| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 47.51 |
| Liaison | Chris Frantsvog |
| Submission Date | May 1, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Luther College
OP-23: Waste Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.56 / 3.00 |
Stratis
Giannakouros Assistant Director of the Center for Sustainable Communities Environmental Studies |
Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
A brief description of programs, policies, infrastructure investments, outreach efforts, and/or other factors that contributed to the diversion rate, including efforts made during the previous three years:
Recycling at Luther had its start in 1973. Since that year, the size and extent of the recycling initiatives have continually increased. Luther now recycles in nearly every office, classroom and residence hall on campus. Last school year an estimated 3,000 pounds of paper, 3,600 pounds of cardboard and 550 pounds of tin and plastic were collected weekly.
Other initiatives can be found here:
https://www.luther.edu/sustainability/waste-recycling/reduction/on-campus/
A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:
The Luther College Gardens often have excess produce, which is donated to the Decorah Lutheran Food Bank.
In the fall of 2013, Luther began a Cafeteria to Community Program. The goal of Luther’s Cafeteria to Community Program is to ensure that good food makes it into the bellies of those who need it. Through this program student volunteers work in close collaboration with dining services staff to package food into quart sized containers that will be labeled and delivered to the First Lutheran Church Food Pantry twice weekly. Donations include soup, main entrees, homemade pasta sauce, vegetables, salads and more.
A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
Pre-consumer compost is collected in the kitchens of the cafeteria, Marty's, and Oneota Market. Fruit and vegetable peelings and trimmings make up most of the compost stream, along with certain types of paper, coffee grounds, coffee filters, and egg shells. Food waste is not composted in the dish room or in other parts of the kitchen. Some leftovers are composted, mostly rice, never protein products, and rarely pasta (plain pasta rarely goes to waste).
A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
The cafeteria on campus offers post-consumer composting. Post-consumer compost in the cafeteria is collected in two blue bins at either end of the tray return, adjacent to brown trash bins. The bins are clearly marked by labels both on the wall above each respective bin, and on the bins themselves. There are also signs above each compost bin denoting what food items are compostable and which should not be composted.
Does the institution include the following materials in its waste diversion efforts?:
| Yes or No | |
| Paper, plastics, glass, metals, and other recyclable containers | Yes |
| Food donations | Yes |
| Food for animals | No |
| Food composting | Yes |
| Cooking oil | Yes |
| Plant materials composting | Yes |
| Animal bedding composting | No |
| Batteries | Yes |
| Light bulbs | No |
| Toner/ink-jet cartridges | Yes |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | --- |
| Laboratory equipment | --- |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | Yes |
| Scrap metal | Yes |
| Pallets | Yes |
| Motor oil | Yes |
| Tires | Yes |
Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:
Styrofoam in the form of Packing Peanuts is collected and distributed to local businesses for their shipping needs, providing at least one more life cycle.
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.