| Overall Rating | Bronze |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 31.69 |
| Liaison | Elizabeth Masuen |
| Submission Date | Aug. 30, 2021 |
Metropolitan Community College
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.97 / 8.00 |
Sally
Hopley Coordinator of Sustainable Practices Campus Planning and Sustainability |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 90.70 Tons | 130 Tons |
| Materials composted | 15.60 Tons | 15.90 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 | 1,101 Tons | 1,117 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,207.30 Tons | 1,262.90 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | Jan. 1, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2019 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
An updated waste baseline was adopted in 2020 as a part of the Sustainability Master Plan. The waste baseline is an average of calendar years 2017-2019. These years were the most recent and did not experience large variances in the amount of 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 9,771 | 13,443 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,154 | 1,250 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 2,625 | 989 |
| Weighted campus users | 6,225 | 10,278 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.19 Tons | 0.12 Tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
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) | No |
| Electronics | Yes |
| Laboratory equipment | No |
| Furniture | No |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | No |
| Scrap metal | Yes |
| Pallets | No |
| Tires | No |
| Other (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
The College has a surplus inventory that they auction to the public at low cost. While we do not have a weight on these items, we do have a list. And in 2020, over 420 items were auctioned off to the public. Hundreds of tons are diverted from the landfill with this program. https://www.mccneb.edu/Community-Business/Community-Programs/Doing-Business-With-MCC/Surplus-Inventory
Our culinary building also collects cooking oil that is stored and picked up for recycling.
Normally, the Culinary and Horticulture programs collect food and garden waste for composting on our main campus and a part of the Horticulture program. In 2020, this practice was ended in mid-March as we transitioned from campus. Beginning mid-2021, these two departments are collecting all compostable items for industrial composting, and also glass recycling. Currently, six, full 64-gallon totes are picked up twice a week for composting and one, 64-gallon totes are picked up, 1/2 full for glass recycling. Industrial composting is allowing us to collect a wider range and higher volume of materials.
Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
Does the institution use single stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
In 2019, a waste audit was done at the Culinary Institute, which found high amounts of contamination in the recycling stream. The new composting program and waste/recycling signage will assist with recycling quality control. The updated sustainability website also provides clear guidance on what can be recycled.
The College ensures that our recyclables are sent to a reputable recycling processor, who will alert us if our recycling contamination reaches problematic levels.
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
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.
In 2019-2020, waste and recycling signage was updated, and commons areas are being replaced and updated to ensure clear and consistent signage can be found across all centers and campuses. All centers and campuses will have updated signage and/or new bins by the end of 2021.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Fullness audits are scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2021
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
No formal procurement policies are designed to prevent waste at this time. But we do work with Office Depot for the default printer option to be recycled ink. Other settings in our Office Depot account encourage purchasing items made with recyclable materials or the 'greener' option.
Also, the institution regularly auction offs items instead of throwing them away. https://www.mccneb.edu/Community-Business/Community-Programs/Doing-Business-With-MCC/Surplus-Inventory
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. We do not have weights on these items, but it is usually over 400 items a year, avoiding thousands of pounds going to the landfill. https://www.mccneb.edu/Community-Business/Community-Programs/Doing-Business-With-MCC/Surplus-Inventory
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
N/A
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
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.
We are also using an online academic program called Canvas, which reduces the need for paper documents in the classroom. All faculty are now using Canvas.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials 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. During COVID, many paper processes were taken to digital platforms. Our 2020-2021 Mission Achievement Plan (strategic plan) includes ensuring that these paperless processes continue as we return to the office.
Additionally, all faculty are now on the online Canvas system, drastically reducing the need for paper syllabus and other classroom information.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
N/A- no residences halls
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, including paint. 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. Our welding and automotive programs also save scrap metal from classes and have it recycled.
Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
FTE comes from Fall 2017 data provided by IR.
Waste and recycling data comes from hauler invoices and staff estimates (estimates only applies to yard waste compost from the EVC campus). Following zero waste guides, dumpsters are assumed full unless otherwise known from fullness audits. Volume to weight conversations is obtained from RecycleMania and the EPA.
FTE comes from Fall 2017 data provided by IR.
Waste and recycling data comes from hauler invoices and staff estimates (estimates only applies to yard waste compost from the EVC campus). Following zero waste guides, dumpsters are assumed full unless otherwise known from fullness audits. Volume to weight conversations is obtained from RecycleMania and the EPA.
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.