Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
---|---|
Overall Score | 70.85 |
Liaison | Laura Young |
Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2019 |
Executive Letter | Download |
Michigan State University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
2.38 / 8.00 |
Kris
Jolley Director MSU Recycling and Surplus Store |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Parts 1 and 2: Waste Minimization
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Materials recycled | 10,001 Tons | 1,570 Tons |
Materials composted | 9,285 Tons | 4,410 Tons |
Materials donated or re-sold | 1,854 Tons | 2,000 Tons |
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 249 Tons | 0 Tons |
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 5,619 Tons | 7,102 Tons |
Total waste generated | 27,008 Tons | 15,082 Tons |
If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:
Anaerobic digester. Food waste from kitchens is source separated in put through a pulper prior to being digested.
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date | End Date | |
Performance Year | July 1, 2017 | June 30, 2018 |
Baseline Year | July 1, 2009 | June 30, 2010 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
Baseline year was established along with the energy baseline for the energy transition plan as well as a baseline for the first reporting year of STARS.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Number of students resident on-site | 15,429 | 15,305 |
Number of employees resident on-site | 236 | 0 |
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 447 | 0 |
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 45,677 | 45,149 |
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 12,063 | 11,061 |
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 900 | 0 |
Weighted campus users | 46,993.25 | 45,983.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.57 Tons | 0.33 Tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0
Part 3: Waste Diversion
78.27
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
79.20
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 | No |
Other (please specify below) | Yes |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Textiles, books, polystyrene, office supplies, lab supplies, basketball flooring, exercise equipment and sporting goods, anything with a cord or battery, mattresses, carpet, ink and toner cartridges, other assorted reusable items.
Optional Fields
Active Recovery and Reuse
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Recycling Management
No
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?:
Yes
Contamination and Discard Rates
1
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:
We sort materials in our own MRF and measure discards/contamination. Regular feedback solicited from brokers and mills.
Programs and Initiatives
Container signs, tabeling events, Recyclemania and a vigorous social media presence with over 20,000 followers across all accounts.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Bin level audits. Reults are shared via social media. Dumpster audits are done in our MRF and generally include class participation.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
As a best practice, when negotiating an agreement or contract, MSU Purchasing requests that the packaging be made of sustainable materials; recyclable; and reusable.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Surplus Store open 5 days per week. Budget Booster newsletter sent to campus departments promoting reuse. Vigorous social media presence.
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):
Internal department mailings managed by specific colleges.
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):
MSU does not offer free printing. Standard rates are published and students/staff access printing through the print account. Single sided printing is allowed but is priced significantly higher to deter this form of printing. https://tech.msu.edu/technology/printing/. Print profiles of each user provide cumulative impacts of printing, i.e. percent of trees; grams of C02, and hours running a 60 W light bulb as a part of the education component.
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:
MSU does not print course catalogs. MSU provides online searchable course catalogs, course schedules, course descriptions; degree navigators, reports and additional services as well as information online for the students
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
MSU's move-in/move out program is called Pack-up Pitch in. A description of the program is provided to all incoming residents in their "Move In Guide". A copy of the 2018-Move-In-Guide is included as additional information. For more than 20 years, Pack Up.Pitch In. has aided in the collection of move-in materials such as cardboard, plastic, paper, and glass. For Move-Out in between break and for end of year, residents are notified through psters; postcards, bin signs, through their eco-reps and through their resident assistants. During Move-Out, additional items are collected: non perishable foods are collected at the Service Centers; personal care; household/.electronics; dining hall dishes and clothing/shoes. Usable Furniture is arranged for pickup; household electronics are also collected.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
"Vigorous Surplus program, free pickup, dumpster audits. Waste, recycling and surplus activities are comprehensive and under one budget.
recycle.msu.edu"
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:
"msusurplusstore.com; recycle.msu.edu; reg.msu.edu; .
MSU uses actual weights and that we’ve looked at yard-to-pound conversion factors recommended by the EPA and that when applied in reverse to our data, our recycling rate increases 10%. The number for trash sent to the landfill reported in 2011 was solid. We've decreased that by 20%, which is notable given our growth in FTE’e and square footage. While overall the total of waste has increased, it is a reflection increased accuracy in tracking all materials rather than an actual increase. Pounds of recycling has certainly increased. The number for last year was more accurate due to adding scales to the trucks that collect that material. "
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.