| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.14 |
| Liaison | Kristina Hope |
| Submission Date | Feb. 2, 2024 |
Knox College
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.18 / 8.00 |
Kristina
Hope Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 60.40 Tons | 100.80 Tons |
| Materials composted | 13.70 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 4 Tons | 10.40 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 107.30 Tons | 255.20 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 185.40 Tons | 366.40 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 | Jan. 1, 2023 | Dec. 30, 2023 |
| Baseline Period | July 1, 2017 | June 30, 2018 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
In 2017 a new vendor contract was established that included providing weights. Before 2017 we didn't have data regarding solid waste and recycling collected.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 863 | 1,155 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 3 | 3 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 1,051 | 1,341 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 394 | 378 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 1,300.25 | 1,578.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.14 Tons | 0.23 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 | No |
| Plant materials | Yes |
| Animal bedding | No |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | No |
| Electronics | Yes |
| Laboratory equipment | No |
| Furniture | No |
| 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 also recover food after meals through the Food Recovery Network Progra
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:
We receive contamination reports for the organic recycling. It is hard to determine the contamination rate, but we have had 4 contamination reports and fines in the reporting year.
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
Signage is consistent across campus and the color blue is used to represent recycling on signs and bins. Small versions of the "what is recyclable" sign were made into magnets and distributed to each student. Knox participates in the Campus Race to Zero waste Campaign with NWF. We collect data weekly, share educational materials in ta=bling, events, and weekly newsletters and on screen Rise Vision monitors.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Students conduct waste audits in the Caf and at different dumpsters to determine percentage of contamination in waste streams (in conjunction with the Office of Sustainability and different classes.)
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
Dining Services purchases BPI certified compostables through our Composting service (better Earth Logistics) to ensure all materials are compostable.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
There is a warehouse on campus that receives all used furniture, equipment, and office materials for reuse across campus.
The Office Supply Share is an easily accessible area where students, faculty, and staff can donate unused items or take items they need. It diverts several hundred pounds of material from the campus waste stream annually, while reducing expenditures and associated resource exploitation.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
The Knox College Share Shop is open three days a week and as needed or for specail occasions. It is primarily used by students and allows for donations and "shopping" for still-good items that are no longer wanted by the original owner. This includes clothing, shoes, electronics, books, and household goods.
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:
Most courses utilize digital platforms for all classwork.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Since 2012, Knox has attempted to divert as much waste from landfills as possible by having donation boxes in each residence during Move out, in which items are collected and sorted by student staff. These items stock the campus Share Shop or are donated to local thrift stores.
During move in - RAs work with new students and custodial workers to separate cardboard from packing materials, so that the majority of packing items are properly recycled or can be reused, instead of going to the landfill.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
We often host Shop and Swap events so that people may bring unwanted seasonal items to be shared with community. And after every term, we offer donations to be brought to the Sustainability Cottage or a designated DROP OFF site.
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.