| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.52 |
| Liaison | Alicia Hodenfield |
| Submission Date | Feb. 18, 2021 |
Sonoma State University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.56 / 8.00 |
Robert
DeNofrio Associate Director for Housekeeping Facilities |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 289.49 Tons | 292.50 Tons |
| Materials composted | 324 Tons | 246 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 0.80 Tons | 1.78 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 5.10 Tons | 4.93 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 557.42 Tons | 555.64 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,176.81 Tons | 1,100.85 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
We use Republic Services which uses materials recovery facilities to sort their recycling and say in their sustainability report, "The circular economy reduces the need for raw materials, which mitigates their associated environmental and social burden. We’re focused on extending the life of the materials we recover from the waste stream by recycling key commodities and extracting more biogas from our landfills to use as a renewable energy source. Both add value to the economy while benefiting our environment."
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2018 | June 30, 2019 |
| Baseline Period | July 1, 2017 | June 30, 2018 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
The baseline year of July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018, was adopted as there was no sufficient data available during the previous years.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,174 | 3,133 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 13 | 12 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 11 | 4 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 8,671 | 8,212 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,157.80 | 1,083.70 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 8,179.35 | 7,762.03 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.14 Tons | 0.14 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 |
| Electronics | 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:
Campus E-waste, including computers, phones, tablets, monitors and other miscellaneous electronic equipment is recycled through an approved certified vendor and we don't generate any animal bedding.
Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
Does the institution use single stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
Designated receptacles with appropriate signage have been deployed campus-wide, with accompanying training for various staff and faculty. We have performed on-site waste audits with the local waste management company to identify and divert more material from the solid waste stream and minimize contamination in the recycling and organics streams. We also receive monthly tonnage reports from our waste hauler, which include a breakdown of landfill and diversion rates.
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
At Sonoma State University (SSU) our goal is to reduce the number of materials sent to the landfill by reducing the total waste generated while increasing valuable resources that can be recycled. The campus recycles more than 60% of the total waste produced, which is nearly 300 tons per year. As part of our “Task & Frequency Program,” all offices are provided a BLUE bin for the disposal of mixed recyclables ONLY, and these items are picked up every week. Any non-recyclable (trash) items should be emptied in a BLACK/GREY bin located within one of the building’s common areas, breakrooms or pantries. In the near future, we hope to start collecting items that can be routed to “Composting.”
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
In accordance with the CSU Sustainability Policy, SSU promotes the use of suppliers and vendors who reduce waste, re-purpose recycled material, or support other environmentally friendly practices in the provision of goods or services to the CSU under contract.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Procurement Services handles all resale, repurposing, or donation of all surplus items on campus.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
The university bookstore has the option of renting textbooks to the students as well as selling the used books at lower prices.
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
All campus printing outlets default to double-sided printing, and charge students for printing to discourage over-consumption.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
The Institution provides a complete electronic/web-based form of the University Course Catalog, Campus Directory, and Class Schedule are available at no cost to the public from the campus homepage.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
During move-out at the end of each semester, Housing and Facilities Management gathers a collection of reusable items left behind which are donated to Goodwill or local thrift stores.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts 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.