| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.34 |
| Liaison | Brandon Trelstad |
| Submission Date | Jan. 4, 2024 |
Oregon State University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.64 / 8.00 |
Leticia
Cavazos Sustainability Program Specialist Sustainability Office |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Parts 1 and 2. Waste per person
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 697.88 Metric tons | 550.66 Metric tons |
| Materials composted | 406.71 Metric tons | 177.81 Metric tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 286.77 Metric tons | 109.77 Metric tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Metric tons | 0 Metric tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 1,713.78 Metric tons | 2,816.81 Metric tons |
| Total waste generated | 3,105.14 Metric tons | 3,655.05 Metric tons |
If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:
NA
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2022 | June 30, 2023 |
| Baseline Period | July 1, 2004 | June 30, 2005 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
---
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 5,321 | 3,253 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 15 | 16 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 28,585 | 17,977 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 5,751 | 4,581 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 8,610 | 556 |
| Weighted campus users | 20,628.50 | 17,318.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.15 Metric tons | 0.21 Metric tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
28.68
Part 3. Waste diverted from the landfill or incinerator
44.81
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
44.81
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:
In addition to the commodities in the previous question, OSU also works to divert:
Batteries
Books (Hard cover & soft cover)
Electronic storage media (CDs, VHS, floppy disks, etc.)
Electronics
Film plastic
Ink/toner cartridges
Packing peanuts
Polystyrene (Styrofoam)
Fluorescent light bulbs and ballasts
Motor oil
Graduation gowns
Resale includes additional categories such as computers, shoes/clothing/housewares, office supplies, tools, sporting goods, vehicles and more (http://fa.oregonstate.edu/surplus)
Batteries
Books (Hard cover & soft cover)
Electronic storage media (CDs, VHS, floppy disks, etc.)
Electronics
Film plastic
Ink/toner cartridges
Packing peanuts
Polystyrene (Styrofoam)
Fluorescent light bulbs and ballasts
Motor oil
Graduation gowns
Resale includes additional categories such as computers, shoes/clothing/housewares, office supplies, tools, sporting goods, vehicles and more (http://fa.oregonstate.edu/surplus)
Optional Fields
Active Recovery and Reuse
0
Metric tons
Recycling Management
No
Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Yes
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Yes
Contamination and Discard Rates
---
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
An online course for incoming students called "Recycling in Your Res Hall" was implemented and completed by about 50% of residents.
Res. hall signage indicating top accepted and unaccepted items is installed at the bin opening and wall above at every bin, and signage is checked and updated annually.
Bottles and cans are sorted to remove redeemable containers; most contaminants are removed at this time.
"No coffee cups" signs are on some but not all on-the-go recycling units.
Our special event recycling program requires most event stations to be staffed.
For smaller cardboard containers, material is handloaded into larger receptacles; trash is removed during this process.
Res. hall signage indicating top accepted and unaccepted items is installed at the bin opening and wall above at every bin, and signage is checked and updated annually.
Bottles and cans are sorted to remove redeemable containers; most contaminants are removed at this time.
"No coffee cups" signs are on some but not all on-the-go recycling units.
Our special event recycling program requires most event stations to be staffed.
For smaller cardboard containers, material is handloaded into larger receptacles; trash is removed during this process.
Programs and Initiatives
Waste Watchers
Campus Recycling operates a waste reduction-oriented volunteer club known as the Waste Watchers. Waste Watchers act as advocates for recycling and waste reduction by planning and hosting events and other forms of marketing to educate their peers.
Eco-Reps Recycle Right Program
Eco-Reps paid to promote sustainability in the residence halls in which they live conducted outreach aimed at reducing recycling contamination behavior via door-to-door conversations and bin checks and a sorting activity hosted at a both in dining centers.
Residence Hall Training
An online course for incoming students called "Recycling in Your Res Hall" was implemented and completed by about 50% of residents. When completion rates were calculated for each hall and compared to Eco-Rep audits, a correlation was found in the data - the higher the training completion rate, the lower the contamination found in recycle bins in that hall.
Repair Fairs
Each term, the Waste Watchers hold Repair Fairs to foster a culture of repair and reuse over consumerism. The event allows students, staff, faculty, and members of the public to bring damaged items to receive free repairs. Repairs are given by volunteers - who teach attendees how to make future repairs, as well as fix the item - and cover a variety of categories: clothing, appliances, electronics, housewares, computers, and sometimes more. In the performance year, Repairs Fairs went virtual with video tutorials and an online event.
Master Recycler Class
Campus Recycling partners with Republic Services to coordinate a Master Recycler program for Linn and Benton counties in Oregon. This 10-week course educates community members about all aspects of waste reduction and is offered for free to anyone willing to volunteer for 30 hours after completion of the course. The Master Recyclers volunteer at OSU and in the community to educate others about waste reduction.
Other Outreach
Campus Recycling employs one full-time staff and two-to-four part-time student staff to work on outreach and the development of new programs, much of which focuses on behavior change. Outreach for recycling and composting occurs via educational events (RecycleMania, Beyond Earth Day, etc.), tabling at events, public presentations and workshops, collaborative partnerships, social media, etc.
Campus Recycling operates a waste reduction-oriented volunteer club known as the Waste Watchers. Waste Watchers act as advocates for recycling and waste reduction by planning and hosting events and other forms of marketing to educate their peers.
Eco-Reps Recycle Right Program
Eco-Reps paid to promote sustainability in the residence halls in which they live conducted outreach aimed at reducing recycling contamination behavior via door-to-door conversations and bin checks and a sorting activity hosted at a both in dining centers.
Residence Hall Training
An online course for incoming students called "Recycling in Your Res Hall" was implemented and completed by about 50% of residents. When completion rates were calculated for each hall and compared to Eco-Rep audits, a correlation was found in the data - the higher the training completion rate, the lower the contamination found in recycle bins in that hall.
Repair Fairs
Each term, the Waste Watchers hold Repair Fairs to foster a culture of repair and reuse over consumerism. The event allows students, staff, faculty, and members of the public to bring damaged items to receive free repairs. Repairs are given by volunteers - who teach attendees how to make future repairs, as well as fix the item - and cover a variety of categories: clothing, appliances, electronics, housewares, computers, and sometimes more. In the performance year, Repairs Fairs went virtual with video tutorials and an online event.
Master Recycler Class
Campus Recycling partners with Republic Services to coordinate a Master Recycler program for Linn and Benton counties in Oregon. This 10-week course educates community members about all aspects of waste reduction and is offered for free to anyone willing to volunteer for 30 hours after completion of the course. The Master Recyclers volunteer at OSU and in the community to educate others about waste reduction.
Other Outreach
Campus Recycling employs one full-time staff and two-to-four part-time student staff to work on outreach and the development of new programs, much of which focuses on behavior change. Outreach for recycling and composting occurs via educational events (RecycleMania, Beyond Earth Day, etc.), tabling at events, public presentations and workshops, collaborative partnerships, social media, etc.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
There was no campus wide audit conducted in this performance year. A new biannual audit of the weight of trash collected was implemented by OSU’s waste hauler, Republic Services. This data provides a more accurate assessment of OSU’s overall waste generation.
Also in this performance year, residence hall Eco-Representatives (paid student employees who promote sustainable behavior in their halls), conducted spot audits on the recycle bins in their hall near the beginning of the year and utilized this info to conduct outreach aimed at reducing contamination.
In this performance year, audits were conducted of centralized office recycling and trash stations.
Also in this performance year, residence hall Eco-Representatives (paid student employees who promote sustainable behavior in their halls), conducted spot audits on the recycle bins in their hall near the beginning of the year and utilized this info to conduct outreach aimed at reducing contamination.
In this performance year, audits were conducted of centralized office recycling and trash stations.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
Section 307 of OSU's Procurement and Contract Services Manual addresses sustainable purchasing. Sections 307-001 and 307-002 relate to waste:
307-001: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover
OSU will use sustainable purchasing by applying the methodology of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover.” Whenever practicable, attention should be given to the environment through the evaluation of this methodology along with performance, life expectancy, quality, and value for money.
307-002: Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policies
When purchasing goods and services, Oregon State University will strive to balance short and long-term costs, maintenance, life cycle, and costs to the environment. Oregon State University is committed to identifying goods and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing goods and services that serve the same purpose. This comparison may consider raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, and disposal of the product. Oregon State University is also committed to identifying companies that utilize environmentally preferable products and services. Companies that are able to supply environmentally preferable products and services (especially post-consumer recycled materials) that meet performance requirements will be encouraged to offer them in bids and proposals.
Source: https://fa.oregonstate.edu/pacs-manual/300-purchasing/307-sustainability
307-001: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover
OSU will use sustainable purchasing by applying the methodology of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover.” Whenever practicable, attention should be given to the environment through the evaluation of this methodology along with performance, life expectancy, quality, and value for money.
307-002: Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policies
When purchasing goods and services, Oregon State University will strive to balance short and long-term costs, maintenance, life cycle, and costs to the environment. Oregon State University is committed to identifying goods and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing goods and services that serve the same purpose. This comparison may consider raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, and disposal of the product. Oregon State University is also committed to identifying companies that utilize environmentally preferable products and services. Companies that are able to supply environmentally preferable products and services (especially post-consumer recycled materials) that meet performance requirements will be encouraged to offer them in bids and proposals.
Source: https://fa.oregonstate.edu/pacs-manual/300-purchasing/307-sustainability
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
All property no longer needed by an OSU department is REQUIRED by OSU policy to be sent to Surplus Property for proper disposition. Source: https://fa.oregonstate.edu/fiscal-policy-program/03-110-207-surplus-property-sales
There are also a policy and procedures in the Property Management Policy & Procedure Manual that provides guidance on how OSU can acquire used equipment from OSU Surplus Property and other government surplus programs: https://fa.oregonstate.edu/pro-manual/200-equipment-acquisition/211-surplus
Surplus Property manages OSU's surplus. Their mission is to recycle or transfer excess or surplus property back to OSU departments, state and local governments, and qualified nonprofit organizations within the State of Oregon. Surplus property not sold to departments are offered for sale to the general public. Most items are offered through OSUsed Store sales and online auction sites. Some items may be offered through sealed bids or contract bids. The OSUsed Store hosts sales open to the public twice per week.
All office supplies and housewares that are $5 or less are offered to OSU departments free of charge, allowing OSU to offer office supplies for reuse within the university, without the need to facilitate a separate office supplies exchange program. Binders are offered free for all.
A School Supplies Giveaway program was offered in which office supplies and other items received through the Surplus Property program that were relevant to students were set aside and stored. Then these materials were set out for free pick-up by students at a food pantry day at the campus Human Services Resource Center (the basic needs center for campus).
There are also a policy and procedures in the Property Management Policy & Procedure Manual that provides guidance on how OSU can acquire used equipment from OSU Surplus Property and other government surplus programs: https://fa.oregonstate.edu/pro-manual/200-equipment-acquisition/211-surplus
Surplus Property manages OSU's surplus. Their mission is to recycle or transfer excess or surplus property back to OSU departments, state and local governments, and qualified nonprofit organizations within the State of Oregon. Surplus property not sold to departments are offered for sale to the general public. Most items are offered through OSUsed Store sales and online auction sites. Some items may be offered through sealed bids or contract bids. The OSUsed Store hosts sales open to the public twice per week.
All office supplies and housewares that are $5 or less are offered to OSU departments free of charge, allowing OSU to offer office supplies for reuse within the university, without the need to facilitate a separate office supplies exchange program. Binders are offered free for all.
A School Supplies Giveaway program was offered in which office supplies and other items received through the Surplus Property program that were relevant to students were set aside and stored. Then these materials were set out for free pick-up by students at a food pantry day at the campus Human Services Resource Center (the basic needs center for campus).
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
As noted in another section, at the Surplus Property store, all office supplies and housewares that are $5 or less are offered to OSU departments free of charge, allowing OSU to offer office supplies for reuse within the university without the need to facilitate a separate office supplies exchange program. Surplus also has a process to transfer property directly between departments at the university.
The Basic Needs Center provides a textbook lending library with hundreds of books available as well as 120 graphing calculators. As mentioned in the previous question, Surplus Property sets aside relevant school supplies and distributes them at this center at a special event.
A program called Grads Give Back collects gowns right after the Commencement ceremony as well as at the Memorial Union throughout the year. In the spring, gowns are redistributed for free to students, with communications about the giveaway targeting students who would not otherwise be able to afford participating in Commencement.
The Basic Needs Center provides a textbook lending library with hundreds of books available as well as 120 graphing calculators. As mentioned in the previous question, Surplus Property sets aside relevant school supplies and distributes them at this center at a special event.
A program called Grads Give Back collects gowns right after the Commencement ceremony as well as at the Memorial Union throughout the year. In the spring, gowns are redistributed for free to students, with communications about the giveaway targeting students who would not otherwise be able to afford participating in Commencement.
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
Oregon State University does not offer free printing to students. OSU has implemented a print tracking system called BeaverPrint throughout campus. This system provides secure print release of print jobs and tracks usage of each printer. Students can release their print job at any printer simply by swiping their OSUID card at a print release station. The process allows students to review their queued print jobs, delete incorrect print jobs and release any of the print jobs in their queue.
Double-sided printing is not required, but is incentivized through reduced costs, as is black-and-white printing.
Pricing:
Black & White Single-Sided $0.07/sheet
Black & White Double-Sided $0.09/sheet
Color Single-Sided $0.25/sheet
Color Double-Sided $0.40/sheet
Source: https://is.oregonstate.edu/service/beaverprint
Double-sided printing is not required, but is incentivized through reduced costs, as is black-and-white printing.
Pricing:
Black & White Single-Sided $0.07/sheet
Black & White Double-Sided $0.09/sheet
Color Single-Sided $0.25/sheet
Color Double-Sided $0.40/sheet
Source: https://is.oregonstate.edu/service/beaverprint
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
A small number of registration information handbooks are available to students who visit the Office of the Registrar, but course catalogs and schedules are only offered online (and not in print) at catalog.oregonstate.edu. Most courses offer materials on Canvas online rather than in print.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
In 2007 a campus wide initiative to reduce move-in and move-out waste was started. Campus Recycling, Surplus Property, and University Housing and Dining Services (UHDS) join together in a coordinated effort to reduce move-in and move-out waste.
Residents receive 1-2 small recycle bins in their rooms upon move-in. Campus Recycling adds expanded polystyrene (a.k.a. Styrofoam) collection on move-in day and increases the service rate of cardboard. Furthermore, UHDS encourages students and parents to unwrap and unbox their belongings and leave the packaging at home rather than bringing on move-in day.
The annual Res. Hall Move-Out Donation Drive normally runs May through June. Marketing begins approximately one month in advance of move-out week. Residents receive announcements about how the move-out process works. Labeled donation bins are located in every res. hall lobby, along with the recycling unit starting a couple weeks before the end of the term. In the performance year, 20,422 pounds of donations were collected. While a portion of the donations go to the OSUsed Store to recoup costs from the donation drive, the majority goes to local nonprofits.
Residents receive 1-2 small recycle bins in their rooms upon move-in. Campus Recycling adds expanded polystyrene (a.k.a. Styrofoam) collection on move-in day and increases the service rate of cardboard. Furthermore, UHDS encourages students and parents to unwrap and unbox their belongings and leave the packaging at home rather than bringing on move-in day.
The annual Res. Hall Move-Out Donation Drive normally runs May through June. Marketing begins approximately one month in advance of move-out week. Residents receive announcements about how the move-out process works. Labeled donation bins are located in every res. hall lobby, along with the recycling unit starting a couple weeks before the end of the term. In the performance year, 20,422 pounds of donations were collected. While a portion of the donations go to the OSUsed Store to recoup costs from the donation drive, the majority goes to local nonprofits.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Repair Fairs
Each term, the Waste Watchers hold Repair Fairs to foster a culture of repair and reuse over consumerism. The event allows students, staff, faculty, and members of the public to bring damaged items to receive free repairs. Repairs are given by volunteers - who teach attendees how to make future repairs, as well as fix the item - and cover a variety of categories: clothing, appliances, electronics, housewares, computers, and sometimes more.
Surplus Property
Our surplus program is well-established in our state, and we sell used items to departments, agencies, non-profits and the general public (the latter of which we sell to at our twice weekly public sales). This program accounts for a substantial amount of materials diverted from the landfill. Surplus also disassembles and recycles products that cannot be resold, landfilling only the items that are neither resellable nor recyclable.
Grads Give Back
A program called Grads Give Back collects gowns right after the Commencement ceremony as well as at the Memorial Union throughout the year. In the spring, gowns are redistributed for free to students, with communications about the giveaway targeting students who would not otherwise be able to afford participating in Commencement. In the performance year, gowns were collected but not distributed, as the university did not host a Commencement ceremony during COVID-19.
Landscape Debris
All woody debris such as tree trimmings is piled and periodically ground-up to be reapplied to campus grounds, instead of purchased bark chips.
Each term, the Waste Watchers hold Repair Fairs to foster a culture of repair and reuse over consumerism. The event allows students, staff, faculty, and members of the public to bring damaged items to receive free repairs. Repairs are given by volunteers - who teach attendees how to make future repairs, as well as fix the item - and cover a variety of categories: clothing, appliances, electronics, housewares, computers, and sometimes more.
Surplus Property
Our surplus program is well-established in our state, and we sell used items to departments, agencies, non-profits and the general public (the latter of which we sell to at our twice weekly public sales). This program accounts for a substantial amount of materials diverted from the landfill. Surplus also disassembles and recycles products that cannot be resold, landfilling only the items that are neither resellable nor recyclable.
Grads Give Back
A program called Grads Give Back collects gowns right after the Commencement ceremony as well as at the Memorial Union throughout the year. In the spring, gowns are redistributed for free to students, with communications about the giveaway targeting students who would not otherwise be able to afford participating in Commencement. In the performance year, gowns were collected but not distributed, as the university did not host a Commencement ceremony during COVID-19.
Landscape Debris
All woody debris such as tree trimmings is piled and periodically ground-up to be reapplied to campus grounds, instead of purchased bark chips.
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 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.