Overall Rating Bronze
Overall Score 41.51
Liaison Lori Chance
Submission Date May 16, 2024

STARS v2.2

Messiah University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.84 / 8.00 Brandon Hoover
Director of Sustainability
Operations
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 230.50 Tons 314.01 Tons
Materials composted 8.56 Tons 32.25 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 4.10 Tons 5.50 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 694.30 Tons 820.85 Tons
Total waste generated 937.46 Tons 1,172.61 Tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
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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 July 1, 2016 June 30, 2017

A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
Our waste data is based in estimates, and our primary point person for waste has changed twice since 2008 (our standard baseline year for most sustainability efforts). We chose to use 2016 as a baseline year because we knew the waste system had not changed much and we could estimate it using the same system as 2017.

Recycled materials include: Recycled cooking oil from dining; MSW comingled recycling; electronics recycling; and scrap metal

Materials donated or resold include: Donated furniture & donated food through Food Recovery network

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 1,945 2,320
Number of employees resident on-site 14 14
Number of other individuals resident on-site 14 14
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 3,231 3,216
Full-time equivalent of employees 682 719.35
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 385 465
Weighted campus users 3,149.75 3,200.26

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.30 Tons 0.37 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
18.77

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
25.94

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
25.94

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 No
Furniture Yes
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste Yes
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets No
Tires Yes
Other (please specify below) No

A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
We partner with Mennonite Central Committee to recover items during the move-out period. We also recover material from C&D via a scrap metal yard.

Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
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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?:
No

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

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
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A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
Our compost workers mitigate contamination by going through most of the post-consumer waste in order to remove plastics and trash. Our recycling has high levels of contamination; however, we've never estimated the exact percentage.

A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
We use uniform coloring and signage when possible on campus and are active in waste education such as waste watching events

A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
The only auditing we do is in our dining facilities in relation to compost. We monitor that data each month to ensure there are no significant changes in procedures.

A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
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A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
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A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
Every semester an event called Swap N' Mend takes place, where students and faculty are encouraged to bring clothes they don't want anymore, pick up clothes for free, and repair clothing items.

A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
all printing must be paid for by students or out of departmental accounts. Additionally, faculty and staff are able to print double sided. Lastly, faculty and strongly encouraged to allow students to submit assignments electronically via the course management platform

A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
nothing is available online by default

A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Move-In cardboard waste is recovered and sent to out waste hauler. Additionally, Move-Out waste is collected each year in partnership with Mennonite Central Committee

A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
We recover electronic waste, scrap metal, food waste, yard clippings, and abandoned bicycles.

Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Data is estimated using pick up frequency and EPA volume to weight conversion charts.

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.