Overall Rating Bronze
Overall Score 40.10
Liaison Laurie Kman
Submission Date Oct. 2, 2024

STARS v2.2

Lewis University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.78 / 8.00 Laurie Kman
Manager of Facilities and Sustainability
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Parts 1 and 2. Waste per person

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 96.53 Tons 146.27 Tons
Materials composted 136.75 Tons 233.15 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 15 Tons 1.30 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 308.76 Tons 346.53 Tons
Total waste generated 557.04 Tons 727.25 Tons

If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:

A brief description of the residual conversion facility:

N/A


Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Period July 1, 2022 June 30, 2023
Baseline Period Jan. 1, 2019 Dec. 31, 2019

If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:

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

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 1,001 1,006
Number of employees resident on-site 1 3
Number of other individuals resident on-site 16 25
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 4,664 5,275
Full-time equivalent of employees 748 620
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 2,688 400
Weighted campus users 2,309.50 4,398.50

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.24 Tons 0.17 Tons

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

Part 3. Waste diverted from the landfill or incinerator

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
44.57

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
44.57

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:

We have recycled concrete, light bulbs, vehicle oil, paper shredding and various electronics.


Optional Fields 

Active Recovery and Reuse

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

Recycling Management 

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?:
Yes

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

Contamination and Discard Rates 

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
1

A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:

Our Sodexo janitorial service, literally splits open every recycling bag before throwing into our recycling containers.


Programs and Initiatives 

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

We have started collecting plastic bags and films, used pens/markers/ personal hygiene in seperate containers. In 2024, we participate in the Campus Race to Zero Waste contest.


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

Our waste disposal company, Waste Management, submits a monthy diversion report.


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:

Our purchasing department maintains an inventory of surplus office supplies and furniture. Offices submit a request for the desired supplies. Office supply orders are checked before approval. 


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

Office supply exchange program

 

Furniture inventory

 

 


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

We have centralized printing/copying. Personal office printers are not allowed or purchased.


A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:

We are developing a semi-annual event where students can get rid of their unwanted goods - One Student's Trash is Another's Treasure. This will reduce the amount of landfill and items left behind in dorms. 


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

Our grounds superintendent, repurposes most items - i.e. bricks from demolition for landscaping projects and new sidewalks, drapes from the theater were used as weed control in our pond, all dirt and rock from projects are resused for grounds projects, dead trees are ground up and used as mulch on campus, old wood flooring was used to make benches. 


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.