Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 74.42
Liaison Mary-Lee Townsend
Submission Date Feb. 1, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Western University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.48 / 8.00 Connor Donald
Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 1,282.38 Metric tons 906.63 Metric tons
Materials composted 577.42 Metric tons 362.46 Metric tons
Materials donated or re-sold 7.92 Metric tons 12 Metric tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Metric tons 0 Metric tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 1,910.09 Metric tons 1,604.45 Metric tons
Total waste generated 4,164.32 Metric tons 3,180.76 Metric tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2012 Dec. 31, 2016
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2012 Dec. 31, 2014

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):
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Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 5,335 5,575
Number of employees resident on-site 8 19
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 32,529 31,448
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 6,220 6,000
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 875 822
Weighted campus users 29,741.25 28,868

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.14 Metric tons 0.11 Metric tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
49.44

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
49.44

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 Yes
Other (please specify below) Yes

A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:

Electronic equipment
Batteries
Cardboard
Wood skids
Lightbulbs
Motor Oil
Tires


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) :
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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?:
No

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?:
Yes

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?:
No

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:

Western University performs annual audits to our waste stream, to ensure that recyclable materials are not sent to landfill. We also work closely with the London Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to ensure that our dual stream recycling is not contaminated.


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:

We actively participate in Orientation Week, and have a presence in residences and other buildings on campus throughout the year. We develop campaigns and get students engaged in competitions, to ensure that the message around waste management is reinforced


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, as required by the Ontario Government under Ontario Regulation 102/94, Western performs waste audits of a representative sample of buildings. The audit includes all common recyclables (i.e. glass, paper, plastics, etc.), as well as waste that is destined for landfill.


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):

Western's Sustainable Procurement Policy encourages the use of Western's Sustainable Procurement Guidelines, within which purchasers are encouraged to procure items with minimal waste outputs.


A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

At Western, furniture and other assets can be diverted from the waste stream and sold through the "asset disposal" program. People who have items for sale can contact the "Purchasing" department. All items for sale will be listed on the web and open to the public. Items will be posted for two weeks. If there are no successful bidders, the item will be removed from the sale listing and the department will have to consider alternate options (e.g. donation).


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):

New this year, we offered the first "Reusology at Western" campaign, where students helped gather materials donated by students, and put for donation at one of our main buildings, the University Community Centre.


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):

At Western, students do not have access to free printing at libraries and computer labs. There are printing stations at most libraries; however, students need to buy a "Copy Card" which costs $1.00 (non-refundable) and can be purchased at the service desk of any library.


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:

To lessen the impact on the environment, the Office of the Registrar only produces an online version of the Academic Calendar for students. The Faculty Dean's Offices and Academic Counseling Offices will receive a limited number of printed copies.

In addition, the limited copies of Academic Calendars are printed on recycled paper and there are a few available for students to view in each of the on-campus libraries.
Western encourages everyone to use the online Academic Calendar, which is updated monthly.

Course schedules are all kept online, and most faculty choose to keep their syllabi online as well.


A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:

The move-out waste program is coordinated by Housing Staff. They arrange for large boxes to be placed at the front lobby area of each residence. Clothing/small furnishings, and even office supplies collected are donated to charity. Housing also collects any non-perishable food items to be sent to the London Food Bank.

In the apartments, Housing runs a program where exchange and international students can drop off items like small appliances, utensils, etc. These items are stored and the following year they are made available to new exchange/international students so they do not have to purchase all new items that only get used for a few months.

The Off-Campus Housing Office also runs a "take it or leave it" program. People can "shop" (for free) for good furniture or leave behind stuff they do not need. This is operated in conjunction with a program to provide large bins that can be used by off-campus students rather than leaving garbage on the street and bothering neighbors.

Also, Western encourages students to start cleaning their rooms and bringing things home around Easter to decrease the amount of things they will have to move or dispose at the end of the year.


A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:

- Textbook donations overseas
- Battery collection bins across campus
- Ink/toner take-back program from Western's preferred stationery supply vendor


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.