Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
---|---|
Overall Score | 47.23 |
Liaison | Keaton Schrank |
Submission Date | Aug. 15, 2019 |
Executive Letter | Download |
Westminster University - Utah
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
2.28 / 8.00 |
Kerry
Case Environmental Center Director Environmental Center |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Parts 1 and 2: Waste Minimization
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Materials recycled | 65.60 Metric tons | 53.90 Metric tons |
Materials composted | 0 Metric tons | 0 Metric tons |
Materials donated or re-sold | 0.24 Metric tons | 0 Metric tons |
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Metric tons | 0 Metric tons |
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 326.85 Metric tons | 197.87 Metric tons |
Total waste generated | 392.69 Metric tons | 251.76 Metric tons |
If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:
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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, 2014 | June 30, 2015 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
Baseline is the performance year used in the last STARS assessment and we are recording the change from then until now.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Number of students resident on-site | 581 | 697 |
Number of employees resident on-site | 6 | 6 |
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 2,533 | 2,078 |
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 456 | 488 |
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
Weighted campus users | 2,388.50 | 2,100.25 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.16 Metric tons | 0.12 Metric tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0
Part 3: Waste Diversion
16.77
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
16.77
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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Optional Fields
Active Recovery and Reuse
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Recycling Management
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
30.03
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:
The Environmental Center conducted a waste audit in Fall 2017 to assess contamination rates of recycling and identify areas to improve to increase diversion rates.
Programs and Initiatives
#WasteFreeWestminster campaign educated over 100 participants in waste reduction strategies, with demonstrated behavior change results.
Recycling signs were updated to reflect items sold and distributed on campus. All first-year students attend an info session on proper recycling techniques as part of orientation, and all campus residence halls provide signed recycling bins in rooms.
Eco-reps are chosen from each on-campus residence hall, and are working on recycling education and outreach in the halls.
The Sustainability Fellows in the Environmental Center are conducting research and behavior-change campaign on plastic water bottle use.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
The Environmental Center contacted the waste management/collection company ACE Disposal for an audit including pick-up dates and weights of landfill and recyclable materials.
The Environmental Center conducted a campus-wide internal waste audit, analyzing waste and recycling from multiple disposal points across campus. Data was compiled and presented to the Sustainability Council. Finally, key problems were identified, and solutions were outlined for each problem in a waste management plan.
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:
Facilities stores office furniture and other materials not currently needed for use in future locations.
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):
An unofficial Facebook group, "Westmini Black Market" circulates books, furnishings, electronics and other resuable items within the Westminster community. Another Facebook group, "Westminster College Utah Textbook Marketplace" facilitates the exchange of textbooks between students, so new textbooks aren't purchased for the same classes every year.
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):
The campus has a print cap to reduce on-campus printing. It limits the amount of free printing that can be done by each student and reduced overall campus printing by more than 60%.
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:
All teachers are strongly encouraged to use an online learning management program called Canvas -- allowing them to post tests, quizzes, grades, attachments and essentially any documents to supply students with the necessities for their class. The Registrar's office has put most materials online, and eliminated the printing of the course catalogue.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
During the move-out period, collection sites for unwanted but reusable items are put out. The donations (including clothing, housewares, kitchen and bath supplies) are sorted through and donated to a local charity. For move-in waste, collection sites were put up for cardboard boxes, the cardboard was separated and recycled which reduced waste thrown in the landfill by an entire roll-away dumpster.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
The Environmental Center supplies a Green Events Kit to check out, for free, for any event to students, faculty, staff and alumni. It has re-usable cups, plates, and silverware.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
https://www.westminstercollege.edu/campus-life/centers-and-institutes/environmental-center/recycling
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.