| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 57.84 |
| Liaison | Paul Edlund |
| Submission Date | Feb. 19, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Montana State University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.35 / 8.00 |
Logun
Norris Recycling Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 483.10 Tons | 54.40 Tons |
| Materials composted | 84.90 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 12 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 1,820.57 Tons | 1,966.70 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 2,400.57 Tons | 2,021.10 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
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, 2008 | June 30, 2009 |
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 fiscal year 2009 baseline is used because this is when waste reduction efforts began to be recorded. The 2009 fiscal year also coincides with other reporting requirements and marks the beginning of MSU's Climate Action Plan. Our recycling program is relatively new with funding approval being passed in the fall of 2008 and implemented in 2009.Therefore, recording started in February of 2009 and ended in July of 2009.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,681.30 | 4,400 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 226 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 15,124.35 | 10,332.50 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 2,888.94 | 1,568.80 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 465.20 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 14,137.89 | 10,025.98 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.17 Tons | 0.20 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) | 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:
Cardboard.
Pallets (we record composted pallets but not pallets that are re-purposed for use by another off-campus company).
Old Lofts (we recently replaced old wooden lofts in one of our residence halls, these lofts were re-purposed by community members for building materials.
Lumber (2x4's, plywood etc.) given away to the community.
Plastic Film (if in bulk quantities such as new mattress purchases etc.).
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) :
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?:
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?:
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?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
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:
Contamination within our recycling bins is removed as the material is collected (coffee cups, bags, glass etc.). Waste sorts are regularly used as a way to determine contamination rates.
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:
MSU works to educate the freshman residents on proper recycling practices. We also encourage reducing food waste within our dining halls (taste it don't waste it). We have began to provide desk side recycling bins with smaller waste bins attached to them and require those office workers to empty their own bins, the hope is they see how much waste they produce.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
An annual waste audit has been carried out during Earth Week every year since 2012. Trash is collected from outside trash receptacles and recyclables are sorted out. The information gathered from this audit is used to better educate the campus on what can and cannot be recycled and what items they should avoid using. Waste audits have also been done as needed in order to determine how much waste is being generated in a certain area or at a certain time of year.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
The custodial contract requires dilution control systems, which help reduce wasted packaging. The custodial contract has also reduced the number of deliveries of chemicals due to purchasing in bulk. All purchase orders/contracts are issued via email in PDF format, greatly reducing paper consumption. It is encouraged by procurement for all vendors to submit bids electronically through the state's e-procurement system to reduce packages mailed to the procurement office and reduce paper consumption. It is also encouraged to have vendors sign up for ACH deposits rather than mail paper checks and encourage the use of consolidating suppliers (helps reduce deliveries to campus). The procurement office also sends and saves procurement documents electronically, rather than have many file cabinets for the storage of these documents.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Property Management has a procedure manual in which their policy states: Each University employee must notify property management before disposing of property and exercise reasonable security measures to prevent theft. Some steps are taken to re-purpose, recycle or sell campus surplus. New programs are being implemented to help increase exchange programs and education about the campus surplus program.
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):
End of year swap tables are located in residence halls at the time of move-out to encourage students to exchange unwanted items rather than throwing them away. Students have also been piloting clothing collection bins on certain residence hall floors to determine if this will be a practical solution throughout the year.
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):
Printers automatically print two sided, students need to select if they want single sided. Monitor toner is checked twice a day to use the maximum amount of printer ink. Books and journals are available online. The MSU library has provided two overhead scanners, allowing students to copy books to a flash drive rather than print out sections. Staff within the Library, is using large format printers which are more efficient than older printers. The staff is also being educated on how to reduce paper consumption in day to day duties. The printing stores on campus use efficient printers that reduce ink.
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 provides many opportunities for being able to view items online rather than printing. Residence Life recently started using a bar code/online effort that greatly reduced the number of papers needed at move in. Many courses use D2L, which allows homework assignments online, requiring no paper to be printed for those assignments. There are various online courses that only use online materials and use no paper products. Course catalogs and schedules are also available online through the MyInfo student directory.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Move-in: Cardboard bins are stationed outside each residence hall, recycling bins are provided for each floor and volunteers/workers go around collecting boxes from the halls and recycle them. Residence life is beginning to provide permanent lofts in their residence halls, reducing the need for temporary wooden lofts; they also have begun renting out mini fridges and microwaves, so students do not need to purchase new ones.
Move out: Students are encouraged to bring home items they no longer need at spring break. In the month leading up to move out, swap tables are provided in each residence hall. These swap tables allow students to drop off items they no longer want, other students, staff, faculty and community members are allowed to take items from these swap tables. After move out the remaining items are donated to local 2nd hand stores or charities. Recycling is also collected on every floor during this move out process.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
We have our move out swap tables mentioned above to help reuse items students no longer want. We collect lumber across campus and provide it to the community. We have someone who collects re-usable pallets generated on campus. We use some of our lumber back on campus for student projects/classes.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Data was collected by the MSU Office of Sustainability in Conjunction with University Food Services, MSU Facility Services, and the Sustainable Food and Bio-energy Systems program. Data for residential numbers was collected with help from Residence Life. Our residential students numbers include the students and their family members (in family grad housing). The family members are contributing to the waste stream and the family grad housing contributes to our recycling and trash numbers.
Data was collected by the MSU Office of Sustainability in Conjunction with University Food Services, MSU Facility Services, and the Sustainable Food and Bio-energy Systems program. Data for residential numbers was collected with help from Residence Life. Our residential students numbers include the students and their family members (in family grad housing). The family members are contributing to the waste stream and the family grad housing contributes to our recycling and trash numbers.
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.