Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.53
Liaison Dedee DeLongpre Johnston
Submission Date July 27, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Wake Forest University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.47 / 8.00 Brad Gwyn
Asst. Director Maintenance Ops
F&CS
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 357.65 Tons 342.76 Tons
Materials composted 363.88 Tons 753.06 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 183.14 Tons 58.26 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 2,153.16 Tons 1,391.11 Tons
Total waste generated 3,057.83 Tons 2,545.19 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 July 1, 2016 June 30, 2017
Baseline Year July 1, 2011 June 30, 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):

A Waste Reduction and Recycling Manager was hired in 2010. Data had been collected before this time, but it was difficult to verify its accuracy for preceding years. The manager began systematic comprehensive data collection beginning in late 2010. A baseline of FY12 yielded the most accurate comparison of data.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 3,747 3,294
Number of employees resident on-site 5 4
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 6,828.50 6,394.20
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 2,403 2,083.30
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 160.90 0
Weighted campus users 7,740.95 7,182.63

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.40 Tons 0.35 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:
29.59

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
29.59

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:

Computers, printers, ink cartridges, toner cartridges, books, lamps/ballasts


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) :
160.98 Tons

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?:
Yes

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 University has invested in MAX-R container systems, which clearly identify multi-stream recycling (drink containers, paper, and cardboard). Additionally, a desk side recycling program is promoted campus-wide and utilized by university faculty and staff members who wish to participate. The university has also created signage on main collection areas on campus for each recycling stream to clearly identify specified recyclables in effort to avoid accidental contamination.


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:

The Office of Sustainability routinely provides training programs for all campus users on how to treat recyclables and compostable items and the importance of their efforts to keep recyclables and compostables out of the waste stream.


A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:

The institution conducted audits of classroom building waste in 2009 in order to make informed decisions regarding waste diversion collection. Current Surplus and Waste Staff provide visual inspection daily to ensure compliance with waste separation efforts.

The institution conducted waste audits of its football competition stadium to inform waste reduction strategies there.


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
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A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

A surplus property program was established at Wake Forest University in the summer of 2011. A new surplus storage facility and a Surplus Manager position were established to handle moves and relocation procedures. Previously, a purchasing representative managed all WFU surplus furniture.

Since the start of the surplus program in July 2011, the program has diverted over 353,000 lbs. of waste from the landfill, repurposed over 5,000 items and furniture for on-campus use, captured close to 66,000 lbs. of residential electronic waste through a free pickup program, and helped the university avoid costs of buying new items by over $1.6 million dollars.

During this same time period, over 727,000 pounds of furniture and other items have been donated or sold to off-campus partners and over 300,000 pounds of scrap metal has been recycled.

The main goal of the surplus property program is to relocate furniture that is no longer needed to another useful place on campus. If this is not possible, the furniture is donated to a local agency. This diverts waste from the landfill and also creates an incentive for departments to reuse items while reducing the need for departments to buy new.


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):

In employee orientation sessions, our Manager of Surplus meets with new hires to explain our program and encourage them to participate. Regular interactions regarding periodic surplus offerings occur within university departments to communicate surplus items available.


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):

There are no free printers in any common access areas on campus. The cost to print or copy is 8 cents per black and white page and 25 cents per color page. Students of the undergraduate and graduate colleges receive an initial $4.00 worth of copies or prints per semester on their ID cards.

All multifunctional printer/copiers for faculty and staff are set to automatically print double-sided as an additional effort to limit paper consumption.


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:

In 2012, the university began prioritizing making materials available online, rather than printing them. Since that time, the Financial Services division and the Office of the Registrar have both received institutional recognition for their efforts to convert multiple paper processes to electronic formats.

While several publications for external audiences, including capital campaign materials and the university's primary magazine, are printed for distribution, the same publications are also available electronically.


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

From 2014-2017, students diverted more than 55.55 tons of waste from dumpsters and landfills during the annual spring move-out periods.

This program, “Deacs Donate,” facilitates the donation of clothing, small appliances, room furnishings, and household goods to the local Goodwill Industries.

Various additional waste diversion initiatives take place at residential move-out stations, such as paper recycling, the collection of re-usable dining take-out containers and personal recycling bins (which are cleaned and redistributed to students the following year at move-in), books that cannot be sold back to the book store (which are resold/donated through Better World Books), and bicycles (which are collected for upfitting and re-use through the university's Re-Cycle bike share program).

During move-in, special collection areas for cardboard waste are set up in all residential areas, where it is bundled for recycling.


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

Compost containers are strategically located around campus to capture coffee grounds or compostable material.


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.