Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 77.24
Liaison Jim Dees
Submission Date June 10, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Appalachian State University
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.97 / 3.00 Jennifer Maxwell
Resource Conservation Manager
Physical Plant Administration
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
817.10 Tons

Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
1,708.10 Tons

A brief description of programs, policies, infrastructure investments, outreach efforts, and/or other factors that contributed to the diversion rate, including efforts made during the previous three years:

Appalachian has made a zero waste commitment with goal of reaching 90% diversion by 2022. Through this commitment we have conducted a comprehensive solid and hazardous waste audit to establish some baseline data. We have instituted single stream recycling, the minibin recycling system in order to bring awareness to individual consumption habits and reduce waste. We have removed trashcans from classrooms as another way to promote connection to individual habits and consumption. We began a zero waste stadium initiative this football season and work with concessions to divert waste through recycling and composting efforts. We have also employed students through this effort. We built and opened a state-of-the-art aerated compost facility and have been expanding composting from pre-consumer only, to both pre and post consumer collections over the past couple of years.
We have


A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:

Appalachian Food Services donates left over food to a local organization, "The Hunger Coalition" daily. This leftover food donation program has been in existence since 2007.


A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

We collect pre-consumer food waste from all campus dining preparation facilities for composting. The food waste is hauled away daily to a composting site on campus.


A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

Beginning in Fall 2013 all major Student Programs events have mandatory post consumer composting.
Appalachian completed construction of a post consumer waste composting facility Fall 2011. The expanded facility increases food waste diversion up to 250 tons.


Does the institution include the following materials in its waste diversion efforts?:
Yes or No
Paper, plastics, glass, metals, and other recyclable containers Yes
Food donations Yes
Food for animals Yes
Food composting Yes
Cooking oil Yes
Plant materials composting Yes
Animal bedding composting Yes
Batteries Yes
Light bulbs Yes
Toner/ink-jet cartridges Yes
White goods (i.e. appliances) Yes
Laboratory equipment No
Furniture Yes
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste Yes
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets Yes
Motor oil Yes
Tires Yes

Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:
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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.