| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 55.77 |
| Liaison | Susan Kaspari |
| Submission Date | July 16, 2022 |
Central Washington University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.03 / 8.00 |
Susan
Kaspari Professor Geological Sciences |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 103.03 Tons | 103.03 Tons |
| Materials composted | 10.50 Tons | 10.50 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 66 Tons | 66 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 570.05 Tons | 570.05 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 749.58 Tons | 749.58 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | Jan. 1, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2021 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2021 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
This STARS reporting for 2021 is the first time we compiled waste data from all waste streams on campus, which includes Residence Halls and Satellite Dining Services, Academic Buildings, Surplus, the SURC, and the Campus Farm. Data was also provided by grounds, but landscaping waste (from leaf and grass material and wood chips) does not go to the landfill so these numbers were not included. 2018 was selected as the baseline year because we have student numbers already compiled for that year from our previous STARS reporting in 2019. Because we do not have all the required waste data from 2018, we entered the 2021 numbers in the 2018 data fields. We do not expect to have seen a marked reduction in waste generated between 2018 and 2021 because glass is no longer accepted for recycling because there is not a market for it. That, combined with lower student numbers due to COVID, results in not expecting a marked reduction in per capita waste generation.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,663 | 2,663 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 9 | 9 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 11,054 | 11,054 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,488 | 1,488 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,489 | 1,489 |
| Weighted campus users | 8,957.75 | 8,957.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.08 Tons | 0.08 Tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
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 |
| Electronics | Yes |
| Laboratory equipment | Yes |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | Yes |
| Scrap metal | Yes |
| Pallets | Yes |
| Tires | Yes |
| Other (please specify below) | Yes |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
A wide range of items are re-sold or donated through CWU Surplus. https://www.cwu.edu/contracts/surplus-and-asset-management
Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
Does the institution use single stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
We updated recycling signs for bottles and aluminum cans in spring 2022 to reflect updated recycling guidelines, and improve compliance. Previous studies by students indicate that these signs reduce contamination and increase correct sorting.
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
-Updated signage was put in to place as mentioned above in spring 2022. Additionally, a student is planning sustainability curriculum that includes recycling education for all incoming students through the UNIV101 (university 101) class required for all students
-Before COVID the resident hall management held competitions for the most weight recycled during a month.
-Dining services moved all eat-in dining in Holmes (the main dining area) to reusable plates and cutlery, but this was put on hold during COVID due to single use restrictions and sanitation requirements. They just returned to reusable plate, cutlery and glassware in spring 2022.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Students in ENST480 Campus Sustainability conducted an updated recycling audit in spring 2022 to help inform which information was needed on the updated recycling signs. During April 2021 a Sustainability Certificate student worked with dining and volunteer students to conduct a month long pre-consumer composting audit to determine how much compostable material was produced. This audit was intended to provide data necessary for planning for the composting system. Due to COVID budget stresses, the composting system at the farm is currently on hold.
-A student built a vermiculture system for the Wildcat Neighborhood Farm that is being used to compost at a small scale.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
Dining Services has purchased more reusable and compostable items as well as more fresh produce to reduce packaging. We currently do not have large scale composting on campus, but are starting a new relationship with an off campus party who will do composting.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Central Washington University is required by law to maximize use of all assets and, when we have no further use for them, maximize returns on their sale. We are not allowed to give surplus property away. The Surplus and Asset Management Department is the only CWU department authorized to dispose of surplus property. Our primary role is to ensure the excess property generated by CWU will be handled in a method that both maximizes the return to the University and meets the disposal requirements of the State and Federal governments. https://www.cwu.edu/contracts/surplus-and-asset-management
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
Students are able to purchase items at CWU Surplus. A student in SUST301 worked with the dance department to begin plans for a dance wear exchange. There is a career closet in the library where students can check out clothing. Students have also sponsored pop up thrift stores. Otherwise typical sites (craigslist, varagesale) are available in the community.
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
None at this time.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
Academia has made improvements to CWU's online program to allow more content online. At this time most classes are able to keep their content to strickly online with few deviations. COVID encouraged a rapid transformation to online learning materials. Course catalogs and course schedules are all online.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
All items go to bid to departments before being sent to surplus to be sold to the public.
Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Data stakeholders are:
Residence Halls and Satellite Dining Facilities: Richard Rigby and Joe Bach
Academic Buildings: Sunny Bloxham
Grounds: Blair McNeillie
Surplus: Jason Bakeman
SURC: Andrew Sullivan
Wildcat Neighborhood Farm: Kate Doughty
Data stakeholders are:
Residence Halls and Satellite Dining Facilities: Richard Rigby and Joe Bach
Academic Buildings: Sunny Bloxham
Grounds: Blair McNeillie
Surplus: Jason Bakeman
SURC: Andrew Sullivan
Wildcat Neighborhood Farm: Kate Doughty
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.