Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 48.61
Liaison Kristina Bryan
Submission Date Feb. 26, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Saint Louis University
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.87 / 3.00 Brandon Verhoff
Director
Sustainability & Benchmarking
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Materials diverted from the solid waste landfill or incinerator:
922 Tons

Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator :
2,265 Tons

A brief description of programs, policies, infrastructure investments, outreach efforts, and/or other factors that contributed to the diversion rate, including efforts made during the previous three years:

Saint Louis University is devoted to diverting waste from landfills. SLU introduced single-stream recycling in the Fall of 2009, and since then has seen a steady increase in recycling on campus. However, as Saint Louis University progresses in the pursuit of creating a more sustainable campus environment, the need to develop a fresh comprehensive recycling plan became evident. To help make access to recycling easier and universal, Facilities obtained recycling receptacles for exterior use and placed them in strategic locations throughout campus during the fall of 2012. In addition, Facilities developed numerous educational tools for single-stream recycling such as brochures, presentations, signage, and magnets. The division is currently working on updating the signage and placement of bins inside campus buildings to help enhance the program and provide consistency in signage. Ultimately, these improvements should help SLU to achieve a recycling rate of 30%.

By the end of 2012, both SLU campuses received an upgrade through the installation of blue exterior single-stream recycling bins. These new blue exterior recycling bins have been paired with the existing black "landfill" cans along walkways and near buildings all over campus. This infrastructure upgrade offers many more opportunities to the campus community to increase their recycling efforts.

Additionally, presentations covering SLU's refreshed recycling program has reached over 2,000 staff, faculty and student groups in order to increase awareness. Not to mention, annual training is performed to reeducated custodial staff and grounds workers on SLU's recycling program. Custodial staff now use blue recycling liners to differentiate recycling from trash, demonstrating visibly their actions to the campus community wile instilling confidence in the program and reducing confusion and contamination rates.


A brief description of any food donation programs employed by the institution:

The Campus Kitchens Project is a student-run service organization that turns unused food from campus cafeterias into nourishing meals for underserved members of the community. Each year Saint Louis University delivers thousands of meals and snacks to organizations such as the Salvation Army Family Haven, Blumeyer Community Center, the Ronald McDonald House, Council Tower, and other organizations identified by the St. Louis Food Bank and other referring agencies. Saint Louis University is listed as a member school on the Campus Kitchens Project website with the following description:

"SLU takes excess food from campus dining facilities (e.g. Fresh Gatherings), grocery stores, catering companies, and other organizations and turns it into healthy meals for hungry individuals in the community immediately surrounding the University campus. SLU creates and delivers over 500 meals a week for 300 clients. In addition to providing food, Campus Kitchen volunteers use the food deliveries as an opportunity to offer fellowship to our clients, many of whom are homebound and do not have much contact with the outside world. The kitchen also runs several educational programs, including nutritional education and employment training classes for those hoping to break into the culinary field."


A brief description of any pre-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

Food waste at Fresh Gatherings is collected pre- and post- consumer which is used and composted on site. The compost is used in the garden ran by the Nutrition & Dietetics program on the Medical Center.


A brief description of any post-consumer food waste composting program employed by the institution:

All food at Fresh Gatherings is served on fully compostable plates, cups, bowls, etc. Beverage cups are compostable (both hot and cold). The garden program utilizes seven compost tumblers, one large industrial sized tumbler, and a vermiculture system for management of both pre- and post-consumer food waste.


Does the institution include the following materials in its waste diversion efforts?:
Yes or No
Paper, plastics, glass, metals, and other recyclable containers Yes
Food donations Yes
Food for animals No
Food composting Yes
Cooking oil Yes
Plant materials composting Yes
Animal bedding composting No
Batteries Yes
Light bulbs Yes
Toner/ink-jet cartridges 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
Motor oil ---
Tires ---

Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts:

Books, Shoes


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The beginning of 2015 marked the 5th year of participation in RecycleMania for Saint Louis University. Increased efforts were made to communicate recycling initiatives to the campus community. Usage of banners, digital media, internal contests, etc were employed.

http://www.slu.edu/facilities-services-home/sustainability/campus-operations/recycling-and-waste-reduction/recyclemania

Saint Louis University has developed a comprehensive website portal to educate the SLU community on recycling programs. Visit recycling.slu.edu


The beginning of 2015 marked the 5th year of participation in RecycleMania for Saint Louis University. Increased efforts were made to communicate recycling initiatives to the campus community. Usage of banners, digital media, internal contests, etc were employed.

http://www.slu.edu/facilities-services-home/sustainability/campus-operations/recycling-and-waste-reduction/recyclemania

Saint Louis University has developed a comprehensive website portal to educate the SLU community on recycling programs. Visit recycling.slu.edu

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.