| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 35.40 |
| Liaison | David Liebman |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Santa Rosa Junior College
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.36 / 8.00 |
Guy
Tilotson Waste Diversion Technician Facilities |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 315 Tons | 336 Tons |
| Materials composted | 91.60 Tons | 65 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 16 Tons | 12 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 779.50 Tons | 769.50 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,202.10 Tons | 1,182.50 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
Materials sorting involves two steps. During the collection route, compostables and waste are sorted out from recyclables. Once all materials are returned to the central sorting area, waste is thrown away, compostables are places into compost dumpster, and all reusable items (binders, etc.) and recyclables are either placed in the recycling bin sorted into particular storage areas (batteries, shredded paper, plastic bottles, etc).
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2017 | June 30, 2018 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2016 | June 30, 2017 |
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 campus hired a Waste Diversion Tech August 1, 2016 and began keeping accurate records.
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 | 18,037.67 | 18,084 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 826.24 | 819.87 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 14,147.93 | 14,177.90 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.08 Tons | 0.08 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 |
| Laboratory equipment | No |
| 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:
Additional materials recycled include: printer cartridges, granola bar wrappers, shielded wire, water filter cartridges, and shredded paper. Donated items include: discarded office equipment, furniture, bubble wrap, clothing, and school supplies.
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:
Recycling quality control mechanisms include: signage on and above bins, training for student employees, and hand-sorting of all compostables from public areas.
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:
Waste-related behavior change initiatives include: monthly staff and student newsletters, institutionalization of student leadership by including an elected “VP of Sustainability” who runs a Student Sustainability Committee, student “EcoLeaders” club, annual Sustainability Retreat, signage on and above bins, ongoing “Sustainability Committee” comprised of staff and student leaders, supervision of Climate Corps fellows who run waste diversion related projects, green department certification which includes waste diversion goals, waste demonstrations/installations on campus, public relations department features sustainability campaigns on district social media pages, art contest, and tabling in central quad to discuss waste diversion.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Waste audits include monthly dumpsters level checks. This process checks the volume five days in a row to determine total garbage and recycling volume. All dumpsters are checked for content and contamination concerns reported to management. Areas for improvement are noted to nearly all departments and in monthly newsletters.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
TBD.
A procurement policy is in second draft stage and is advancing towards leadership and eventual adoption. Via the waste diversion newsletters and staff meeting presentations, department leaders are informed of sustainable purchasing decisions that are relevant to their procurement.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
A program to reuse office supplies and furniture exists within our Receiving Department. Items are sold via EBay and stocked for selection by all staff.
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):
Platforms for peer-to peer exchange and reuse do not yet exist.
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):
Rules to limit ink and paper use do not yet exist.
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:
Printed course schedules and catalogs are all available online and are regularly updated. Professional website maintenance ensures that online information is easily accessible. There is not an initiative that makes online information the default method.
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 waste diversion department provides small materials for the art department and the “maker” class. Additionally, green cuttings from the floral class are collected and diverted from the landfill dumpster.
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.