| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.82 |
| Liaison | Rochelle Owen |
| Submission Date | Jan. 7, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Dalhousie University
OP-22: Waste Minimization
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.26 / 5.00 |
Waste generated::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 319.33 Metric tons | 359.25 Metric tons |
| Materials composted | 431.82 Metric tons | 272.16 Metric tons |
| Materials reused, donated or re-sold | 9.07 Metric tons | 9.07 Metric tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 588.76 Metric tons | 410.05 Metric tons |
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of residential students | 2,169 | 2,345 |
| Number of residential employees | 9 | 5 |
| Number of in-patient hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Full-time equivalent enrollment | 15,794 | 14,994 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 7,106 | 6,601 |
| Full-time equivalent of distance education students | 240 | 182 |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | April 1, 2013 | March 31, 2014 |
| Baseline Year | April 1, 2010 | March 31, 2011 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
A brief description of any (non-food) waste audits employed by the institution:
A waste audit was conducted in 2011 by the Dalhousie Office of Sustainability with contributions from Facilities Management, Eco-efficiency center staff, and student volunteers. The purpose of the waste audit was to gain a detailed understanding of the types and weights of material being generated. Audit results are used to improve the economic and environmental performance of waste management efforts.
A brief description of any institutional procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
The Office of Sustainability has a Sustainable Purchasing workshops and Tips sheets on reduction that provides guidance on how to reduce waste.
See more here:
http://www.dal.ca/dept/sustainability/programs/waste.html
A brief description of any surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
All Goods are re-distributed at the University through an internal notification as outlined in the purchasing policy. Materials such as furniture that are not used on campus are often given to non-profits through the Purchasing Department. The University surplus good re-use policy stimulates this program
See more here:
http://www.dal.ca/dept/sustainability/programs/waste/reduce-re-use.html
A brief description of the institution's efforts to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
Dalhousie publishes all course catalogs, course schedules, and directories online as its default. Physical copies of the course catalog, however, are available upon request.
See more here:
http://www.dal.ca/dept/sustainability/programs/waste/reduce-re-use.html
A brief description of any limits on paper and ink consumption employed by the institution:
Printing is limited because students have to pay for each item they wish to print- there is no 'free' printing for students in computer labs and libraries.
At the Halifax campuses, multi-function devices provided by Ricoh through a supply agreement with Dalhousie are automatically defaulted to double-sided on set up.
Through the paper policy, Dalhousie aims to reduce the number single-use printing devices on campus in favor of more efficient and cost-effective multi-use devices (for example, photocopy machines that also print and scan).
See more here:
http://www.dal.ca/dept/sustainability/programs/Procurement_and_Waste/paper.html
A brief description of any programs employed by the institution to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Regular waste is sorted and diverted into recycling streams wherever possible by custodial services. Items left behind are sorted and donated: furniture, appliances, and other small items are donated to the Dump and Run program; toiletries are donated to a local shelter; school supplies are collected and held for students in need; books are donated to a bursary fund; clothing is donated to local charities, and winter coats are donated to ISES students the following year; magazines are re-used in public areas during our summer season.
See more here:
http://www.dal.ca/dept/sustainability/programs/waste.html
A brief description of any other (non-food) waste minimization strategies employed by the institution:
Other waste minimization strategies include use of the four bin system (PROG - paper, recyclables, organics, and garbage) to collect, separate and dispose of waste. Yard waste is also collected and diverted from the landfill.
See more here:
http://www.dal.ca/dept/sustainability/programs/waste/composting.html
A brief description of any food waste audits employed by the institution:
Honours research was conducted on the student consumption of food and remaining food waste to make recommendations about preparation and meal types.
A brief description of any programs and/or practices to track and reduce pre-consumer food waste in the form of kitchen food waste, prep waste and spoilage:
Organic Material at Dalhousie is collected daily by custodians from the four-bin systems found in hallways and meeting rooms. This four-bin system allows for tracking of pre-consumer food waste.
See more here:
http://www.dal.ca/dept/sustainability/programs/waste/composting.html
A brief description of programs and/or practices to track and reduce post-consumer food waste:
In 2008, all residence dining halls managed by Aramark removed the serving trays and went "trayless". This has eliminated the washing of 4,100 trays per day, or, 900,000 trays per year. Annually, it will save 870,655 litres of water and the associated energy needed to heat it, as well as reduce the use of washing chemicals.
A brief description of the institution's provision of reusable and/or third party certified compostable to-go containers for to-go food and beverage items (in conjunction with a composting program):
Compostable (paper and organic based to go containers) are provided in some foods services.
A brief description of the institution's provision of reusable service ware for “dine in” meals and reusable and/or third party certified compostable service ware for to-go meals (in conjunction with a composting program):
In residence halls reusable dishware and cutlery is provided.
A brief description of any discounts offered to customers who use reusable containers (e.g. mugs) instead of disposable or compostable containers in to-go food service operations:
Reusable Mug Program offers a discount at any Dalhousie Food Services retail location when using an Enviro/Reusable Mug.
Muggy Mondays- FREE Fair, Locally Roasted Coffee when bringing your own mug.
A brief description of other dining services waste minimization programs and initiatives:
The website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Dalhousie University has a number of waste management programs to reduce and re-use material on campus through programs such as surplus goods and divert material from the landfill such as pre and post-consumer organics, paper and cardboard, yard waste, and recyclables which includes refundables. In addition a number of other re-use and recycling programs exist including the DUMP and RUN serving over 800 people a year, electronics, C&D, white goods, and as hazardous waste. Ongoing annual student research supports new ideas for diversion efforts. This information includes the Halifax campuses. The NS Agriculture College merged with Dalhousie in September 2012. Data procedures need to be established to begin collecting data on streams. This campus 1/10 the size of the Halifax campuses will be included in the next STARS report for this category.
The reliability of waste stream tonnage data can vary from material to material. Currently estimations have to be used for some streams including garbage as tonnage data provided to the university is currently not consistent enough. Data provided by haulers is correlated with waste audit data and FM staff observations. Ongoing and future work is being conducted on ensuring accurate weights. The recyclables volume can vary year to year depending on how much student fundraising is done with refundables.
For more information visit: http://www.dal.ca/dept/sustainability/programs/waste.html
Dalhousie University has a number of waste management programs to reduce and re-use material on campus through programs such as surplus goods and divert material from the landfill such as pre and post-consumer organics, paper and cardboard, yard waste, and recyclables which includes refundables. In addition a number of other re-use and recycling programs exist including the DUMP and RUN serving over 800 people a year, electronics, C&D, white goods, and as hazardous waste. Ongoing annual student research supports new ideas for diversion efforts. This information includes the Halifax campuses. The NS Agriculture College merged with Dalhousie in September 2012. Data procedures need to be established to begin collecting data on streams. This campus 1/10 the size of the Halifax campuses will be included in the next STARS report for this category.
The reliability of waste stream tonnage data can vary from material to material. Currently estimations have to be used for some streams including garbage as tonnage data provided to the university is currently not consistent enough. Data provided by haulers is correlated with waste audit data and FM staff observations. Ongoing and future work is being conducted on ensuring accurate weights. The recyclables volume can vary year to year depending on how much student fundraising is done with refundables.
For more information visit: http://www.dal.ca/dept/sustainability/programs/waste.html
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.