| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 56.23 |
| Liaison | Rachael Wein |
| Submission Date | July 11, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Smith College
OP-23: Waste Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.30 / 3.00 |
Bob
Dombkowski Supervisor- Grounds Section Facilities |
Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
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:
Smith's long history of recycling speaks to its consistent concern about the environmental impact of its operations, even before similar campus programs did not exist. Since 1990, Smith has expanded its recycling program to a robust campus-wide system in every student house, public space and office.
House sustainability representatives to inform fellow housemates about the importance of composting and how to properly compost on campus. Once a month we dress up as "compost fairies" by creating fairy wings, wands, and tutus. We go to our house dining halls and stand by the compost buckets and teach students what can/cannot be composted. Once students started composting correctly, we introduced compost buckets in some of the houses' kitchenettes. Now, most houses on campus have compost buckets in their living spaces (excluding the dining halls). Students can take what they learned in the dining halls and transfer that practice into their living spaces so that it eventually becomes a part of their daily routine.
In managing its surplus property, Smith has a preference for re-use over recycling and donates materials via IRN.
Programs to reduce bottled water consumption on campus have contributed to a significant reduction in bottles and cans recycling as there are now less single-use plastic bottles on campus.
A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:
At least twice a year, before winter break and before summer vacation, Smith College Dining Services donates all leftover perishable food to the local food bank (the Western Mass Food Bank).
A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
Smith College has both pre-consumer and post consumer food composting in 80% of our dining locations; and our two food co-ops also bring their pre and post compost to one of our sites. The pre and post compost is collected by our Facilities department and brought to a farm in Westhampton, MA.
A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
80% of Smith College kitchens have a food waste composting program which sends food waste to a local farm to be composted
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 | Yes |
| Animal bedding composting | Yes |
| Batteries | Yes |
| Light bulbs | Yes |
| Toner/ink-jet cartridges | Yes |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | Yes |
| Laboratory equipment | Yes |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | Yes |
| Scrap metal | Yes |
| Pallets | Yes |
| Motor oil | Yes |
| Tires | Yes |
Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:
Horse manure from Smith's Athletics stables
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.