| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 46.14 |
| Liaison | Casey Romero |
| Submission Date | Jan. 12, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Oklahoma State University
OP-22: Waste Minimization
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.55 / 5.00 |
Ilda
Hershey Sustainability Coordinator OSU Physical Plant |
Waste generated::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 660.17 Tons | 135 Tons |
| Materials composted | 57.10 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials reused, donated or re-sold | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 3,301.36 Tons | 4,795.32 Tons |
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of residential students | 6,317 | 7,077 |
| Number of residential employees | 382 | 400 |
| Number of in-patient hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Full-time equivalent enrollment | 21,522 | 21,235 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 5,074 | 4,677 |
| Full-time equivalent of distance education students | 544 | 247 |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2013 | June 30, 2014 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2005 | June 30, 2006 |
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 stream analysis study was conducted in Spring 2013 by a graduate student in Civil Engineering. The results of the study may be found here: http://physicalplant.okstate.edu/sites/default/files/BhuvanaPaperFinal%20Waste%20Stream%20Analysis.pdf
A brief description of any institutional procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
A brief description of any surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
The Office of Asset Management assists university departments in effective management and accountability of University property. The Office issues a monthly list of surplus items and whatever items are not moved among University departments or other State agencies are sold at public auction.
A brief description of the institution's efforts to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
OSU offers course catalogs, course schedules and directories online. The student newspaper, the O'Colly is online as are departmental newsletters.
A brief description of any limits on paper and ink consumption employed by the institution:
Library and computer lab printers are set on default to print double-sided.
A brief description of any programs employed by the institution to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
A Move-in Recycling program was implemented for the first time in August 2013 for students living in both Single-Student Housing as well as those living in Family and Graduate Student Housing (FGSH). Both cardboard and Styrofoam packaging were collected for recycling; Real Pokes Pass It On is a Move-out program along with the FGSH yard sale & book drives.
A brief description of any other (non-food) waste minimization strategies employed by the institution:
The Student Union sells attractive reusable cups called "Cups for a Cause," mugs and shopping bags. Discounted fountain drinks are available for those who employ the reusable Cup for a Cause.
A brief description of any food waste audits employed by the institution:
A waste stream analysis study was conducted in Spring 2013 by a graduate student in Civil Engineering. The results of the study, including food waste components, may be found here: http://physicalplant.okstate.edu/sites/default/files/BhuvanaPaperFinal%20Waste%20Stream%20Analysis.pdf
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:
University Dining Services uses an online tracking method to reduce over purchase and over stocking that could lead to spoilage. Pre-consumer produce waste is sorted by kitchen staff and collected by local farmers for composting if it cannot be used in soups, stews or other preparations.
A brief description of programs and/or practices to track and reduce post-consumer food waste:
University Dining Services introduced trayless dining in 2008 in an effort to reduce water usage and food waste. The program began in one location on Tuesdays only and quickly expanded to all dining locations, every day.
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):
University Dining Services provides biodegradable or recyclable content containers only. At this time, there is no nearby composting program that will accept the biodegradable containers. The closest facility is about 100 miles away.
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):
Reusable service ware is used for "dine in" meals in a few campus locations.
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:
University Dining Services introduced the "Cups for a Cause" reusable mug program in the fall of 2010. The department researched sustainable mugs, developed an environmental friendly logo and a campaign to encourage students to join in the effort to reduce waste and our carbon footprint. The mugs are BPA free.
Each person who buys a mug gets a coupon for a free beverage and a discount off future drink purchases.
A brief description of other dining services waste minimization programs and initiatives:
Cooking oil is collected for rendering.
The website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
We do reuse, donate and re-sell materials at auction, however, we do not keep weights and therefore have not included these materials as either recycled or landfilled.
We do reuse, donate and re-sell materials at auction, however, we do not keep weights and therefore have not included these materials as either recycled or landfilled.
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.