Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 35.08
Liaison Susan Caplow
Submission Date July 24, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Montevallo
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.29 / 8.00 Susan Caplow
Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies
Behavioral and Social Sciences
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 48 Tons 43 Tons
Materials composted 10 Tons 82 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 2 Tons 2 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 153.61 Tons 175.36 Tons
Total waste generated 213.61 Tons 302.36 Tons

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 Nov. 1, 2017 Oct. 31, 2018
Baseline Year Nov. 1, 2012 Oct. 31, 2013

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):

This baseline was selected because it is the same baseline we are applying to the entire application. A few years back gives us easy access to data but is not so distant that there is a stark contrast between the baseline and performance.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 1,084 1,154
Number of employees resident on-site 0 8
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 2,411 2,702
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 494 422
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 35 0
Weighted campus users 2,423.50 2,633.50

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.09 Tons 0.11 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
23.23

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
28.09

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
28.09

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 Yes
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets No
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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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) :
40 Tons

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?:
No

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?:
Yes

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
25

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:

There are signs posted around some of the collection areas listing what is collected and what is not.


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:

Residence Halls have encouraged green room certification, environmental club promotes recycling on campus, green fund projects for recycling have been common.


A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:

none


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):

none


A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

Office supplies are posted up for grabs on a university listserve. Everything that is no longer being used goes to surplus for repurposing/rehoming. When people are looking for items, they work directly with the Physical Plant to see if anything in surplus would work.


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):

Main Residence Hall has a "take table" where residents can leave items they don't want that they think someone else might like.


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):

no policies.


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 University of Montevallo and the Registrar’s Office strives to reduce our use of paper for items that are easily accessible electronically.
In 2014, the University purchased a catalog publishing software that produces a beautiful and easily navigational electronic catalog assessable on our webpage. This reduced the number of printed Bulletins from 3,110 in 2010 to just 320 in 2019. The Registrar’s Office also stopped printing and distributing paper class schedules and student directories after the implementation of the Banner Student Information System in 2008. The University purchased Dynamic Forms in 2017 allowing offices to develop electronic forms and begin eliminating paper forms. The next year, the University contracted with Box, creating a cloud drive for each employee. Box allows faculty and staff to collaborate on documents electronically, instead of providing each person a paper copy.


A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:

Housing brings in extra recycling containers and posts flyers about recycling. They also collect goods to donate to Shelby Emergency Assistance.


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

none


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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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.