| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.50 |
| Liaison | Chris Bond |
| Submission Date | Nov. 27, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Unity Environmental University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.96 / 8.00 |
Jonathan
Gibbons Sustainability Engagement and Data Coordinator Sustainability |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 51.11 Tons | 36.30 Tons |
| Materials composted | 35.63 Tons | 9.60 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 0.82 Tons | 0.10 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 93.37 Tons | 53 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 180.92 Tons | 99 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 | July 1, 2016 | June 30, 2017 |
| Baseline Year | Jan. 1, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012 |
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 baseline year is 2012. We have gone to zero sort recycling as of Fall, 2014 so this baseline under the old system will be an important reference for expected increases in recycling due to zero sort.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 503 | 353 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 5 | 2 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 3 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 712 | 581 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 187 | 131 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 19 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 790 | 622.75 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.23 Tons | 0.16 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 | No |
| Tires | No |
| Other (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
Items collected during student move out are resold at the beginning on the next school year and then any remaining items are donated to local charities. Food waste and organic materials are collected in our dining halls to be sent to a biodigester. Lab waste and toxic waste is collected by a recycling company.
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 Office of Sustainability utilizes work study students to be "Trash Talkers" at our waste sorting stations in our dining facilities to help minimize contamination and to make sure our compostable to-go ware is placed in the organics collection bins.
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:
Unity College has a Bring Your Own Towel program that encourages staff and students to bring their own personal hand towel to the restroom to cut down on the number of paper towels used.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
We have worked out an agreement with Office Depot and their delivery partner in Maine to ship our orders in reusable plastic totes that the delivery partner then returns to Officer Depot. This has reduced our cardboard from these orders.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
Campus community utilizes email for exchange of office furniture. The Sustainability Office rescues reusable office supplies including binders, notebooks, folders, and some paper for redistribution to students and employees at the beginning of each semester. An informal email program lists surplus furniture and related re-usable items.
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 Facebook page for students and staff to sell or give away unwanted items is used.
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):
IT has a program for which students are allotted a limited amount of free printing after which they have to pay for copies and printing. Departments share printers and are charged for copies and printing. Printers are set to print double sided by default
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:
The institution no longer prints out course catalogs
Course evaluations are now conducted online
Course schedules, calendars, and other pertinent information is made available online.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
The sustainability office places donation bins to collect all unwanted office supplies, small appliances, clothing, food, and furniture. These items are sold to campus members in following semesters.
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 campus implemented zero-sort recycling as of Fall, 2014, including standardization of containers and labeling.
The campus implemented zero-sort recycling as of Fall, 2014, including standardization of containers and labeling.
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.