| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.35 |
| Liaison | Delicia Nahman |
| Submission Date | Sept. 12, 2023 |
Lafayette College
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.33 / 8.00 |
Scott
Kennedy Director of Facilities Operations Finance & Administrative |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 70.66 Tons | 68 Tons |
| Materials composted | 145.73 Tons | 8 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 24.64 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 1.91 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 984.10 Tons | 822 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 1,227.04 Tons | 898 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility:
Veolia processes our chemical waste and Curtis Bay processes our medical waste. Both have waste to energy facilities.
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2022 | June 30, 2023 |
| Baseline Period | July 1, 2007 | June 30, 2008 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,527 | 2,203 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 52 | 3 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 8 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 2,718 | 2,403 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 859 | 679 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 4 | 200 |
| Weighted campus users | 3,332.50 | 2,713 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.37 Tons | 0.33 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 |
| Electronics | 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) | Yes |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Food has been donated and composted. Grounds waste of wood chips, leaves, and other yard trimmings are composted locally.
Materials donated or resold in part 1 include items 11 tons of items collected from Green Move Out and 13.64 tons of cooking oil re-sold for biodiesel.
Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year:
Does the institution use single stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program:
A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
Standardized signage and bins being rolled out across campus. Website with trash and single-stream and specialty recycling information shared widely amongst students, faculty, and staff.
A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives:
Lafayette works to incorporate waste-related behavior change in many facets of the institution.
With dining services, an Eco-Clamshell To-Go Container Program was launched at the two main dining halls (Marquis and Upper) and disposable to-go containers were eliminated. Catering also provides an option for reusable dishware at events, rather than disposable.
The first-year gift often includes a waste-reduction related item, such as a reusable water bottle or reusable utensils.
Campus specific signage on items most used is located at waste receptacles across campus to help divert recyclables from the trash.
Additionally, the campus participates in a Game Day Challenge at a football game in the fall and a basketball game in the spring to increase recycling rates at sporting events. The campus also participates in Campus Waste to Zero Waste in the spring, which is a campus-wide promotion of recycling habits.
Sustainability Interns and Eco Reps often plan smaller events around campus related to waste for their particular living situations or areas of interest.
Lastly, for large scale events where waste is expected to be higher, composting is instituted to further divert materials from the landfill. This occurs at the move-in picnic, family weekend, Game Day Challenge, and EarthFest.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
In the fall of 2021, EVST/EVSC capstone group took a closer look into greening athletics at Lafayette's stadium. Through this process they took a waste audit after a fall football game to assess areas for improvement. These items are being used to help tailor a greening athletics program moving forward for the stadium.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
In spring 2022, a Sustainable Procurement Fellow was hired to work closely with the procurement department on a campus-wide Sustainable Procurement Policy. Research, peer benchmarking and stakeholder engagement is underway. The college also encourages resource sharing across departments to avoid redundant purchasing.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
Each semester the Office of Sustainability hosts pop-up thrift stores for students to donate items they no longer want/need to be redistributed to the campus community through a thrift store.
A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Green Move In helps new students and families recycle tough items easily. School supplies, bedding, and electronics always come in heavy packaging – which can pile up, and used to do so on campus. While unpacking, students/families are directed to bring plastic, paper, Styrofoam, and cardboard into PODs placed near residence halls for sorting and recycling.
Green Move Out is our campus-wide sustainability and community service effort where students recycle their unused or gently used household items by donating them to be redistributed to the community, local organizations and back to students in the upcoming spring semester.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.