


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

The HSU course catalog, schedules and directories are all available online. The campus uses Canvas Learning Management System (LMS), an online system for faculty to conduct and keep all curriculum materials and student interaction/resources in electronic format. Many faculty also use Clicker technology, and hold and grade exams online. The campus has also converted most of the accounting approval, all Human Resources personnel action paperwork, and all accounting records retention to electronic document management systems.


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

The week of move-out is also known as “Donation Dash.” During this time, local charities partner with the Office of Sustainability and WRRAP to reduce move-out waste. These groups set up “Donation Stations” at the residence halls; all residents are required to bring their waste – trash, recycling, compost, donate-able goods – to the Donation Station, where volunteers help sort the items. In May of 2019 Donation Dash led to 11.57 tons of goods being donated to local charities.


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:

Solid waste data derived from scale weights at acceptance vendors (Humboldt Waste Management Authority, Recology). Recycled materials are both scale weights for many items (Recology for single stream recycling, Arcata Scrap for metals, etc.) and estimates for items such as appliances, tires, etc. Composted materials are estimated from measured volumes sent to vermicomposting vendor. Donated and reuse materials are a combination of scale weights and estimates from Thrift vendors and weights from Recycling staff. Go to https://wrrap.humboldt.edu/ for more information on waste reduction education and outreach programs, the Reusable Office Supply Exchange, and other waste reduction resources. Go to https://facilitymgmt.humboldt.edu/sustainability-waste-diversion-0 for more information on campus-wide waste reduction initiatives.
To see the ICSUAM policy section for reducing single-use plastics go to https://www2.calstate.edu/csu-system/news/Documents/5236-00.pdf


Solid waste data derived from scale weights at acceptance vendors (Humboldt Waste Management Authority, Recology). Recycled materials are both scale weights for many items (Recology for single stream recycling, Arcata Scrap for metals, etc.) and estimates for items such as appliances, tires, etc. Composted materials are estimated from measured volumes sent to vermicomposting vendor. Donated and reuse materials are a combination of scale weights and estimates from Thrift vendors and weights from Recycling staff. Go to https://wrrap.humboldt.edu/ for more information on waste reduction education and outreach programs, the Reusable Office Supply Exchange, and other waste reduction resources. Go to https://facilitymgmt.humboldt.edu/sustainability-waste-diversion-0 for more information on campus-wide waste reduction initiatives.
To see the ICSUAM policy section for reducing single-use plastics go to https://www2.calstate.edu/csu-system/news/Documents/5236-00.pdf

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.