Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 54.32
Liaison Emma Parsley
Submission Date Dec. 12, 2022

STARS v2.2

Texas State University, San Marcos
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.15 / 8.00 James Vollrath
Director
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Parts 1 and 2. Waste per person

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 294.16 Tons 225.93 Tons
Materials composted 132 Tons 0 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 7,690 Tons 51,550 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 2,896.78 Tons 2,513.30 Tons
Total waste generated 11,012.94 Tons 54,289.23 Tons

If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:

A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
Recycling is collected and sorted by mixed paper, cardboard, and mixed single-stream. Once collected, the recyclables are compacted and hauled off by our waste hauling contractor.

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Period Sept. 1, 2021 Aug. 31, 2022
Baseline Period Sept. 1, 2020 Aug. 31, 2021

If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:

A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
Last year that full data was available. First STARS report to establish a baseline.

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 6,713 6,678
Number of employees resident on-site 29 27
Number of other individuals resident on-site 0 26
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 30,095 28,899
Full-time equivalent of employees 3,756 3,738
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 1,283 1,283
Weighted campus users 26,111.50 25,217.75

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.42 Tons 2.15 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
80.41

Part 3. Waste diverted from the landfill or incinerator

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
73.70

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
73.70

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 Yes
White goods (i.e. appliances) No
Electronics No
Laboratory equipment No
Furniture Yes
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste Yes
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets Yes
Tires No
Other (please specify below) No

A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
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Optional Fields 

Active Recovery and Reuse

Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
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Recycling Management 

Does the institution use single stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Yes

Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Yes

Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
No

Contamination and Discard Rates 

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
8

A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
10 percent contamination is given to the recycling program by the recycling contractor. We have never exceeded 10 percent contamination.

Programs and Initiatives 

A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
Graduate student in the Sustainability Studies Masters program complete her Thesis and research on the contamination rates within the composting program. For her research she performed several audits of the compost bins found in the university's dinning halls on campus. Using the materials she found, she was able to identify avenues that would not only train kitchen staff on what items belong in proper receptacles, but also train students what compost means, what the process looks like, and how they can play a role in the successful measures of the composting program.

A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
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A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
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A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Texas State University is a state of Texas institution, and as such, participates in the State's surplus equipment program. Any office furniture or other major expenses that are no longer wanted are sent to the state's surplus warehouse.

A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
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A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
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A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
All the university’s resources are readily accessible online.

A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Bobcats Give Back was instituted in 2019 and collected 735 pounds of clothing and personal care items. The program is a collaboration between the Office of Sustainability, the Department of Housing and Residence Life, and the City of San Marcos.

A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
The Texas State Recycling Program provides recycling services for all students, faculty, and staff of the university. Indoor and outdoor receptacles are located throughout campus, offering a convenient way for everyone to do their part in helping the environment. There is also a drop-off facility at the recycling center if you choose to bring your own recyclables. Currently, the Recycling Program is an effort to heighten on-campus recycling awareness through various campaigns and special events.

Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.