| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.04 |
| Liaison | Kayla Tillapaugh |
| Submission Date | May 28, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Selkirk College
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.09 / 8.00 |
Laura
Nessman Sustainability Coordinator Campus Management |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 46.38 Metric tons | 17.80 Metric tons |
| Materials composted | 2.22 Metric tons | 0 Metric tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 0 Metric tons | 0 Metric tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Metric tons | 0 Metric tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 185.46 Metric tons | 231.50 Metric tons |
| Total waste generated | 258.01 Metric tons | 274.81 Metric 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 | Jan. 1, 2008 | Dec. 31, 2008 |
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 waste generation baseline was adopted in 2008 which we carried out as part of our "State of the Environment Report" for Selkirk College. For this study we used the Global Reporting Index (GRI) system.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 208 | 100 |
| 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 | 2,443.77 | 2,693.80 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 348.30 | 312.41 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 391.32 | 650.85 |
| Weighted campus users | 1,852.56 | 1,791.52 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 234.06 Metric tons | 249.30 Metric 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 | No |
| Plant materials | No |
| Animal bedding | No |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | No |
| Laboratory equipment | No |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | No |
| Scrap metal | No |
| Pallets | No |
| Tires | No |
| Other (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Furniture is sold off, toner and ink-jet cartridges are recycled, batteries are recycled, cooking oil is picked up by a student, and any plant waste is put in either the industrial composter or a compost pile on campus.
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:
During 2018, new recycling units were installed. These units have 3 streams - co-mingled recycling, refundables, and garbage. The consistency of these units, along with the clear signage, is aimed at reducing the contamination rate.
The above reported contamination rate was found during a 2017 waste audit of Castlegar cafeteria and common area waste streams. We look forward to conducting more comprehensive waste audits in the future.
http://selkirk.ca/news/selkirk-college-digs-audit-campus-cafeteria-waste
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:
Educational pieces have been put in place with the recycling units, including "Recycle Right" posters, explaining what items go in which bin. Outreach campaigns to reduce single-use coffee cups and plastic water bottles are also active.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
The Selkirk student Environment Club conducts a waste audit of the Castlegar cafeteria and common area every fall. Students sort through the garbage and weigh each stream to determine how much contamination is present. The students use this data to support waste reduction initiatives, such as reduce single-use coffee cups in the cafeteria.
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:
Any furniture or equipment that is not needed is first assessed whether it can be re-purposed within the College. If not, it goes up for sale for staff, students, community to purchase for personal use. If it doesn't sell, it is usually beyond repair and is then disposed of.
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):
Castlegar campus has a designated shelving unit for a "Supplies Bank". Students and staff can drop off their surplus school supplies (paper, binders, notebooks, writing utensils, folders) and others can take what they need.
Silver King campus has a similar system for clothing and small household items, such as dishes, cups, and home decor.
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):
Students are not provided with free printing. All printers on campus are set to double-sided printing by default. Any color printing by staff must be sent through the duplicating department.
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:
Efforts are being made across the institution to make materials available online rather than produce print versions. Most instructors use Moodle, an online learning platform to post handouts, readings and collect assignments.
Moodle is also used widely to manage committee minutes and agendas.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Student housing encourages students to donate items, rather than disposing of them. There is often a "free" pile created, in order to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
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:
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.