| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.03 |
| Liaison | Mark Lichtenstein |
| Submission Date | June 7, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.69 / 8.00 |
Christine
Langlois Assistant Director of Physical Plant for Maintenance and Operations Physical Plant |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 50.75 Tons | 85.60 Tons |
| Materials composted | 50 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 0.50 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 67.96 Tons | 88.93 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 169.21 Tons | 174.53 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, 2014 | March 30, 2015 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2004 | June 30, 2005 |
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):
Same baseline year (2005) as in the original STARS report submission (2011)
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 569 | 0 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 5 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 2,067 | 1,955 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 515 | 540 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 43 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 2,047.75 | 1,871.25 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.08 Tons | 0.09 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 | No |
| 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 | No |
| Other (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
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:
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:
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Each year the students in the Green Campus Initiative (GCI) club perform a waste audit during earth week on the college main quad. GCI is a student-run club at ESF. This collection of hard working students advocates for better recycling programs and productive sustainability projects on campus. Along with hand crafting and maintaining a composting system at ESF, GCI works to analyze and improve the current recycling status of the school.
- See video from 2010: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoRh3phZ25Y
- Event calendar 2015: http://www.esf.edu/calendar/event.asp?EventId=8552
- Event calendar 2014: http://www.esf.edu/calendar/event.asp?EventId=8006
- Event calendar, 2013: http://www.esf.edu/calendar/event.asp?EventId=6387
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
1 - College Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling Policy
http://www.esf.edu/au/documents/SolidWasteReductionRecyclingPolicy.pdf
2 - Sustainable Materials and Supplies Purchasing Policy
http://www.esf.edu/au/documents/SustMatsSuppls.pdf
College Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling Policy
Introduction:
"The materials, supplies, equipment, and furniture used in a building all contribute to the quality of the environment as a whole as well as the indoor environment of the building itself. The environmental impact of these products can be reduced by purchasing materials that have been salvaged, recycled, are rapidly renewable, contain certified wood, or are manufactured locally. SUNY ESF has committed to reducing the environmental impact of materials and supplies including office paper, office equipment, furniture, furnishings, and building materials through the purchasing criteria stated in this policy."
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
The “Property Control” program at ESF manages a list of surplus items. These surplus items are offered to other departments on campus and to other NYS institutions. The property control program can also obtain surplus items from other state institutions.
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):
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):
ESF limits students to 500 pages of printed material per year. If the student runs out of printing credits, they can buy another 500 credits for $20.
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:
ESF rarely prints-out hard copy materials. All course catalogs, students’ schedules, and directories are online. Students can access this information via the registrar’s website, Myslice and the ESF online directory.
http://www.esf.edu/registrar/
https://myslice.syr.edu
http://www.esf.edu/help/
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
The "Ten Tons of Love" project is where students from Syracuse University (SU) and ESF give their gently used items to those in need at the end of each semester. The semi-annual program donates clothing, household items, cell phones, furniture, nonperishable food, books and school supplies. Students, faculty, staff and community members are encouraged to donate used items in good condition. In the spring of 2009, Ten Tons of Love collected 33 tons of food, clothing, housewares, shoes and books. 15 truckloads of furniture were also collected. Recipients of the donated items include Bethesda Temple Pentecostal Church, First English Food Pantry, Interfaith Works of CNY’s Center for New Americans, Mary Nelson’s Backpack Program, Northside Clothes Closet, Practical Assistance Program, Refugee Resettlement Program and Transitional Living Services. Last year, more than 1,000 individuals benefited from the drive. Drop-off locations include all SU residence halls, Archbold Gym, Hendricks Chapel, the Schine and Goldstein student centers, University College, the Office of Off-Campus and Commuter Services, and Moon Library on the ESF campus.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
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:
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.