Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.99
Liaison Megan Butler
Submission Date July 18, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Macalester College
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.58 / 3.00 Ralph Williamson
Custodial Services Manager
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
254.60 Tons

Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
227.50 Tons

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:

Macalester has substantially decreased its food waste by diverting pre- and post-consumer food waste to a local pig farm. The recycling program diverts paper, glass, aluminum, plastic. E-waste and CFLs are collected from departments and the Macalester community. Finally, the Mac Free Swap was launched in 2009 as an online listing service for the Macalester community. A MacFree Swap dropsite is also available in the Sustainability Office.


A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:

When large amounts of food are leftover from large events, the prepared foods are donated to Second Harvest Heartland, a local hunger relief organization.


A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

In early 2009, a student led project culminated in a partnership between Macalester College, Bon Appetit and Barthold Farms to divert food waste into a pig feed.


A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

The food waste to pig farm diversion has grown to include all food waste produced by Bon Appétit, including post-consumer waste and catered food waste.


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 Yes
Food composting Yes
Cooking oil Yes
Plant materials composting Yes
Animal bedding composting Yes
Batteries Yes
Light bulbs Yes
Toner/ink-jet cartridges Yes
White goods (i.e. appliances) Yes
Laboratory equipment Yes
Furniture ---
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste Yes
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets Yes
Motor oil ---
Tires ---

Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:

Mini-fridges (420 lbs)
Clothing and shoes (3351 lbs)
Books (497 lbs)
Household goods (999 lbs)
Miscellaneous plastics (811 lbs)


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

animal bedding composting: Macalester Urban Land and Community Health raises chickens and composts their bedding after its use.


animal bedding composting: Macalester Urban Land and Community Health raises chickens and composts their bedding after its use.

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.