Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 46.72
Liaison Debbie Liddick
Submission Date April 22, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Black Hills State University
IN-1: Innovation 1

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Katie Greer
Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Electric Vehicle for Trash Collection

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome :

Trash collection at BHSU was changed in Spring 2014. Previously, trash was collected by a dump truck outside every building on campus. BHSU came up with an innovative way to manage trash collection and make something unsustainable sustainable. Trash collection was reduced from each building on campus to a two collection spots. We utilize a 100% electric collection vehicle to perform daily pickups at each building and deliver the trash to the collection spot.


A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):

We reduced the carbon emissions from a dump truck collection system which drove to each building on campus to one that only has to stop twice on campus. The electric vehicle has a significantly lower carbon footprint than the dump truck used previously for inter-campus collection. Facility staff are required to separate cardboard from the trash collection for recycling.
The change improved the beautification of campus, increased awareness of the amount of trash generated on campus, recycling collection, and sustainability visibility with the new electric collection truck.


A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of 5):
Yes or No
Curriculum No
Research No
Campus Engagement No
Public Engagement No
Air & Climate Yes
Buildings No
Dining Services No
Energy No
Grounds Yes
Purchasing No
Transportation Yes
Waste Yes
Water No
Coordination, Planning & Governance No
Diversity & Affordability No
Health, Wellbeing & Work No
Investment No

Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
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The website URL where information about the innovation is available :
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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