Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 38.03
Liaison Bradley Flamm
Submission Date March 1, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

West Chester University of Pennsylvania
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.60 / 8.00 Bradley Flamm
Director of Sustainability
Office of the President
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Parts 1 and 2: Waste Minimization 

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 449.70 Tons 306.20 Tons
Materials composted 35.30 Tons 0 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 1,721.09 Tons 1,417.54 Tons
Total waste generated 2,206.09 Tons 1,723.74 Tons

If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:

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 July 1, 2016 June 30, 2017
Baseline Year July 1, 2008 June 30, 2009

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 (e.g. in sustainability plans and policies or in the context of other reporting obligations):
Year for which data were available.

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 5,151 4,397
Number of employees resident on-site 10 10
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 15,853 10,957
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 1,691 1,647
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 1,045 0
Weighted campus users 13,664.50 10,554.75

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.16 Tons 0.16 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
1.14

Part 3: Waste Diversion

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
21.98

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
21.98

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) No
Laboratory equipment No
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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Optional Fields 

Active Recovery and Reuse

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) :
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Recycling Management 

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

Contamination and Discard Rates 

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

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:
None as of the Spring of 2018. However, in the Spring 2018 semester, several student groups are working to institute food recovery, reusable takeaway food containers, reusable mug, plastic bag elimination, and recycling education programs through the Honors College and student organizations.

A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
None as of the Spring of 2018. However, WCU joined the Post-Landfill Action Network in 2017 and we hope to initiate a formal waste audit later in calendar year 2018.

A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
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A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
As a State institution the University uses property to its best advantage and realizes the maximum value possible for equipment and furniture at the end of their useful life. By following surplus disbursement/disposal procedures we ensure that University property provides value to the full extent of its worth and that its disbursement/disposal will be conducted in an equitable, efficient, and cost-effective manner.

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):
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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):
In the Fall 2010 semester, the student printing quota was changed to 125 sheets per week; Duplex Option doubles effective limit to 250 pages.

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:
West Chester University of Pennsylvania provides all course catalogs and course schedules online via MyWCU. All students, staff, and faculty have access to these materials through the West Chester University of Pennsylvania website wcupa.edu.

A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
WCU has inconsistently organized move-out waste and recycling events. No move out event was held in FY 2017 or FY 2018.

A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
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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:
Waste and Recycling Report from Republic Services (Nick Adams, Sales Supervisor, nadams@republicservices.com, 610-806-5529). Required estimation based on Calendar Year 2016 total data and partial 2017 data (January through July), adjusted to FY 2017. Composting data from Meghan Fogarty, West Chester Borough Sustainability Coordinator (mfogarty@west-chester.com, 484-887-2761). Baseline year data from: https://www.wcupa.edu/_INFORMATION/AFA/Facilities/Recycling/recyclereport.asp.

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.