Overall Rating | Gold |
---|---|
Overall Score | 67.59 |
Liaison | Susan Dorward |
Submission Date | Aug. 4, 2022 |
Raritan Valley Community College
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
3.14 / 8.00 |
Susan
Dorward Sustainability and Energy Coordinator Facilities and Grounds |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Parts 1 and 2. Waste per person
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Materials recycled | 83 Tons | 0 Tons |
Materials composted | 0.50 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 | 167.60 Tons | 312.90 Tons |
Total waste generated | 251.10 Tons | 312.90 Tons |
If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:
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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 | July 1, 2004 | June 30, 2005 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
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 | 0 | 0 |
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 4,390 | 3,972 |
Full-time equivalent of employees | 530 | 363 |
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,998 | 0 |
Weighted campus users | 2,191.50 | 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
Part 3. Waste diverted from the landfill or incinerator
33.25
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
33.25
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 | No |
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:
demolition materials, batteries, light bulbs, electronics, library books, bottle caps
Optional Fields
Active Recovery and Reuse
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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?:
No
Contamination and Discard Rates
15
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
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%.
Programs and Initiatives
In spring semester 2022, RVCC's CR2ZW and composting interns, the Environmental Club, and volunteers led an outreach program in the cafeteria to educate students about how to sort their waste and to take a waste-sorting pledge. As a result of feedback from the campaign, we simplified bin signs, added stickers, changed bin tops, and created educational videos for student orientation and displays around campus.
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:
Paper, cleaning and janitorial supplies, and ice melt are purchased in bulk.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
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A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
The Resource Center provides space for donation and reuse of winter coats.
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
Printing in computer labs is limited to 50 pages per job.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
The College has a new OER (open educational resources) program that encourages the use of free, online materials.
RVCC's searchable e-catalog is available online, accessible from the college's homepage. Past 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.
RVCC's searchable e-catalog is available online, accessible from the college's homepage. Past 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:
In recent renovation projects, all of the studs were reused building the new One Stop center. All metal was recycled at the scrap yard. We saved the two by fours for future projects.
Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Recycled tonnage is estimated based on data collected during CR2ZW 2022 and extrapolated for just 6 months due to covid shutdown for H1 2021. Landfill waste numbers were provided by Republic Services and are likely overestimates based on dumpster capacity rather than actual tonnage.
FTE and online numbers were averaged for FY21 and FY22 to correspond to calendar year 2021 waste data. (Numbers for FY21 were exceptional due to covid.)
Waste numbers for baseline year were calculated based on trend data from 2009-2011.
FTE and online numbers were averaged for FY21 and FY22 to correspond to calendar year 2021 waste data. (Numbers for FY21 were exceptional due to covid.)
Waste numbers for baseline year were calculated based on trend data from 2009-2011.
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.