Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 59.95
Liaison Mari Acob-Nash
Submission Date Dec. 14, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

North Seattle College
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.86 / 8.00 Tim Albertson
Sustainability Coordinator
Student Development Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 108.72 Tons 108.72 Tons
Materials composted 68.40 Tons 68.40 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 146.08 Tons 146.08 Tons
Total waste generated 323.20 Tons 323.20 Tons

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, 2016 Dec. 31, 2016
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2016 Dec. 31, 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 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 3,827.50 3,827.50
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 560.20 560.20
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 114.70 114.70
Weighted campus users 3,204.75 3,204.75

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.10 Tons 0.10 Tons

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

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
54.80

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
54.80

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 No
Plant materials Yes
Animal bedding No
White goods (i.e. appliances) Yes
Laboratory equipment No
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:
---

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?:
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

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:

Separating bins for garbage, recycling and compost are located throughout campus. Outreach includes updated signage, table tents, and participation in orientations to educate new incoming students.


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:

- Goal to reduce waste percentage by 2020.
- Separate the trash streams by providing different bins for different types of trashes: garbage, recycle and compost.
- Introducing more compost bins gradually
- Best practices brochures are given out for students during quarterly welcome back events to encourage students to live greener.

Green Student Competition:
+ Student Water Bottle Design Competition (Summer 2015)
+ Eco Challenge Competition (2015-2017)
+ Yearly Earth Day events


A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:

Landfill Diversion Initiatives:
+In 2015, North Seattle College introduced 8 water bottle filling stations throughout the campus. NSC has diverted 294467 bottles going to landfill since.
+North Seattle College has used compostable utensils since 2015.
+ Increased the number of compost bins from 3 to 29, now every break rooms will have a Billi Compost Bin, and larger common area will have Slim Jim Compost Bins.

Green Student Initiative and Incentive:
+ Students are offered a $0.25 discount on beverage purchase if they bring their own cup.
- To encourage students to bring their own utensils, $0.10 is charged for purchasing of each at the cafeteria.


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):

None identified.


A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

The college has recycled old furniture, tables, chairs, etc. via various non-profit agencies:
Neighborhood House
Intergenerational Innovations
Partners for Success in Schools
Tiny Tots Child Development
Literary Program
Ingram High School
Nathan Hale High School

The college recycles useable computers, printers, equipment and furniture through State of Washington Surplus.


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):

+ Free Textbook Exchange every quarter
+ North Seattle College text books exchange Facebook page where students can exchange or buy school books.
+ Students can donate their books every quarter.
+ There is a rent-a-text-book option in school and is highly recommended by the instructors at North
+Recycling of gowns
+Donation of clothes


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):

Students cannot print for free due to resource use, they must pay five cents for each page printed. Limited resources for media center materials usage, only available upon requested


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:

While there are some mailers sent out to the greater community, all student registration materials are dealt with online, with course catalogs and all registration related materials being published primarily online. Canvas is wildly use by all the instructors, where most the cost materials, syllabus and assignments are posted.


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 website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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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.