| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.56 |
| Liaison | Natalie Hayes |
| Submission Date | June 22, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Bentley University
OP-23: Waste Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.49 / 3.00 |
Natalie
Hayes Associate Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
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:
Bentley has a thriving single-stream recycling program. We revamped the entire waste program in summer of 2014. The revamp included rightsizing our recycling system, co-locating all recycling and trash and switching compactors to make recycling more convenient in some locations. The university spent $100,000 in infrastructure improvements to make this happen. The results were amazing: we increased our diversion rate from 35% to 50% in just a few months. The Office of Sustainability coordinated a campus-wide education and engagement campaign to make faculty, staff and students aware of the new program and encourage participation. Partnering with the university's Office of Residence Life was an effective means to engage students.
Give 'N Go is the Spring Sustainable Move-Out Program that reduces trash generation, encourages community via student exchange, and promotes donation because it provides a smart, convenient solution to redistribute reusable items that students no longer need or want. Students will be allowed to swap items at the donation stations to encourage the reuse of goods. All goods left at the end of the day are donated to local charity such as Mass Coalition for the Homeless, Goodwill, and Middlesex Human Services (Bristol Lodge Shelters).
Bentley's kitchen grease is collected onsite and recycled into home heating oil by a local biofuel recovery company.
Bentley has an extensive E-waste program including a program for Bentley-owned electronics. The Bentley community is encouraged to recycle ink cartridges, batteries and small electronics on campus through drop-off stations.
In 2015 Bentley also started a wire recycling program in coordination with the IT department. All old copper wire gets recycled now and Bentley gets a credit from the company.
A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:
Bentley University is currently exploring the possibility of starting a food donation program on campus by partnering with Food for Free a local nonprofit specializing in food recovery and redistribution programs.
A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
Pre-consumer food waste is separated in campus kitchens and collected via a toter system. Bentley's waste hauler picks up the compost toters twice per week and brings the scraps to a local farm.
A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:
Post-consumer food waste is collected in two out of three campus dining halls and from all campus catering activities. Post-consumer food waste is collected in toters. Bentley's waste hauler picks up the compost toters twice per week and brings the scraps to a local farm.
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 | No |
| Food for animals | No |
| Food composting | Yes |
| Cooking oil | Yes |
| Plant materials composting | Yes |
| Animal bedding composting | No |
| Batteries | Yes |
| Light bulbs | Yes |
| Toner/ink-jet cartridges | Yes |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | Yes |
| Laboratory equipment | Yes |
| Furniture | Yes |
| Residence hall move-in/move-out waste | Yes |
| Scrap metal | Yes |
| Pallets | No |
| Motor oil | Yes |
| Tires | Yes |
Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.