| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 38.99 |
| Liaison | Hayley Berliner |
| Submission Date | Oct. 28, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Trinity College (CT)
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.58 / 8.00 |
Hayley
Berliner Sustainability Coordinator Finance & Operations |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 85.37 Tons | 91.86 Tons |
| Materials composted | 32.73 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 2.34 Tons | 1.60 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 736.70 Tons | 777.06 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 857.14 Tons | 870.52 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2018 | June 30, 2019 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2017 | June 30, 2018 |
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):
The same baseline is used throughout the report. Baseline adopted as it was the last year without a sustainability coordinator and without a formal composting program.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 1,882 | 1,898 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 37 | 37 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 7 | 7 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 2,389 | 2,389 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 687 | 674 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 2,793.75 | 2,788 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.31 Tons | 0.31 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 | No |
| 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) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Trinity College participates in single stream recycling.
Food waste is composted at all dining facilities.
Frozen Food is donated to nearby shelters through Food Recovery Network.
plant materials are composted on site.
white goods, furniture, and residence hall move-out waste are re-sold or donated if in good condition.
scrap metal and tires are sent to outside facilities to be recycled.
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:
All recycling bins have been labeled with single stream educational posters. Custodians have been trained to recycle bagged items if they perceive there to be less than a 5% contamination rate. Residential Assistants are asked to to inform sustainability coordinator of recycling bins they find lined with black bags. Black bags are only used for trash and can create miscommunication.
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:
Within the past year we updated all recycling bin signage.
We started a large scale composting program in our dining facilities.
Trained custodians on better recycling practices.
We are Constantly using social platform to remind students of correct waste-related behaviors.
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 (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
A formal office supply swap was created during the fall of 2018. Both the office supply swap and Book exchange program have physical spaces near our office of community service. Our sustainability coordinator with help from students organizes these areas. We also created are Facebook page for the book exchange and office supply swap to share with everyone they items we have received and encourage students, faculty, and staff to visit the stations.
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):
The office supply swap and book exchange have a Facebook page where Trinity College students, faculty, and staff can see what is available or ask any questions.
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):
There is no free printing available to students and double sided printing is the default for all campus computers.
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 course schedules, catalogs, and directories are available online. Only double sided directories are still being printed and distributed across campus.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
The office of community service in conjunction with our sustainability coordinator organize an end of the year program called dump and rum. This program allows students to donate all reusable items that they no longer want to keep. The items collected are sorted and used to stock our on-campus thrift store, book exchange, and office supply swap. Most clothing, fabric, unopened nonperishable food, and kitchenware are donated to local organizations.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
The office of community service in conjunction with our sustainability coordinator organize an end of the year program called dump and rum. This program allows students to donate all reusable items that they no longer want to keep. The items collected are sorted and used to stock our on-campus thrift store, book exchange, and office supply swap. Most clothing, fabric, unopened nonperishable food, and kitchenware are donated to local organizations.
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.