Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 72.94
Liaison John Alejandro
Submission Date Oct. 13, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of San Diego
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.65 / 8.00 Michael Catanzaro
Director
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 1,628 Tons 759.09 Tons
Materials composted 64.28 Tons 120.10 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 1,697.55 Tons 1,980.18 Tons
Total waste generated 3,389.83 Tons 2,859.37 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 Jan. 1, 2015 Dec. 31, 2015
Baseline Year July 1, 2009 June 30, 2010

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 year of 2009-2010 was chosen because that is the selected baseline year for the University's Climate Action Plan that was adopted November 2016.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,489 2,588
Number of employees resident on-site 20 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 7,753 7,748
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 1,566 1,521
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 580 0
Weighted campus users 7,181.50 7,598.75

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.47 Tons 0.38 Tons

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

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
49.92

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
49.92

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 Yes
Tires No
Other (please specify below) Yes

A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:

In April 2011, USD opened a full-time Electronics Recycling Center where we collect e-waste from on campus and recycle, resell, or donate the electronic items.


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) :
60 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?:
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

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:
---

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:

USD has conducted outreach and has trained "zero-waste gurus" to have staff do peer-to-peer trainings and outreach regarding waste. Zero-waste events are offered and included during orientation and throughout the year upon request.


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

Waste Audits for electronics are a primary part of the Electronics Recycling Center where any incoming electronic waste is first sorted into categories: of reusable, requires repair, or ready for recycle. With over 12.7 million pounds of e-waste collected since 2011, the Electronics Recycling Center encourages reuse of products through sales before recycling.


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

University of San Diego strives to reduce waste by decreasing wasteful purchases as part of up-stream supply chain policies under procurement. This is incorporated into all practices of purchasing on campus with the following guidelines.

USD Procurement assists Facilities Management and Information Technology Services with a recycling program that recognizes that recycled content products are essential for an environmentally sound production system. This includes but is not limited to:
-Products for which the United States Environmental Protection Agency has established minimum recycled content standard guidelines.
-Copiers and printers that can be used with recycled content products.
-Recycled electronic product program.
-Recycled content transportation products to include signs, cones, parking stops and parking signs.


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

The Facilities Department and Procurement participate in conservation and recycling programs currently in operation throughout the campus that include material recovery. This program redistributes and reuses surplus office supplies, equipment, & furniture. This ensures departments and offices around campus are utilizing existing furniture and supplies in storage instead of purchasing new desks, chairs, tables, etc.


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):

Free printing is not available for students on campus in libraries or labs. 'Campus Cash' loaded on to the USD ID card must be used for printing. The ID card must be swiped at the printer to select and print the required pages. The cost of printing and the balance remaining on the card is shown, which acts to entice students to reconsider printing, particularly if it is a large print job. Single-sided black and white printing costs $0.06 per page. There is a small discount to encourage double-sided printing, and this costs $0.04 per page in black and white. Photocopying costs $0.10 per page.Those who do not have a USD ID card can purchase a “gift card” for $1.00 from a campus card services terminal located in Olin Hall or at the the Campus Card Services office.


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:

A limited number of course catalogs are available in print. All information regarding class schedules are online accessible via each student's MySanDiego portal. Directories are available online to find people, offices, and departments on campus.


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

The Office of Sustainability works with Residential Life and local organizations to actively reduce waste at move-out. Collection bins provided throughout campus in all residential areas. These collection boxes are for students to donate any excess clothing, or other items conveniently, rather than throwing them away, thus reducing waste. These items are then donated to charities. Tips for move-in are also provided on the Sustainability website, informing students how to reduce their waste during move-in and what to keep in mind during move-out.


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

Providing all campus residents with an additional recycling container has helped minimize landfill waste.

Additional recycling containers are also provided in public areas with larger student inflow such as libraries and laboratories, which have helped increase the collection of waste and the efficiency of waste sorting.


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:

Waste data was calculated based on billed "tips" by the university's waste hauler. With the number of bins, total yards for each bin, and frequency of pick-up, we used the Recyclemania guidelines on weight per cubic yard for single stream recycling and waste.

Number of residents living on campus= Average of Fall 2014 occupancy (2374) and Fall 2015 occupancy (2604)= 2,489 - since the performance year straddles the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 academic years

Number of employees resident on site:
9 Residential Life professional staff, 2 university liaison professional staff (representing other university departments), and 9 Resident Ministers


Waste data was calculated based on billed "tips" by the university's waste hauler. With the number of bins, total yards for each bin, and frequency of pick-up, we used the Recyclemania guidelines on weight per cubic yard for single stream recycling and waste.

Number of residents living on campus= Average of Fall 2014 occupancy (2374) and Fall 2015 occupancy (2604)= 2,489 - since the performance year straddles the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 academic years

Number of employees resident on site:
9 Residential Life professional staff, 2 university liaison professional staff (representing other university departments), and 9 Resident Ministers

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.