| Overall Rating | Reporter - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | |
| Liaison | Greg Monaco |
| Submission Date | Nov. 10, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Stony Brook University
OP-23: Waste Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Michael
Youdelman Recycling and Resource Mgmt Recycling and Resource Mgmt |
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:
RecycleMania outreach, Earthstock, recycle receptacle (interior and exterior) purchases, increased signage, and improved campus-wide communication.
A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:
The university donates numerous vegetables from its Student/Organic Vegetable Garden to the campus' food pantry and to the local Long Island Harvest office.
A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
Stony Brook University’s Campus Dining Services takes initiative to transform pre-consumer food waste into compost, which is then used in the University's Planting Program. Since early 2009-10, the University, Faculty Student Association (FSA) and Campus Dining Services have collaborated to develop and implement a pre-consumer food waste composting program using an aerobic compost vessel – which is a large, 20-foot long white cylindrical tank with sliding doors that stores and rotates "brewing" food waste which is then transformed into compost. During operation, the compost vessel spins slowly so that the food waste mixes and the interior of the vessel reaches approximately 160 degrees – which helps break the food waste down into nutrient rich compost. Once complete, the compost is then transferred to the R&D Park Greenhouse where it is held and eventually integrated into the University's Planting Program and is used to grow plants, saplings and flowers.
During the academic year, the FSA facilities team collects pre-consumer food waste (including vegetable, fruit and other related cuttings and coffee grinds) from all campus dining facilities and places them into the compost hopper, which is located outside of the Roth Cafe. In addition to food waste, wood shavings are used as a bulking agent for the mix, which helps absorb some liquefied food waste. Together, the hopper blades till all the ingredients and then send the colorful "waste salad" from the hopper into the 20-foot long vessel to aerobically break down. The vessel is spun once every four hours while air is pumped in, propagating the aerobic biodegradation process. After a few days, bacteria and other microbes in the core of the vessel create latent heat that can reach an astounding 160 degrees and vents on the exterior of the vessel keep the temperature to a manageable level.
A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
None at this time.
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 | No |
| 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:
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.