| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.02 |
| Liaison | Beth Klein |
| Submission Date | Feb. 25, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
State University of New York at Cortland
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.57 / 8.00 |
Matt
Brubaker Energy Manager Facilites Management |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 234.01 Tons | 243 Tons |
| Materials composted | 26 Tons | 22 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 40 Tons | 58 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 419.61 Tons | 628 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 719.62 Tons | 951 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
N/A
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, 2017 |
| 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):
Baseline is adapted from prior STARS report with additional calculations regarding previously reported composting.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,404 | 3,182 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 23 | 22 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 57 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 6,564.60 | 7,358 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 1,569.30 | 1,192 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 7,014.18 | 7,213.50 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.10 Tons | 0.13 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:
Asphalt millings from road refinishing work has been reused on site as fill and or re-incorporated into on-site asphalt applications. Depending on which year and how much paving is expended from year to year, this usually results in a waste diversion between 10 - 30 tones of waste generated per year. This past fiscal year, 2016-2017 is resulted in a diversion of approximately 10 tones of asphalt millings not being taken off-site to landfill or other use.
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:
This past year we have launched our "Red is Green" campaign. This included improved recycling signage, additional exterior recycling collection locations, and better tracking of tipped waste and recycling pick ups from various locations.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Handled through our waste / recycling collection contractor, Waste Management. They provide quarterly audit information.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
Through the OGS contract and bulk purchasing and state-wide contract agreements, stocks are minimized to reduce un-needed items which saves on warehouse space and reduces on-site damage and loss of materials.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Our Property Control Office uses the NYS OGS surplus program to share our overages with other state agencies. No money is exchanged.
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):
We have expanded our end of the semester re-store program, which collects unwanted items from students which can then be exchanged at the "garage-sale" at the end of the semester. After students leave, we offer the "garage-sale" to the general public. After this, remaining items are then donated to charities within the region depending on item. Proceeds from the sale of the items are donated to the Campus Child Care Center.
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):
we moved students to a pay-to-print model (they get 200 free copies and then after that they have to pay) to print to the printers in computer labs. The campus moved to this model in order to cut down on the amount of wasted paper they were seeing the public computing facilities. ASC and ACS jointly run this program. Information on the printing can be found at: http://www.cortlandasc.com/essentials/printing-copy-services.cfm
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:
All campus courses are available on-line via the Cortland Web Site as well as MyRedDragon web platform for class instructional purposes.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Campus custodians, upon students moving out of the residence hall, will collect all unopened food products as well as clothing and any other unwanted useful material.
these materials are sorted and then provided to the Migrant Education Outreach Program. Families of Migrant Workers have an opportunity to select these materials-any leftover are donated to the Salvation Army.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
There are a number of options for additional items. OGS and OSC have restrictions on the disposal of items. Items are offered to other state agencies within the community. If they still can't be re-used, then the items are disposed of.
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:
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.