| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 43.39 |
| Liaison | Briar Schoon |
| Submission Date | June 13, 2012 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Portland Community College
OP-17: Waste Reduction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.14 / 5.00 |
Jade
Menchaca District Recycling Coordinator Facilities Management Services |
Weight of materials recycled, 2005 baseline year :
Weight of materials composted, 2005 baseline year :
Weight of materials disposed as garbage, 2005 baseline year :
Weight of materials recycled, performance year :
Weight of materials composted, performance year :
Weight of materials disposed as garbage, performance year :
List the start and end dates of the waste reduction performance year:
On-campus residents, 2005:
Non-residential/commuter full-time students, faculty, and staff members, 2005:
Non-residential/commuter part-time students, faculty, and staff members, 2005:
On-campus residents, performance year:
Non-residential/commuter full-time students, faculty, and staff members, performance year:
Non-residential/commuter part-time students, faculty, and staff members, performance year:
Time period for weighted campus user (list the consecutive 12 month period that most closely overlaps with waste reduction performance year):
Indication of whether institution has a stated commitment to waste-reduction goals, such as zero waste:
A brief description of the plan of action to achieve waste reduction goals:
The 2009 Portland Community College Climate Action Plan serves as the main guiding document for achieving our waste reduction, recycling and composting goals. Below is directly from the Consumption and Solid Waste section of the Climate Action Plan (found at:http://www.pcc.edu/about/sustainability/psc/consumption-waste.html):
2030 Objective 7
Reduce solid waste generated by 50 % by improving recycling, reusing & composting
KPI 1: PCC District Diversion Rate: total weight of material collected and serviced by our commercial haulers and service contractors (collected monthly and reported by District Recycling Coordinator)
KPI 2: PCC District Material Generation: total material collected and serviced by haulers and service contractors (data collected monthly)
High speed hand dryers have been installed District-wide to reduce the amount of paper waste generated by the use of paper towels used for hand drying.
We have not engaged the heat element in the units to avoid Green House Gas (GHG) emissions across the District by approximately 0.026 tons of CO2E per day or 6.98 tons of CO2E per year (based on a 265 day year). Approximately $1,856 in savings is realized from electricity avoidance (with the heat element off) along with battery avoidance (power supply for paper towel dispensers)
Other benefits include: avoiding costs of $312 per day district-wide in supplying paper hand towels (not including labor) or $82,774 per year, based on 265 working days a year; approximately 50 tons of paper towels being diverted from landfills at an average savings of $97 per ton or $4,850 per year based on paper towels being dry or $9,700 per year based on paper towels being wet and weighing approximately twice as much; cleaner restrooms; fewer plastic garbage bag liners being used; and allowing Facilities Management Services custodians to focus on higher priority service needs of the college.
2030 Objective 8
Reduce demand for waste hauling and reduce college resource utilization by adopting a sustainable purchasing policy
Action to be taken before 2012
Craft sustainable purchasing policy in compliance with Oregon Admin. Rules & PCC Board policy by July 1 2010
Sustainable Purchasing Policy adopted by the PCC Board on July 14, 2011 as a part of updated Oregon Community College Rules of Procurement: "In accordance with the Oregon Community College Rules of Procurement member colleges are committed to the use and purchase of environmentally and socially responsible materials and products which are fiscally responsible, reduce resource consumption and waste, perform adequately and promote human health and well-being. Recognizing their regional economic role Colleges shall seek opportunities to educate, encourage, and influence their respective markets by utilizing, where feasible, products and services including new environmentally preferable products, reusable products, recycled content and recycled products."
Rutgers University will serve as a good model for creating PCC specific sustainable purchasing procedures and guidelines à It is recommended that a specific PCC Board Policy be developed to increase the visibility of PCC's newly adopted sustainable purchasing policy.
The website URL where information about the institution’s waste reduction initiatives is available:
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.