| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.76 |
| Liaison | Eric Meliton |
| Submission Date | Jan. 16, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Wilfrid Laurier University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.54 / 8.00 |
James
Emary Area Manager: Grounds Services Physical Resources |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Parts 1 and 2: Waste Minimization
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 791.40 Metric tons | 894.20 Metric tons |
| Materials composted | 127 Metric tons | 77.40 Metric tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 112.40 Metric tons | 40 Metric tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Metric tons | 0 Metric tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 666 Metric tons | 600.30 Metric tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,870.41 Metric tons | 1,776.81 Metric tons |
If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:
---
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | Jan. 1, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2017 |
| Baseline Year | Jan. 1, 2009 | Dec. 31, 2009 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
Laurier choose 2009 as a baseline for our greenhouse gas monitoring, which includes scope 3 waste as well. This year was chosen because of the quality and quantity of material available. We did not have the 2018 waste audit data at the time of submission and are therefore submitting 2017 waste audit data.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,857 | 1,933 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 12 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 16,373 | 14,026 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 1,970.82 | 1,577.60 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 14,725.12 | 12,185.95 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.13 Metric tons | 0.15 Metric tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
12.88
Part 3: Waste Diversion
60.75
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
60.75
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 | Yes |
| 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) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
In 2018, towards the beginning of the Fall semester, Laurier's Sustainability Office held a Free Store using the dropped off/donated items from the Student Move-Out Waste Program. Students were able to pick up items such as furniture, clothing, small electronics and housewares that they needed from the Free Store. This initiative was to promote Zero Waste initiative in the Laurier community waste and turned out to be highly successful.
Optional Fields
Active Recovery and Reuse
4
Metric tons
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?:
Yes
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
---
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:
Quality control mechanisms employed include: posting proper signage at all waste stations, training back of house staff and custodial staff to assess levels of contamination of waste when disposing of it to ensure anything with high contamination levels is not placed in the recycling or organics stream. Labeling all bins to avoid confusion as to what goes where. Moloks systems also help to improve streaming and reduce contamination.
Programs and Initiatives
Eco-Container Program: Available for all staff, students, and faculty. Reusable takeout containers can be obtained after presenting a one-time purchased Eco-card at any of the participating on-campus food service locations. The Eco-card is available for only $5 and never expires. Once the users are finished their food and done with their container, they can return the unwashed container to participating on-campus food service locations (where the containers are washed, sterilized and readied for reuse). The student (staff or faculty member) is presented with another card to be used during their next visit. This program helps to reduce the amount single use, disposal packaging being thrown away.
Lug-a-mug program: All coffee vendors across Laurier’s campuses now offer a 40 cent discount when students, staff, and faculty use a travel mug for hot drink purchases.
The increased discount encourages the use of reusable travel mugs which reduces the number of disposable coffee cups, plastic lids and sleeves going to the landfill.
Dining Hall: The dining hall on the Waterloo campus uses only reusable cutlery, plates, cups and bowls; no single use or disposal items are used. They also employ the LeanPath System which tracks and monitors pre-consumer food waste in the dining hall and Terrace to minimize food waste during food prep at these locations.
Compostable cutlery is used at Laurier owned and operated food vendors (Byte 75, Franks (when it opens), Terrace, Union Market).
Aramark brands on Laurier’s campus went straw and plastic bag free in Fall 2018.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Laurier conducts annual waste audits on all it's campuses for garbage, recyclables, and organics, as required by the Ontario Ministry of Environment.
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:
Individual faculty and staff are responsible for declaring surplus equipment or furniture. Physical Resources picks up surplus material and stores it in a central location on campus. Emphasis is given primarily to recycling equipment and materials through internal redistribution. Secondary consideration is given to disposal or sale to Laurier faculty, staff or students and finally to external private sale or by donation to local non-profit organizations such as the Salvation Army or the Re-Store.
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):
Laurier’s Sustainability Office ran a free store program at the start of this academic year. The free store had clothing, household, kitchen, and furniture items that were donated by students moving out and were available for free pickup by Laurier and neighboring university students during move in time this academic year. This process reduced waste from the move out at the end of August and supported incoming as well as returning students prepare for the school 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):
There is a printing fee for students to print documents from any student-accessible printer on campus. In the library there is a charge of $0.10/page and $0.60/page for coloured prints. There are five other printers available for student use on campus, four black and white printers charging $0.08/page, and one colour printer which charges $0.60/page.
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:
Laurier has greatly reduced the number of printed course-related materials and syllabi. The large majority of course content and materials for students are available online using 'My Learning Space', an online course management system. Course information and academic calendars are only available online, and have been made easily accessible from the main university web page. Laurier's staff and faculty directory is also now only available online, replacing the previously printed Laurier Phone Book available in the past.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
The first year leadership program, the Sustainability Council, runs an annual 'Stuff Swap' at the end of the school year. This swap style event encourages swapping of donated items, but also serves as a drop-off and donation location for any unwanted clothing, furniture, jewellery etc, as well as non-perishable food items. Any items left over at the end of the swap are donated to local charities and food banks in order to reduce the amount of waste left in residences and student housing during the move-out process. This event also provides e-waste collection which is taken to Laurier's central e-waste collection to be properly disposed of.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
---
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:
Baseline year = 2009 due to information availability.
Performance year= 2017 due to information availability
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.