Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.01
Liaison Paul Mathisen
Submission Date May 23, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
EN-5: Outreach Campaign

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Liz Tomaszewski
Facilities Systems Manager/Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities Department
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution held at least one sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at students and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability? :
Yes

Has the institution held at least one sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at employees and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Yes

Name of the campaign:
Annual Waste Stream Audit

A brief description of the campaign, including how students and/or employees were engaged:

Annual Waste Audit engages student, staff, and faculty volunteers to sort trash in selected buildings to determine effectiveness of waste minimization and recycling efforts, and whether the campus has improved its overall performance.


A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:

The Annual Waste Audit in 2016 showed where increased efforts are necessary to increase our recycling rate. Possible problems with the system were identified. Issues included large amounts of food in the waste bins. Efforts are underway to educate community about food waste. Another issue is volume of cardboard in recycling. Efforts are underway to educate staff about order consolidation. Many containers with liquid were in trash and recycling, and we are educating community to dispose of liquids separately.


The website URL where information about the campaign is available:
Name of the campaign (2nd campaign):
Electric Vehicle Show

A brief description of the campaign, including how students and/or employees were engaged (2nd campaign):

A Electric/Fuel efficient vehicle show was held in September during National Drive Electric Week. Purpose was to raise awareness of fuel efficient vehicles, bicycles, and motorcycles. Event was open to the greater Worcester community. Test drives were provided by local dealers of electric vehicles.


A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):

Students and staff were asked to complete a survey both before and after a test drive in a fuel efficient vehicle. Results indicated that most drivers were very interested in considering a purchase of an electric or hybrid vehicle after having driven one.


The website URL where information about the campaign is available (2nd campaign):
A brief description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns, including measured positive impacts:

Student Green Team holds an e-waste drive every year, partnering with the Facilities Department. The students encourage all members of the community to bring their e-waste from home so that they can be assured that the waste is disposed of in a sustainable manner. The volume of e-waste in 2016 was nearly 10,000 pounds.


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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