Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 46.18
Liaison Suzanne Wood
Submission Date April 3, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

UMass Chan Medical School
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.05 / 8.00 Suzanne Wood
Sustainability & Energy Manager
Facilities Managment
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Parts 1 and 2: Waste Minimization 

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 820.80 Tons 416.75 Tons
Materials composted 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 112.32 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 2,653.09 Tons 2,738.96 Tons
Total waste generated 3,586.21 Tons 3,155.71 Tons

If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2017 June 30, 2018
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2006 Dec. 31, 2006

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 (e.g. in sustainability plans and policies or in the context of other reporting obligations):
CY2006 was used as it was the first year data was available.

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 0 0
Number of employees resident on-site 0 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 416 400
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 1,068 982.80
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 8,816 7,599.67
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 7,829 6,836.85

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.46 Tons 0.46 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0.76

Part 3: Waste Diversion

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
26.02

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
26.02

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 No
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:
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Optional Fields 

Active Recovery and Reuse

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) :
1.23 Tons

Recycling Management 

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?:
Yes

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?:
No

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?:
No

Contamination and Discard Rates 

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
13

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:
Waste hauler's assigned Resource Manager conducts quarterly audits of recycling infrastructure and reports back to each site making recommendations for improvement and areas of contamination.

Programs and Initiatives 

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:
Area specific recycling and waste signage has been developed to make the identification of recyclable items easier. Housekeeping, the Sustainability Office, and the waste haulers Resource Manager conduct regular training for department and units. Bi-monthly newsletters and annual Earth Day Celebration are used as ways to promote campus recycling.

A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
As part of our contract with the waste hauler they agree to provide annual trash audits of all compactors. Waste audits include a written report and pictures. Additionally, Waste hauler's assigned Resource Manager conducts quarterly audits of recycling infrastructure and reports back to each site making recommendations for improvement and areas of contamination.

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:
UMass Medical School has a re-use program called the Surplus with a Purpose (SWAP) Shop. The SWAP Shop allows for the exchange of a variety of items including office supplies, lab equipment, electronics, and furniture.

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):
UMass Medical School has a re-use program called the Surplus with a Purpose (SWAP) Shop. The SWAP Shop allows for the exchange of a variety of items including office supplies, lab equipment, electronics, and furniture.

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):
The university charges to print from library 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:
The majority of schools/departments choose to distribute course material and directories online.

A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
N/A UMass Medical School does not have residence halls

A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
---

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.