Overall Rating Bronze
Overall Score 31.17
Liaison José Otazú Mejía
Submission Date Jan. 2, 2024

STARS v2.2

Universidad Científica del Sur
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.50 / 8.00 José Miguel Otazú Mejía
Environmental Sustainability Officer
Environmental Engineering Program
"---" 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 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials composted 15 Tons 15 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 4.17 Tons 4.17 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 0 Tons 0 Tons
Total waste generated 19.17 Tons 19.17 Tons

If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:

A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
It has not been measured before, so the data provided corresponds to the base year, which would be 2021.

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Period Jan. 1, 2021 Dec. 31, 2021
Baseline Period Jan. 1, 2021 Dec. 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:
The waste generation baseline, adopted in 2021, is currently under construction due to a lack of measurements regarding waste going to landfill. This foundational reference point is being developed to account for all aspects of waste generation and management accurately. The absence of data on waste disposal in landfills necessitated this ongoing construction process. Once completed, the baseline will enable comprehensive tracking and evaluation of waste management practices and their environmental implications.

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 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 19,095 19,095
Full-time equivalent of employees 3,654 3,654
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 17,061.75 17,061.75

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.00 Tons 0.00 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0

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:
100

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
100

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
Electronics Yes
Laboratory equipment Yes
Furniture Yes
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste No
Scrap metal No
Pallets No
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:
15 Tons

Recycling Management 

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

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

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:
---

A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
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Programs and Initiatives 

A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
In 2023, a detailed measurement of waste quantities by type is being conducted across various university campuses. This initiative aims to establish a comprehensive solid waste management program, enabling the university to minimize, valorize, and properly dispose of waste. The plan is anticipated to be operational by the year 2024.

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:
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A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
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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:
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A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
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A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
---

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