Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 49.78
Liaison Herbert Sinnock
Submission Date April 20, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Sheridan College (Ontario)
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.41 / 3.00 Wai Chu Cheng
Sustainability Coordinator
Office for Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
239 Tons

Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
1,515 Tons

A brief description of programs, policies, infrastructure investments, outreach efforts, and/or other factors that contributed to the diversion rate, including efforts made during the previous three years:

The Zero Waste (ZW) initiative was piloted in B Wing and the Cafeteria at Trafalgar in December 2013. In the pilot, ZW stations were set up in hallways and offices to collect waste in three streams, including organics, recycling and landfill and any garbage bins in classrooms and washrooms were removed. As well, paper dispensers were removed from washrooms where hand dryers are available. These practices help reduce waste contamination and consumption of paper towels. A few ZW volunteers helped promote the use of ZW bins in the Cafeteria area and Learning Common.

Subsequently, the ZW program was rolled out to the complete Trafalgar campus in March 2014 and the other Sheridan campuses by the end of the calendar year. A video and Sheridan TV ads were created to promote the ZW program. In addition, a waste audit is conducted each year to inform the College about the types of contamination in the bins in different areas of the campus.


A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:

The Sheridan Student Union has placed food bank bins throughout the four campuses for the student food bank, the Emergency Food Resource. The student food bank provides assistance for students who unexpectedly find themselves in need by making available emergency food hampers and affordable recipes. The food bank is located at each of the Student Union offices within the Student Centre.

In addition, the Student Union places food donation bins for local and international relief at the request of student or staff initiative.


A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

Chartwells uses the organics bins in back-of-house for any food waste and scraps.


A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

The food waste collected in the organic stream is sent to a power plant where the material is converted to electricity and fertilizer.


Does the institution include the following materials in its waste diversion efforts?:
Yes or No
Paper, plastics, glass, metals, and other recyclable containers Yes
Food donations Yes
Food for animals No
Food composting Yes
Cooking oil Yes
Plant materials composting No
Animal bedding composting No
Batteries Yes
Light bulbs Yes
Toner/ink-jet cartridges Yes
White goods (i.e. appliances) Yes
Laboratory equipment No
Furniture Yes
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste Yes
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets Yes
Motor oil No
Tires No

Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:

Sheridan currently recycles writing instruments such as pens and markers with Terracycle and well as batteries. Additionally, retired waste bins have been donated to Habitat for Humanity.


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.