| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.22 |
| Liaison | Mary Ellen Mallia |
| Submission Date | Dec. 21, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University at Albany
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.87 / 8.00 |
Mary Ellen
Mallia Director of Environmental Sustainability Finance and Business |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 1,760 Tons | 238 Tons |
| Materials composted | 595 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 12 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 2,034 Tons | 2,623 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 4,401 Tons | 2,861 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, 2017 | June 30, 2018 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2004 | June 30, 2005 |
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 baseline is in line with the year prior to any sustainability related initiatives on campus.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 7,765 | 7,160 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 40 | 43 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 16,259 | 15,875 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 3,203 | 3,649 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 669 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 16,046 | 16,443.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.27 Tons | 0.17 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 | No |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | Yes |
| Laboratory equipment | No |
| 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:
The university participates in a single stream recycling program. The food waste in the dining halls is composted. We also have several waste diversion activities including; a chapter of the Food Recovery Network, which donates left over dining hall food; a pallet diversion program, recycling for tires, motor oil, metal, non-food organic matter. Additionally, the Office of Sustainability runs a Give and Go move out program at the end of the year and our Purchasing Office oversees an office surplus program that focuses on the reuse and exchange of larger items such as furniture and computers. There is no official weight for these two programs but inventories of items donated or reused are kept.Our on-campus surplus shop was able to repurpose 649 assets back out to our campus from surplus and we sent to the state Office of General Services 2305 good assets that our campus couldn’t utilize to be used elsewhere.
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:
Janitorial staff are trained in the proper waste diversion techniques and acceptable contamination levels. Additionally, the university has an educational program designed to communicate instructions and conduct demonstrations to the campus community as to what items can be recycled and/or composted.
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:
The University participates in Recyclemania and accompanies this with a campus education program that involves blast emails, electronic bulletin articles, passive programming (fliers, brochures), demonstrations and pledges. This program includes a large kick off event and culminates in our annual Trashion Fashion show
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
A working group consisting of staff, faculty and students was formed to examine and improve waste diversion. As a result of their efforts, new external and internal recycling and waste units were purchased. Students worked with faculty to conduct waste audits in our large lecture halls, campus center and library to gauge the effectiveness of these bins.
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:
The university purchasing department oversees the Office of Equipment Management. They maintain a robust list of surplus items available. http://web.albany.edu/its/webgroup/equipment/surplus.asp
Items that can't be exchanged internally are sent to the state Office of General Services surplus shop where items are exchanged or sold via Ebay. Additionally, office supplies are exchanged on an informal basis.
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):
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 at Albany's Library services and Graduate Student Association have set their printers to automatically print double-sided. Both facilities also restrict free printing and users must pay for printing.
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:
Course catalogs, schedules and directories are all on-line. The University at Albany encourages faculty to utilize Blackboard Online Learning System or their own webpages to store class materials, documents and syllabi for students to access online, instead of printing out hard copies.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Each May, Office of Environmental Sustainability sponsors the move out program, "Give N Go". Large PODS are placed at each quad on campus and students are encouraged to donate unwanted household items, electronics and appliances. These items are donated to a local charity.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
A multi-compartment unit is available in the campus center to collect eyeglasses, light bulbs, ink jets and batteries. Additionally, the Office of Environmental Sustainability has distributed bins around campus, both academic and residential areas, for students, faculty and staff to recycle ink jets and toners, and for batteries. We also collect unwanted electronics. Ink jets and toners are recycled through Fundraising Factory, batteries are given to Environmental Health and Safety and electronics are sent to EWaste+.
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.