| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 52.06 |
| Liaison | Casey Meehan |
| Submission Date | June 15, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Western Technical College
OP-22: Waste Minimization
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.92 / 5.00 |
Waste generated::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 35.09 Tons | 31.09 Tons |
| Materials composted | 0.75 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials reused, donated or re-sold | 81 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 228.14 Tons | 143.56 Tons |
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of residential students | 200 | 97 |
| Number of residential employees | 11 | 4 |
| Number of in-patient hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Full-time equivalent enrollment | 2,944 | 1,780 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 668 | 554 |
| Full-time equivalent of distance education students | 393.50 | 202 |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | Jan. 1, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2015 |
| Baseline Year | Jan. 1, 2009 | Dec. 31, 2009 |
A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted:
With the addition of the sustainability department in 2009, record keeping of waste generation was implemented. Western also began participating in the nationwide RecycleMania competition in 2009.
A brief description of any (non-food) waste audits employed by the institution:
Western participates yearly in the RecycleMania competition.
A brief description of any institutional procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
All new construction and renovation must meet LEED Silver certification. In doing so, Western prevents waste throughout the construction or renovation of all buildings.
A brief description of any surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
The Campus Shop annually coordinates an office supplies exchange in the spring. Most departments also send out all exchange user emails indicating when they have surplus materials available.
A brief description of the institution's efforts to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
Western is transitioning to paperless in most operations. E-billing and E-refunding are in effect, and most other materials are available online.
A brief description of any limits on paper and ink consumption employed by the institution:
Printing costs $0.06 per page for black and white, and $0.50 per page for color. Students have a printing card they add money to. Computers are programmed to print double-sided. (ASK DEANNE OTTO)
A brief description of any programs employed by the institution to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
Western has paper and co-mingle recycling bins outside the dorms. Western will ask the Habitat Re-Store if they want large items, otherwise they are labeled as "free" and taken by residence/community members.
A brief description of any other (non-food) waste minimization strategies employed by the institution:
Most printers on campus are setup to print on both sides of the paper. Western also encourages communication through e-mail to eliminate printing on paper.
A brief description of any food waste audits employed by the institution:
Western takes all waste from each area that goes into green waste buckets and measure/record the weight each day. A spreadsheet is then created to track pounds of compost collected and Salvation Army pickups.
A brief description of any programs and/or practices to track and reduce pre-consumer food waste in the form of kitchen food waste, prep waste and spoilage:
Western’s dining services utilize a prep sheet daily in determining what is considered waste and what can be composted. All pre-consumer waste such as peels are weighed. All items - salad bar/mongo bar/burrito line get weighed on Friday and then donated to Salvation Army.
A brief description of programs and/or practices to track and reduce post-consumer food waste:
Western has a pay-as-you-eat and not buffet style cafeteria, so trays do not play as large a role in excess waste.
A brief description of the institution's provision of reusable and/or third party certified compostable to-go containers for to-go food and beverage items (in conjunction with a composting program):
Western uses eco-clamshells in the student union market. Eco-clamshell containers are made of environmentally-friendly polypropylene. Reusable beverage containers are sold and Western offers a discount on future purchases.
A brief description of the institution's provision of reusable service ware for “dine in” meals and reusable and/or third party certified compostable service ware for to-go meals (in conjunction with a composting program):
Western provides reusable service ware for dine in meals (ceramic plates, bowls, mugs, cups, metal silverware)
A brief description of any discounts offered to customers who use reusable containers (e.g. mugs) instead of disposable or compostable containers in to-go food service operations:
If a student or staff member uses a reusable mug, they will receive a discount on future purchases.
A brief description of other dining services waste minimization programs and initiatives:
Western has green re-usable containers, composts for the on campus greenhouse (Hillview Urban Agriculture), donates left over food to Salvation Army, utilizes reusable mason jars of oatmeal in Union Grind (on campus coffee shop), and has recyclable labeled garbage cans for customers in all over campus.
The website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Thanks to the Physical Plant and Sustainability Department for providing this information.
Thanks to the Physical Plant and Sustainability Department for providing this information.
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.