Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
---|---|
Overall Score | 67.20 |
Liaison | Megan Butler |
Submission Date | May 31, 2017 |
Executive Letter | Download |
Macalester College
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
3.90 / 8.00 |
Kyle
Wright Custodial Shift Supervisor Facilities Service |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Materials recycled | 151.82 Tons | 87.37 Tons |
Materials composted | 108.56 Tons | 0 Tons |
Materials donated or re-sold | 146.29 Tons | 0 Tons |
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 116.80 Tons | 370.10 Tons |
Total waste generated | 523.47 Tons | 457.47 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date | End Date | |
Performance Year | June 1, 2015 | May 31, 2016 |
Baseline Year | June 1, 2007 | May 31, 2008 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted (e.g. in sustainability plans and policies or in the context of other reporting obligations):
Our GHG Emissions and Zero Waste baseline year is the FY 2007-2008.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Number of students resident on-site | 1,301 | 1,007 |
Number of employees resident on-site | 14 | 10 |
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 2,121 | 1,873 |
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 581 | 521 |
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
Weighted campus users | 2,355.25 | 2,049.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.22 Tons | 0.22 Tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0.42
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
77.69
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
77.69
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 |
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:
Mini-fridges (420 lbs)
Clothing and shoes (3351 lbs)
Books (497 lbs)
Household goods (999 lbs)
Miscellaneous plastics (811 lbs)
Styrofoam (500 lbs)
Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year (e.g. materials that are actively diverted from the landfill or incinerator and refurbished/repurposed) :
5
Tons
Does the institution use single stream recycling (a single container for commingled recyclables) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
Yes
Does the institution use dual stream (two separate containers for recyclables, e.g. one for paper and another for plastic, glass, and metals) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
No
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling (multiple containers that further separate different types of materials) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
No
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
0
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed, e.g. efforts to minimize contamination and/or monitor the discard rates of the materials recovery facilities and mills to which materials are diverted:
Our waste hauler has not returned any pickups for contamination and contract provisions permit them to do so.
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives, e.g. initiatives to shift individual attitudes and practices such as signage and competitions:
Macalester received several county grants to place universal signing and bins throughout campus, making sorting easier.
The switch to 100% compostable take-out and catering wares made sorting easier.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Facilities Services Custodial staff performs waste audits three times per year.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
All disposable dishware, take out containers, and catering supplies are compostable where ever possible.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
MacFree Swap allows students, faculty, and staff to can pick-up and drop-off items for re-use. This includes office supplies.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse (e.g. of electronics, furnishings, books and other goods):
MacFree Swap allows students, faculty, and staff to can pick-up and drop-off items for re-use. This includes typical student items like electronics, small-electrics, furnishings, books and clothes.
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption (e.g. restricting free printing and/or mandating doubled-sided printing in libraries and computer labs):
Wasteful Printing Wipeout
The Sustainability Office, in collaboration with MCSG, the Library, Student Affairs and ITS, is implementing a program to help balance those two realities. Students are encouraged to log onto macalester.edu/print or use PaperCut pop-up to see how you're doing.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials (e.g. course catalogs, course schedules, and directories) available online by default rather than printing them:
The catalogs are available online for students. Course schedules are not printed and are only available online for students. The college directory is also available online.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Waste containers are completely removed from residence hall floors, requiring all students to bring items for central sorting which allows for reuse and recycling of almost all items including clothes, food, hangers, appliances, and electronics.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
2008 -present: Graduation Gown Donation Program: Mac grads donate graduation gowns to MNInternship Charter High School
2008 - present: Greening Reunion: Zero Waste Picnic incorporated, started email outreach instead of postcards, water coolers instead of water bottles.
2008 -present: EcoClamshell: Reusable carryout containers available at the Grill
2009 - present: Papercut software: ITS installed Papercut software to count pages printed by student
2009 - present: 100% Recycled Letterhead: Letterhead changed to a 100% post consumer waste recycled paper
2009 - present: Printing awareness week: Library starts annual printing reduction outreach
2009 - present: Student Account eBilling: Switched from paper bills to eBilling
2009 - present: Move Out: Extensive recycling and reuse program put in place, Recycling rate jumped from 17% in 2008 to 46% in 2009
2010 - present: Onesies: Reused one sided paper notebooks, “onesies” given to all first year students from the Library in 2010
2010 - present: CFL and ewaste recycling on campus: Bins available in the Sustainability Office for student, staff and faculty
2010 - present: Reusable dishware and dishwashers: MCSG bought a set of reusable dishware for student organizations
2010 -present: MacFreeSwap: Listing service on 1600 Grand and free stuff table in Kagin Commons
2010 -present: 100% Recycled Copy Paper: 100% recycled copy paper standard started as campus standard
2010 -present: Print release stations: Reduces accidental printing
2011 - Reuse of Macalester Pipe Organ: Macalester Pipe Organ donated to local church
2011 - Holiday Light Recycling Program: Collaboration with the Recycling Association of
Minnesota to collect discarded holiday lights and electrical cords
2012 - Recycled Art and Craft Fair: Student recycled art and craft fair hosted
2013 - Composting started on campus
2014 - Catering and Food Service start using all compostable dishware
2014 - Compostable dishware promoted to departments
2014 - Macalester College joined the national Food Recovery Network Organization which donates surplus food from the dining hall to local charities. The network, composed of students, collects donations one night a week for every week during the school year, and typically diverts around 1000-1500 pounds per semester."
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.