| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.60 |
| Liaison | Megan Curtis-Murphy |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2023 |
Northeastern University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.62 / 8.00 |
Megan
Curtis-Murphy Director of Campus Sustainability & Engagement Climate Justice & Sustainability Hub |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 882.80 Tons | 892.40 Tons |
| Materials composted | 816.83 Tons | 240 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 6.90 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 2,132.01 Tons | 3,386 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 3,838.54 Tons | 4,518.40 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
not applicable
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | Jan. 1, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2021 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2005 | Dec. 31, 2005 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
We chose 2005 as our base year because it the year that concerted efforts to begin documentation and conservation for sustainability purposes. Different efforts ramped forward at different points in time but we determined it was a more accurate representation if we kept the same baseline for as many credits as we could confirm accuracy in data.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 8,184 | 6,741 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 33 | 30 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 7 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 31,817 | 18,492 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 5,489 | 2,949 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 3,118 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 27,702.25 | 17,773.50 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.14 Tons | 0.25 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 |
| Electronics | 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:
Batteries
Mattresses
text books
brown grease
ink and toner cartridges
textiles
lab plastics
https://facilities.northeastern.edu/new-battery-drop-offs/
https://facilities.northeastern.edu/northeastern-lab-plastics-recycling-program/
https://facilities.northeastern.edu/were-all-in-this-together-east-village-becomes-first-northeastern-dorm-to-offer-composting/
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:
Recycling stations across campus are paired with trash receptacles to provide consistent opportunity for recycling alongside disposal. Containers are labeled, with supplemental signage above the containers where possible. Facility staff monitor containers for contamination and remove items improperly disposed or recycled whenever possible. On-site compactors are clearly marked as trash, cardboard, paper or single stream recycling as applicable. Facility staff monitor compactors for proper use.
https://facilities.northeastern.edu/do-you-want-better-recycling-we-have-it-covered/
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
The University has standardized waste and recycling containers across campus to provide visual recognition for proper waste and recycling sorting. A related initiative is standardization of signage, focusing on signage that is consistent with the State's outreach/education efforts as well as industry standards such as signage developed by Recycle Across America.
The Facilities division works closely with student groups to promote and facilitate waste reduction and reuse. This includes numerous clothing and food drives throughout the year by various groups. It also includes the student led Trash 2 Treasure program, which recovers clothing, housewares, and other items during winter and spring moveout. Another student group that is actively supported by Facilities is CANU (Composting at Northeastern University), which promotes behavioral changes associated with reducing food waste and increasing access to food waste composting.
The Climate Justice & Sustainability Hub regularly promotes waste reduction and recycling efforts across campus on their social media and through tabling efforts. Sample campaigns including reminding students to flatten and empty boxes at move in and reminders to leave recyclables loose in the containers.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
The University engaged outside experts to conduct a materials management assessment of campus waste and recycling operations and has implemented recommendations aimed at improving efficiency and achieving a higher diversion rate. Over the years, the University has conducted several waste audits, including audits in December 2019 and April 2021 to assess the composition of the recycling stream and the amount and type of contamination.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
Northeastern University belongs to the Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium which consists of procurement departments from university and local governments that leverage their individual university purchases into much larger bulk purchases to achieve greater economies of scale.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
There are no formal office supply exchange programs but there are several informal exchange programs throughout the campus including an annual reuse event at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
The University supports student-led initiatives, including Trash to Treasure, which collects household/dorm goods and materials for resale or donation.
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
The Procurement Office continues implementing new changes that it started over five years ago to facilitate a more sustainable University-wide procurement program. The preferred online E-Commerce system has grown substantially and complements the online Marketplace’s logos that foster easier searches/access to environmentally preferable products. The purchased paper contract specifies a 30% minimum post-consumer content. Following COVID-19, most businesses processes have been digitized with little need for paper and ink consumption.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
All course catalogs, schedules and directories are available online. If students or others desire printed versions they have to purchase them from print shop.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
During move-in and move-out, the University increases the number of staff and contract personnel and services that are available to manage the large volumes of waste and to ensure that suitable materials are diverted to recycling. In addition, the University supports student led initiatives including Trash to Treasure which collects household/dorm goods and materials for resale or donation.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
To the maximum extent possible, the University collects and reuses pallets for on-campus operational needs. Excess pallets or pallets that are broken and no longer usable are diverted to recycling and/or other reuse opportunities. The university recovers and recycles batteries, including alkaline batteries that are not subject to Universal Waste Management requirements. In 2022, Facilities rolled out a new battery recycling program with 15 new locations across campus.
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:
The University uses a combination of recycling methods. Single stream recycling is used in outdoor areas. Dual stream recycling is used in common areas of academic buildings.
Multi-stream recycling is used in residential trash rooms and loading docks/recycling rooms of academic buildings and office areas (mixed paper; cardboard; plastic, glass and metal containers).
The University uses a combination of recycling methods. Single stream recycling is used in outdoor areas. Dual stream recycling is used in common areas of academic buildings.
Multi-stream recycling is used in residential trash rooms and loading docks/recycling rooms of academic buildings and office areas (mixed paper; cardboard; plastic, glass and metal containers).
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.