| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 55.24 |
| Liaison | Paul Scanlon |
| Submission Date | Feb. 22, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Slippery Rock University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.35 / 8.00 |
Paul
Scanlon Special Assistant to the President President's Office/Sustainability |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 235.44 Tons | 163.16 Tons |
| Materials composted | 16 Tons | 54 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 61 Tons | 58 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 615 Tons | 857 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 927.44 Tons | 1,132.16 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 | July 1, 2017 | June 30, 2018 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2004 | June 30, 2005 |
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 when our first greenhouse gas inventory was created in 2009; at that time, FY 2004-2005 was the oldest time period for which our GHG records were considered reliably accurate, and the same baseline period was adopted for waste generation.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,740 | 2,881 |
| 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 | 9,062 | 7,704 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 889 | 826 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 700 | 141 |
| Weighted campus users | 7,623.25 | 7,012 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.12 Tons | 0.16 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 | 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:
- Filtered water fill stations (>22) around campus are used to reduce use of single-use disposable water bottles
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's Green Fund Grant program has been used to install 20+ reusable water bottle fill stations on campus to encourage the use of reusable water bottles and discourage the use of single-use plastic water bottles.
In 2018, a green fund grant was also use to discourage the use of single-use thin-film plastic bags by providing free, reusable shopping bags made of recycled water bottles to all residence hall students. A bookmark explaining the environmental damage caused by disposable plastic bags was included with each reusable bag.
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 are completed annually as part of our greenhouse gas inventory process and our strategic plan update reports; landfilled waste, scrap metal collected and sold, e-waste recycled, and normal paper/plastic recycling quantities are logged each year.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
SRU's Purchasing and Contracting department has developed a specific policy aimed at minimizing the waste of printing paper and toner ink; the policy can be found at:
http://www.sru.edu/offices/purchasing/policies-and-guides
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
All university property that is no longer needed is sent to Central Receiving as surplus property. The property is available for other departments to use as they see fit. When the property builds up, an auction is held that is open to the public. Items not sold at auction are either permanently loaned to an outside organization, recycled, or disposed of as waste.
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 student club "Campus Dress Relief" collects used clothing for donation to local charities and/or for swapping with peers. The Parks, Conservation and Recreational Therapy department also has scheduled a peer-to=peer clothing swap as one of its Earth Days activities this year.
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):
"Paper cut" software is used to allow each department to monitor their printing quantities and cost, and software defaults networked printers to use double-sided printing.Faculty and staff are limited to using networked printers unless their department chair waives that restriction based on specific criteria.
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:
The printing of course catalogs, course schedules, and directories for students is discouraged and are found online. In addition the University utilizes the DesireToLearn (D2L) program which enables students to receive assignments and readings online and turn in assignments without printing.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Slippery Rock University provides extra dumpsters for cardboard to encourage recycling during move-out. An annual "Dump and Run" campaign for off-campus housing is also conducted around graduation time, with over 3 tons of materials (mostly reusable furniture and appliances) collected and donated to local charities.
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:
Landfilled waste quantities taken from greenhouse gas inventory calculations. Materials recycled quantity from FY 2005-2006 used for base period (data not available from FY 2004-2005).
Landfilled waste quantities taken from greenhouse gas inventory calculations. Materials recycled quantity from FY 2005-2006 used for base period (data not available from FY 2004-2005).
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.