| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 78.69 |
| Liaison | Lindsey Kalkbrenner |
| Submission Date | Feb. 14, 2023 |
Santa Clara University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.37 / 8.00 |
Dave
Machado Sr. Director of Facilities Operations University Operations |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 402.33 Tons | 259.73 Tons |
| Materials composted | 636.46 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 0.17 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 534.15 Tons | 1,391.23 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,573.11 Tons | 1,650.96 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2021 | June 30, 2022 |
| Baseline Period | July 1, 2005 | June 30, 2006 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,242 | 2,156 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 35 | 31.20 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 12 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 8,239 | 6,991 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,589 | 1,326.80 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 783 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 7,615 | 6,785.15 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.21 Tons | 0.24 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) | Yes |
| Electronics | Yes |
| Laboratory equipment | Yes |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | Yes |
| 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:
TerraCycle programs: Personal Care & Beauty products, Brita water filters, and Toms of Maine products. https://www.scu.edu/recreation/about/sustainability/
Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
Does the institution use single stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
Throughout campus, waste bins have signs to explain how to properly sort waste.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
WASTE CHARACTERIZATIONS: Three to six times a year, students in a class or volunteers examine and measure the waste stream of various buildings around campus. Both residential and academic buildings are studied. By weighing each type of waste, we can determine the contamination rate, and compare the most commonly found items. These events show us where there are breakdowns in the waste stream, and we can create action plans to fix those issues. Participants get valuable first-hand experience with correct waste diversion. https://www.scu.edu/sustainability/events/characterizations/
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
SHARE SHELF: Located on the lower level of Benson (bookstore side), the Share Shelf is a reuse office and school supplies program where SCU faculty, staff, and students can donate office/school supplies items and/or take items left on the shelf. https://www.scu.edu/sustainability/programs/shareshelf/
LENDING LIBRARY: The Center for Sustainability hosts the University's Lending Library program, which operates using a website that allows employees to post office supplies they're willing to let others borrow, and anyone can contact them for use.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
SWAP FOR GOOD: Swap for Good is a pop-up thrift shop that encourages students, staff, and faculty members to practice mindful consumption by donating and exchanging clothing items. Everything is free! Any items left over are donated to the local nonprofit Hope Services. https://www.scu.edu/sustainability/events/swapforgood/
BRONCO SURPLUS: This donation-based pop-up shop appears at the beginning of the school year for students to find reusable dorm room essentials (first-generation students and international graduate students get priority). Suggested donation of $2/small item and $5/big item. https://www.scu.edu/sustainability/events/bronco-surplus/
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
SMARTPRINT: Law School students are given an allotment of $40 for printing per semester, School of Engineering students are given an allotment of $117.50 for printing per quarter, all other undergraduate and graduate students are given an allotment of $16 for printing quarter, and faculty/staff are given an allotment of $80 for printing per school year (including summer). Single-sided printing charges are $0.08/page in black & white or $0.15/page in color. Double-sided printing is at a reduced cost of $0.06/page in black & white or $0.12/page in color. https://www.scu.edu/technology/get-connected/shared-printers-and-scanners/smartprint/smartprint-pricing/
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
SCU Course Evaluations moved from paper format to online in 2008. This includes surveys through email and responses collected online, rather than using paper surveys and spreadsheets. All course catalogs are available only online: www.scu.edu/courseavail
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
MOVE OUT: The Center for Sustainability, Facilities, and the Housing Office provide opportunities for students to divert their waste during move out such as Bronco Storage (not affiliated with SCU) is available to store boxes and bulk items; donation drives for Swap for Good or Bronco Surplus (see above); and e-waste collection sites. https://www.scu.edu/sustainability/events/moveout/
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
ZERO WASTE ZONES: Departments planning a move or simply decluttering can ask for support from the Center for Sustainability and Facilities to establish a temporary Zero Waste Zone. Zero Waste Zones makes it easy to divert and donate reusable goods during office clean-outs and moves. The program helps employees reduce landfill waste and increase employee awareness of SCU’s standard waste diversion practices. Employees are encouraged to sort their office clutter/waste into several categories, including reusable office supplies, functioning electronics, and promotional items to be donated/reused. Suggested donation recipients are provided for each reusables category. https://www.scu.edu/sustainability/operations/waste/reuse/
Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts 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.