Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 59.69
Liaison Susan Dorward
Submission Date July 31, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Raritan Valley Community College
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.36 / 8.00 Susan Dorward
Sustainability and Energy Coordinator
Facilities and Grounds
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 175.46 Tons 0 Tons
Materials composted 7.65 Tons 0 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 282.88 Tons 312.90 Tons
Total waste generated 465.99 Tons 312.90 Tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
---

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2018 Dec. 31, 2018
Baseline Year July 1, 2004 June 30, 2005

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):

It was adopted as part of our original STARS certification in 2011.


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 5,463 3,972
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 637 363
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 334 0
Weighted campus users 4,324.50 3,251.25

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.11 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:
39.29

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
39.29

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
Laboratory equipment Yes
Furniture Yes
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste No
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets Yes
Tires Yes
Other (please specify below) No

A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:

demolition materials, batteries, light bulbs, electronics, library books, bottle caps


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?:
No

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?:
Yes

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):
15

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:

Our ENVI102 students analyze the contents of the recyclables and trash containers in our hallways, put up signs to improve recycling, and make recommendations for improvements. Contamination rates generally range 10-20%.


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:

One of our sustainability interns headed up a project to improve office recycling. Offices now have recycling bins with mini waste bins attached, and we have more sets of hallway bins with new signs over each one. This doubled container recycling. Also, our ENVI102 students analyze the contents of the recyclables and trash containers in our hallways, put up signs to improve recycling, and make recommendations for improvements. SGA and the Environmental Club initiated bottle cap recycling and created mini-bins to put on the container recycling bins. (We recycle them through Terracycle.)


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

Our ENVI102 students analyze the contents of the recyclables and trash containers in our hallways, put up signs to improve recycling, and make recommendations for improvements.


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

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

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):
---

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):

Printing in computer labs is limited to 50 pages per job.


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:

RVCC's searchable e-catalog is available online, accessible from the college's homepage. TPast e-catalogs are archived and searchable as well.

All instructors have access to WebStudy, and online tool supporting courses, where they can post materials so that they don't have to print them out.


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:
---

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Performance year numbers include demolition and construction waste, which is recycled. Recycled tonnage is estimated based on data collected during RecycleMania 2018. Waste numbers for baseline year were calculated based on trend data from 2009-2011. New baseline student FTE number was obtained from Min Su in Institutional Research.


Performance year numbers include demolition and construction waste, which is recycled. Recycled tonnage is estimated based on data collected during RecycleMania 2018. Waste numbers for baseline year were calculated based on trend data from 2009-2011. New baseline student FTE number was obtained from Min Su in Institutional Research.

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.