Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 46.82
Liaison Ashley Woolman
Submission Date May 16, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Western Colorado University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.66 / 8.00 Ashley Woolman
Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 101 Tons 98 Tons
Materials composted 0.30 Tons 0.10 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 0.50 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 317 Tons 417 Tons
Total waste generated 418.80 Tons 515.10 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 July 1, 2017 June 30, 2018
Baseline Year July 1, 2014 June 30, 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):

Waste audits were extremely rare before 2014, so the most accurate data wasn't collected until the 2014-2015 fiscal year.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 947 942
Number of employees resident on-site 4 7
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 4 4
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 2,315 2,096
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 326 295
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 238 223
Weighted campus users 2,044 1,867.25

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.20 Tons 0.28 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
25.73

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
24.31

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
24.31

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:

All E-waste is collected by Facilities and IT before being picked up and recycled by MeTech (an environmentally responsible recycling company located in Denver).


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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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):
24

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:

Multi-stream recycling helps prevent contamination with well-labeled bins. Recycling and custodial staff sort out most contamination before materials are sent to the Gunnison recycling center, which further sorts out any leftover contamination. Waste audits are conducted regularly to help monitor contamination.


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:

President signed a commitment to zero waste in 2017.
Signs are located above outdoor recycling areas which have educational materials displayed.
Annual participation in RecycleMania competition and Western holds a dorm recycling competition.
Recycling/Zero Waste training given to RD and RA staff.
LEAD student sustainability coordinators conduct various zero waste outreach efforts.


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

Week long waste audits are conducted each semester. Students conducted a full campus waste audit this past fall. During this audit, 100% of campus dumpsters were surveyed, weighed, and measured.


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

We have a green purchasing policy. For example, this has led to the purchase of microfiber rags rather than paper towels for cleaning or the purchase of 100% recycled paper. We purchase in bulk whenever possible and try to purchase environmentally preferable products.


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

We have a message board for exchanging and reusing office supplies.


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):

We have a campus re-use store called FreeCycle for exchange of clothes, items, etc.


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):

All student use printers were changed to double sided printing in 2012 and students are only allowed to print 600 pages for free.


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 available online on Western's website.


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

We set up FreeCycle dropoff locations so that students can leave stuff for others to claim and reuse. We also have a program called "Move out while you groove out" which teaches students about FreeCycle and where they can go to drop off or pick up used items. LEAD student sustainability coordinators do education and outreach leading up to move-out.


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

We recycle various materials through our comprehensive recycling program.


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:
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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.