Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 33.44
Liaison Elizabeth Masuen
Submission Date April 6, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Metropolitan Community College
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.65 / 8.00 Sally Hopley
Coordinator of Sustainable Practices
Campus Planning and Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Parts 1 and 2: Waste Minimization 

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 52.24 Tons 84.67 Tons
Materials composted 1 Tons 0 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 529.52 Tons 417.85 Tons
Total waste generated 582.76 Tons 502.52 Tons

If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:

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 Jan. 1, 2017 Dec. 31, 2017
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2012 Dec. 31, 2012

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 (e.g. in sustainability plans and policies or in the context of other reporting obligations):
The waste generation baseline was adopted for the 2012 year as that year was a time when there was not a sustainability coordinator on site as there had been in previous years. The previous sustainability coordinator had developed a robust recycling program and without that person in place, it was a good measure of how the institution performed without having the pressure of waste generation reporting, but the knowledge of how to properly handle waste.

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 0 0
Number of employees resident on-site 0 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 9,771 13,443
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 1,211.10 1,316.10
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 179 989
Weighted campus users 8,102.33 10,327.58

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.07 Tons 0.05 Tons

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

Part 3: Waste Diversion

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
9.14

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
9.14

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 No
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets Yes
Tires No
Other (please specify below) No

A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
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Optional Fields 

Active Recovery and Reuse

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) :
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Recycling Management 

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

Contamination and Discard Rates 

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
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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:
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Programs and Initiatives 

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:
We have started using the Trash Buddy as a pilot program in Fall 2017 in our 3 new buildings to see if that will increase recycling rates and awareness.

A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
None at this time.

A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
No formal procurement policies designed to prevent waste at this time.

A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
The college uses a public auction site to rehome any materials no longer needed by the college. This can include technology, furniture, vehicles, etc.

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):
N/A

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):
MCC no longer offers free printing to students. All computers have been set to default to double-sided printing, however, that can be overridden. Additionally, we use PaperCut software to track staff and student printing to alert us of any abuse of the privilege of printing.

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:
Course catalogs, course schedules, organization charts, directories, policy and procedures memorandums are all available online. Paper copies are available by request.

A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
N/A

A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
The college automotive program is consistently developing novel ways of reusing and minimizing waste. Additionally, our Utility Line program recycles the utility poles once at the end of their useful life to the fire science program as well as creating parking curb stops.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
FTE comes from Fall 2017 data provided by IR.

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.