Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 55.78
Liaison Jennifer McLaughlin
Submission Date Dec. 9, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

South Dakota State University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.08 / 8.00 Jennifer McLaughlin
Sustainability Intern
Facilities and Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 392.68 Tons 432.05 Tons
Materials composted 2.70 Tons 0 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 139.76 Tons 100.79 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 3,279.10 Tons 1,224.10 Tons
Total waste generated 3,814.24 Tons 1,756.94 Tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2016 June 30, 2019
Baseline Year July 1, 2013 June 30, 2014

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):
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Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 4,106.33 4,356
Number of employees resident on-site 11.33 12
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 10,637 10,220
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 1,887 1,885
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 556.67 331.05
Weighted campus users 10,004.91 9,922.46

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.38 Tons 0.18 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
14.03

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
14.03

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:

Books have been both recycled and re-sold. Batteries, light bulbs, e-waste, and ink/toner have all been recycled. Each year our university hosts an auction for the State of South Dakota and all state property. These items vary from desks and lab equipment, to furniture and tractors.


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) :
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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?:
Yes

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?:
No

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?:
No

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
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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:

The Sustainability Specialist works to inform campus of what can/can't be recycled. When changes are made the Sustainability Specialist contacts each secretary in each department so they can share the change with their departments. If there is an issue and it can be pinpointed to a specific building, the Sustainability Specialist will inform the secretary to share with the building.

During move-in an A-Frame sign was placed by each dumpster with a general move-in recycling guide. Flyers of the campus recycling guide were available at each residence hall.


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 Sustainability Specialist presented to as many of the departments as she could. The presentation included detailed information about the campus recycling process and what can/can't be recycled. It included a sorting game to give attendees first hand experience of knowing what to put in each bin.

There is always the constant social media reminder and an occasional newspaper article on recycling dos and don'ts.

All custodial staff have been trained on what can/can't be recycled and how to determine if a bag is contaminated or not.

If there is an issue and it can be pinpointed to a specific building, the Sustainability Specialist will inform the secretary to share with the building.

The lobbies at each dorm, had a large sign with the recycling guide, recycling bin ID chart, dumpster locations, and extra recycling flyers for students to grab.

Participated in RecycleMania.


A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:

1-2 waste audits are done annually to assess current contamination rates and what items are commonly mis-recycled.


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
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A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

SDSU has a surplus program, which is open to all South Dakota State University departments as well as other state agencies. These used items, which vary from desks & chairs to lab & farm equipment, are available at a reduced cost or no cost. This program is compliance to South Dakota codified laws for state surplus property and helps reduce not only cost, but also the amount of materials produced for campus. At the end of the year, any items that are not reused by the state are sold at the state auction. Items that are sold at the sale are included in the campus diversion rate.


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):
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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):

Using the program PaperCut, all publicly accessible printers will not print until the job has been paid for. This program as also been implemented into the Economics 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:

Course catalogs, course schedules, and university directories are by default all on line.


A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:

Facilities & Services – Sustainability, Residential Life, and the Department of Sociology & Rural Studies annually host Don’t Dump! Donate! This program takes place during finals week and has a goal of keeping reusable material out of the landfill by providing an opportunity for students donate items to local non-profits. The program partners with a variety of local charities, such as Jack’s Cupboard, the Domestic Abuse Shelter, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and more. Throughout the week, we collect quality items that students no longer want and donate them to these charities. Some of these items include unopened non-perishable food, office supplies, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, clothes, futons, shelves, appliances, mirrors, and blankets! In spring 2018, Don’t Dump! Donate! diverted 1,774.25 pounds from the landfill. In spring 2019, Don’t Dump! Donate! diverted 3,458.34 pounds from the landfill.


A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Performance year data is a three year average from FY17, FY18, FY19.


Performance year data is a three year average from FY17, FY18, FY19.

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.