| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.69 |
| Liaison | Rochelle Owen |
| Submission Date | April 6, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Dalhousie University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.31 / 8.00 |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 488.63 Metric tons | 372.50 Metric tons |
| Materials composted | 644.99 Metric tons | 606.79 Metric tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 10.10 Metric tons | 10 Metric tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Metric tons | 0 Metric tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 616.50 Metric tons | 711 Metric tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,940.31 Metric tons | 1,874.25 Metric tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | April 1, 2016 | March 31, 2017 |
| Baseline Year | April 1, 2013 | March 31, 2014 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted (e.g. in sustainability plans and policies or in the context of other reporting obligations):
The 2013-2014 waste baseline is used as more accurate waste data was available (than in 2009-2010). In 2013-2014 some data provided by companies was still industry averages. The University has switched waste processing systems and now receive scale weights for most material, so data is more accurate.
For materials donated or re-sold the University has two key programs: One is surplus goods were used items are posted for use on campus and in the community and the Dump and Run event which annually diverts a gym full of material from residence and the community through a charity event. Proxy weights are used for these programs as items are not scale weighed.
For the Dump and Run event, the Studley Gym is full of material. It has been estimated that 70% of the material comes from Dalhousie residences. Roughly 150-170 tables are set out in the gym on tarps. Clothes, books, lines, and other items are placed on tables. There are also areas for electronics and mattress toppers, and furniture. 70% of 150 tables is 105 tables. One bag of clothing is estimated as 13.6 kg based on published metrics (KAB). Each table is stacked high equivalent to four bags of clothing or roughly 54.4 kgs of material. This number seems reasonable given the amount of material clothing or otherwise stacked on the tables. This equates to 5.71 tonnes. The electronics and furniture areas have roughly 50 pieces. On overall averaged weight is used of 11 kg (furniture will be heavier and electronics lighter). 70% of this weight is ,39 tonnes.
For a rough total of approx. 5.71 tonnes.
The Surplus goods inventory is primarily electronics and furniture. Using and average of 11 kg x 300 item is 3.300 tonnes, Facilities Management also reuse furniture within space management projects including for new and old blds . It is estimated another 100 items are re-purposed here (electronics and furniture) - 1.1 tonnes
These seem reasonable estimates given the Dump and Run grew in the last couple of years with volume and surplus goods and space projects are facility consistent.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,481 | 2,259 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 9 | 9 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 5 | 5 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 17,610 | 15,685 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 5,717 | 5,592 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 606 | 160 |
| Weighted campus users | 17,668.25 | 16,409.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 1,760.23 Metric tons | 1,700.29 Metric 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 | Yes |
| White goods (i.e. appliances) | 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) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Paint, Drywall and ceiling tiles.
http://www.dal.ca/dept/sustainability/programs/waste/construction-anddemolition.html
Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year (e.g. materials that are actively diverted from the landfill or incinerator and refurbished/repurposed) :
Does the institution use single stream recycling (a single container for commingled recyclables) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
Does the institution use dual stream (two separate containers for recyclables, e.g. one for paper and another for plastic, glass, and metals) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling (multiple containers that further separate different types of materials) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed, e.g. efforts to minimize contamination and/or monitor the discard rates of the materials recovery facilities and mills to which materials are diverted:
The University has standardized waste bins and signage to direct users in sorting their waste. Recycling bins in public spaces are always coupled with paper, composting, and garbage bins to minimize contamination. Signage has icons and simple language e.g. plastic bottles, beverage containers. Recycling is sorted by a social enterprise.
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives, e.g. initiatives to shift individual attitudes and practices such as signage and competitions:
The Office of Sustainability developed several posters that encourage the campus community to refuse disposable items and think about the waste they produce. We post frequently to social media about waste reduction and sorting news or initiatives on and off campus. On-the-group engagement and a strong social media presence characterized our programming during Plastic Free July. Individuals who committed to Plastic Free July were entered to win one of four zero waste lifestyle items (e.g. stainless steel straw).
On-campus vendors have signage advertising discounts for bringing your own mug.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Dalhousie completed pre- and post-audits of a sample of buildings from each campus to assess waste stream contamination surrounding waste bin standard implementation. After each auditing period, we produced reports comparing contamination rates among streams and buildings. These reports included significant qualitative descriptions of the materials found in each stream and theories as to why certain materials were being properly or improperly sorted.
Dalhousie regularly conducts small and large waste audits. Our waste audit procedure can be found here: https://www.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/dept/sustainability/Appendix%20E%20-%20Waste%20Audit%20Procedures%20%28959%20KB%29.pdf
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
The Office of Sustainability has a Sustainable Purchasing workshops and Tips sheets on reduction that provides guidance on how to reduce waste.
See here:
https://www.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/dept/sustainability/Sustainable%20Procurement.pdf
A brief description of the institution's 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 platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse (e.g. of electronics, furnishings, books and other goods):
TigerBooks is an online peer-to-peer platform to facilitate textbook exchange among students (http://books.dsu.ca/).
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption (e.g. restricting free printing and/or mandating doubled-sided printing in libraries and computer labs):
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 the institution's initiatives to make materials (e.g. course catalogs, course schedules, and directories) available online by default rather than printing them:
Dalhousie publishes all course catalogs, course schedules, and directories online by 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 the institution's program 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 the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
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
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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 (e.g. surplus goods) and divert material from the landfill (e.g. pre- and post-consumer organics; paper/cardboard/plastic/metal/glass recycling; yard waste collection). Other re-use and recycling programs include the Halifax Dump and Run move-out sale, electronics recycling, C&D recycling, white goods collection, and hazardous waste management. Ongoing annual student research supports new ideas for diversion efforts.
This waste weight data includes figures from the Halifax and Agricultural campuses. The reliability of waste stream tonnage data can vary from material to material. Currently estimations have to be used for some streams including recycling as tonnage data for the full year is not available. 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. For example, recycling has been weighed by grounds staff since September 2017, and organics are also being weighed internally to compare this with hauler average weights.
Because the Agricultural campus was not included in our 2013/2014 STARS submission, the 2016-2017 waste weights for the AC campus were added to the Halifax data for both the baseline and performance year to allow for a proper comparison and to set up a correct baseline for the next STARS submission.
Finally, we used the 2013-2014 data published in the last STARS report as the baseline instead of the original 2010-2011 data because the 2013-2014 data is of better quality, and thus provides a more accurate baseline to measure our progress against.
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 (e.g. surplus goods) and divert material from the landfill (e.g. pre- and post-consumer organics; paper/cardboard/plastic/metal/glass recycling; yard waste collection). Other re-use and recycling programs include the Halifax Dump and Run move-out sale, electronics recycling, C&D recycling, white goods collection, and hazardous waste management. Ongoing annual student research supports new ideas for diversion efforts.
This waste weight data includes figures from the Halifax and Agricultural campuses. The reliability of waste stream tonnage data can vary from material to material. Currently estimations have to be used for some streams including recycling as tonnage data for the full year is not available. 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. For example, recycling has been weighed by grounds staff since September 2017, and organics are also being weighed internally to compare this with hauler average weights.
Because the Agricultural campus was not included in our 2013/2014 STARS submission, the 2016-2017 waste weights for the AC campus were added to the Halifax data for both the baseline and performance year to allow for a proper comparison and to set up a correct baseline for the next STARS submission.
Finally, we used the 2013-2014 data published in the last STARS report as the baseline instead of the original 2010-2011 data because the 2013-2014 data is of better quality, and thus provides a more accurate baseline to measure our progress against.
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.