| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.32 |
| Liaison | Emma Parsley |
| Submission Date | Dec. 12, 2022 |
Texas State University, San Marcos
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.15 / 8.00 |
James
Vollrath Director Office of Sustainability |
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 |
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 |
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:
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 | 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:
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:
10 percent contamination is given to the recycling program by the recycling contractor. We have never exceeded 10 percent contamination.
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:
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
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:
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
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:
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.