Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.14
Liaison Alexis Reyes
Submission Date June 3, 2011
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.1

Pomona College
OP-18: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.76 / 3.00 Ginny Routhe
Director
Sustainability Integration Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

None
Materials recycled, composted, reused, donated, re-sold, or otherwise diverted :
703.07 Metric tons

None
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
493.51 Metric tons

None
A brief description of programs, policies, infrastructure investments, outreach efforts, and/or other factors that contributed to the diversion rate:
Initiatives to reduce landfill waste: The replacement of disposable to-go containers with reusable to-go containers in dining halls likely had a significant effect on landfill waste. The Sustainability Integration Office and PEAR, a student environmental organization, led a "Waste Month" campaign to raise awareness and collect pledges for waste reduction in September 2009. Diversion Initiatives: The College contracted with the Institution Recycling Network's Surplus Reuse Program to donate 29 tons of furniture from dormitories to Nicaragua. The Sustainability Integration Office has added clearer signage about recycling and composting to trash rooms in dormitories. Dining halls transport pre-consumer food waste to the Organic Farm for composting, and the resident hall composting program was expanded in 2010 with compost bins installed throughout campus. The ReCoop, a materials reuse program, collects items during move-out and resells them during move-in. A waste audit was conducted by an Independent Study in Spring 2010 and the results have been publicized to encourage better diversion. The Green Office Program provides stickers and signage for offices about compost and recycling and encourages diversion through its credit system.

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
These numbers may be slightly different than those published elsewhere; recent assessment of composting has revealed higher numbers than previously assumed.

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.