| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 63.22 |
| Liaison | Jessica Russell |
| Submission Date | Oct. 17, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Mount Royal University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.69 / 8.00 |
Carol
Hartwick Information Manager Environmental Services |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 177 Tons | 132.20 Tons |
| Materials composted | 97 Tons | 87.12 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 | 359 Tons | 244.40 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 633 Tons | 463.72 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, 2015 | June 30, 2016 |
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):
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 894 | 915 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 4 | 5 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 57 | 93 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 9,809.16 | 9,265.86 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 1,844 | 1,871 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 95.87 | 76.71 |
| Weighted campus users | 8,949.46 | 8,618.11 |
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:
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 | No |
| 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) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
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:
Environmental Services conducts mini waste audits on a regular basis, visually determining what is in the bins and advancing waste education programs as required.
Waste education programs include an omnivex tv and poster campaign as well as disseminating information at sustainability fairs and new student orientation twice a year.
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:
In Fall 2017 Facilities Management and Marketing & Communications rolled out a "Do the right thing" poster/omnivex campaign to educate campus community members on how to dispose of their waste. Examples of messaging include how to recycle your single use disposable coffee cup, and "When in doubt choose mixed recycle".
The Students Association also rolled out a Straw Request program in Fall 2018 to reduce the number of straws going to landfill.
The Green Events checklist addresses waste and event hosts are encouraged to consider all event materials and have a volunteer stationed at the waste bins to educate guests on proper disposal.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Third party waste audits were conducted in 2016 and 2018 and will tentatively be scheduled for every other year.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
Mount Royal's Sustainable Purchasing Guideline addresses how individuals can select products in a sustainable way.
Supply Chain Services contributes by assisting departments in the procurement of goods and services that fully meet or exceed business requirements while:
a. Minimizing resource consumption (including energy).
b. Reducing or preventing the generation or release of waste, greenhouse gases, and other pollutants to air, water and land.
c. Managing waste in an environmentally responsible manner.
d. Protecting health and well-being.
In section 3 - General Guidelines, disposal, durability and re-usability, energy efficiency, locality, packaging, recycled content, total cost of ownership, toxins, water efficiency, energy conservation, transportation, and waste management and recycling are all included with recommendations on how an individual should proceed with procurement.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Environmental Services will pick up and redistribute office supplies at the request of departments who are moving or just have surplus office supplies.
Some departments will put a table outside of their office with outdated or no longer relevant supplies for staff, students, and faculty to help themselves to. The tables are generally empty within a couple hours!
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):
Surplus furniture is available for purchase (very cheap) at Shipping and Receiving.
Our students association offers book consignment multiple times a year for textbooks to be reused with potential discount prices for students.
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):
Employees are required to swipe their employee card on large Lexmark copiers. Department printing numbers are forwarded to management for review to ensure overprinting/costs are within reason. Computers and printers default to black/white, double sided across campus.
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:
Mount Royal offers all course catalogs, schedules, and directories online at mtroyal.ca as the internet reaches a broader audience and can be updated quickly if needed as opposed to printed documents.
The MyMRU online platform houses blackboard learning and other resources, including timesheets, for staff, students, and faculty.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
MRU Residence participates in Eco-move out. Each April, donation bins for non-perishable food and clean clothing are placed on the ground floor of each building in West Residence and in the East Community Centre. In April 2017, 1500 – 1800lbs of food was collected and donated to the Calgary Foodbank.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
We have Terracycle boxes for batteries, pens and writing instruments, and e-waste including laptops, cell phones, and inkjet cartridges in 2 high traffic areas on campus. These items are recycled and diverted from the landfill.
We also recycle our light bulbs through Lightmore.
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:
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.