Overall Rating Reporter - expired
Overall Score
Liaison Debra Shepard
Submission Date March 6, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Wentworth Institute of Technology
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete Reporter Debra Shepard
Sustainability Consultant
N/A
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 65.30 Tons 76.05 Tons
Materials composted 78.30 Tons 79.08 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 2 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 613.60 Tons 432.39 Tons
Total waste generated 759.20 Tons 587.52 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 Jan. 1, 2018 Dec. 31, 2018
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2015 Dec. 31, 2015

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):

Calendar Year 2015 was selected as the base year because a new reporting program was developed by the waste contractor, including MSW, recycling, compost, and C&D waste (C&D is excluded here per STARS technical guidance). 2015 provides the most reliable data set, and the methodology will be used for subsequent years.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,208 1,958
Number of employees resident on-site 5 5
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 4,212 4,236.50
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 640 641.50
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 120 0
Weighted campus users 4,102.25 4,149.25

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.19 Tons 0.14 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:
19.18

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
19.18

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) No
Laboratory equipment No
Furniture No
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste Yes
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:

Wentworth also diverts construction waste from new construction and renovation projects, as well as mixed media waste from the design studios (industrial, architecture, etc.). These materials are captured in the C&D waste numbers which are not reported under the scope of OP-19.


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) :
0 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:

Wentworth has a unique and long-standing partnership with Boston Public Schools through its STRIVE (Supported Training to Reach Independence through Vocational Experiences) program. BPS students with disabilities are given training, paid positions, and career mentorship while offering recycling support services to Wentworth. The STRIVE team collects, sorts, and prepares recyclable materials at the on-campus recycling center to be hauled to off-site facilities for further processing. STRIVE tracks the amounts, types, and weights of recyclables from the campus.


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:

Signage is located across campus near receptacles. We have re-designed signage to simplify the process, and new signs are being rolled out across different areas in a phased approach. Sustainability co-op students lead outreach campaigns including recycling do's and don'ts included in new student orientation, RA training, tabling during lunch in the cafeteria, and annual America Recycles Day pledge campaigns.


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

Please see the description above for the STRIVE program. In addition, Wentworth periodically hosts "Garbology" waste audits using student teams to sift through campus trash and recycling streams from individual buildings, and determine how much could have been recycled versus actual recycling volumes, as well as assessing contamination of the recycling stream. A Recycling Working Group (including Physical Plant, BPS Strive, and the waste contractor) meets quarterly to assess recycling trends, discuss any issues, and implement plans to improve signage, logistics, and educational outreach.


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:

There is no formal surplus department, however the Planning & Construction department works to re-locate furniture and other items in good condition on campus if possible. If on-campus re-use is not an option, Planning & Construction donate materials through local non-profits that provide refurbished or recycled furniture to area schools and community organizations.


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):

The social media hashtag #WITFree is used to promote exchange and re-use: https://twitter.com/hashtag/witfree


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):

Wentworth has a print quota system, and utilizes "Papercut" software to help community members track their print usage, account balance, and environmental impacts.


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:

Wentworth's course catalog, academic calendar, and directory are all available on the www.wit.edu website. Students can also utilize these and many other resources through the Wentworth mobile app: https://wit.edu/mobile


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

A streamlined procedure for move-in / move-out allows students and their families to reduce idling from over an hour to less than five minutes by eliminating multiple stops in the check-in process, and offering wheeled carts to transport belongings on foot from a central campus parking lot. During move-in, students are also provided with blue bags printed with the campus recycling guidelines, that they can use throughout the year to store and transport their recyclables from their rooms to centralized collection areas.

Wentworth runs a "Trash-2-Treasure" green move-out program where students can donate gently used clothing and household items during move-out.


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

Wentworth has partnered with Massachusetts College of Art & Design by providing one of the MassArt "ReStore" bins in the Flanagan Student Center. A wide range of items including books, clothing, household items, electronics, etc. can be donated in this bin. MassArt maintains a free "ReStore" where anyone from the nearby community can take items they need.


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:

Additional information on Wentworth's partnership with Boston Public Schools STRIVE program can be found here: http://wentworthtrainingprogram.org/


Additional information on Wentworth's partnership with Boston Public Schools STRIVE program can be found here: http://wentworthtrainingprogram.org/

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.