| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 34.71 |
| Liaison | Kristina Bryan |
| Submission Date | March 2, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Saint Louis University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.88 / 8.00 |
Amy
Hargis Project Analyst Sustainability & Benchmarking |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 821 Tons | 402 Tons |
| Materials composted | 231 Tons | 203 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 117 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 2,508 Tons | 2,520 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 3,677 Tons | 3,125 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
N/A
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2016 | June 30, 2017 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2008 | June 30, 2009 |
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):
The baseline was established due to the implementation of single-stream recycling on campus. FY09 was the year prior to implementation of the program, therefore that year was adopted as the University's baseline. Some user facts could not be located, so a 0 was placed in that field (even though the value may not be a 0, the data was unavailable to report).
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,793 | 3,517 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 20 | 21 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 12,281 | 10,992 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 4,439 | 5,083 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 3,265 | 416 |
| Weighted campus users | 11,044.50 | 12,628.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.33 Tons | 0.25 Tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
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) | No |
| Laboratory equipment | No |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | Yes |
| Scrap metal | Yes |
| Pallets | Yes |
| Tires | No |
| Other (please specify below) | Yes |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Books, Shoes
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?:
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?:
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?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
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:
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:
The University participates annually in the RecycleMania competition to promote our campus' single-stream recycling program. Additionally, the Green Billikens group holds events to promote recycling awareness and training with a focus on mitigating contamination of recycling.
All blue recycling bins around campus were labelled with standard signage indicating what can and cannot be placed in the bin. This was a campus-wide effort with multiple partnership between departments, including Sustainability and Benchmarking and Custodial Services.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
In 2015 the University, Aramark, Panera, and Waste Management performed an audit of waste materials created by the on campus St. Louis Bread Company. A careful review of all items used in the store was performed to verify their ability to be recycled. The items that were questioned were taken back by Waste Management to be verified and later communicated with the team to ensure these items were placed in their proper bin.
Waste audits are also performed around campus during the annual RecycleMania competition.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
Although Saint Louis University does not have a policy regarding waste prevention, efforts are made to reduce the amount of waste on campus. The University has signed a contract with Xerox for managed print solutions in order to reduce the amount of paper and reduce energy demand by centralizing printing and removing individual desk-side printers. Other waste reduction activities in this initiative include, but not limited to default settings of double sided printing, reduction in paper usage and reduction in toner waste.
Custodial Services purchases bulk products through our supplier for cleaning chemicals and paper products. Concentrated chemicals are ordered in bulk and distributed through a process of refilling bottles when empty in lieu of purchasing bottles and disposing of them when empty.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Distribution Services serves as the primary receiving center and distributes parcels to all University departments. This department coordinates the re-use of University furniture. Any surplus of furniture on campus can be stored at Earhart Hall. Departments on SLU's campus can tour the storage facility and select from furniture available on site for a reduced rate.
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):
Saint Louis University limits printing by requiring students to use "Billiken Bucks" to pay for all copy and print jobs at a cost of 10 cents per page). This applies to documents printed from shared workstations in computer labs as well as from students' personal computers to one of the networked printers on campus. In order to be able to print from their personal computers, students must install the printer drivers and Pharos print management software.
https://www.slu.edu/its/student-tech-services/service-support-and-information/billiken-print
The University has signed a contract with Xerox for managed print solutions in order to reduce the amount of paper and reduce energy demand by centralizing printing and removing individual desk-side printers. Other waste reduction activities in this initiative include, but not limited to default settings of double sided printing, reduction in paper usage and reduction in toner waste.
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:
Saint Louis University ceased printing both undergraduate and graduate course catalogs. Both are now available online as searchable PDF files. The last printed Undergraduate Catalog was the 2005-2007 Undergraduate Catalog. Saint Louis University utilizes Banner Self-Service to publish our catalog of courses, provide access to additional course information and to register online.
The University also utilizes Google apps to share documents between colleagues in order to promote dialogue, collaboration, and reduce printing.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
In support of Saint Louis University's commitment to sustainability and the environment, the Office of Sustainability & Benchmarking, the Center for Service and Community Engagement, Facilities Services and Housing and Residence Life conducts the Trash To Treasure program.
At the end of each semester, donation tents are set-up outside of residence halls, where students can donate gently used furniture, clothing, electronics or appliances that they do not wish to bring home. New food and toiletry donations are also accepted.
Instead of being thrown out, all goods and materials are donated to community organizations such as St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, Campus Kitchen, and other non-profits who then re-distribute items to those in need.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Saint Louis University is active in trying to limit the total number of disposable water bottles used on campus. Many campus facilities have water bottle filling stations, encouraging the campus community in the use of reusable water bottles.
The University also employs many strategies in order to minimize the amount of toner cartridges directed towards the landfill. Offices are encouraged to utilize their vendor’s toner recycling process, including SLU’s new contractor for printing services, Xerox.
http://www.slu.edu/facilities-services-home/sustainability/campus-operations/recycling-and-waste-reduction/ink-and-toner-cartridges
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:
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.