| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.46 |
| Liaison | Paul Mathisen |
| Submission Date | May 22, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.75 / 8.00 |
Paul
Mathisen Dir. of Sustainability & Assoc. Prof Civil & Environmental Engineering |
Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 205.51 Tons | 284.49 Tons |
| Materials composted | 70 Tons | 60 Tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 3 Tons | 3 Tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Tons | 0 Tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 545.57 Tons | 636.72 Tons |
| Total waste generated | 824.08 Tons | 984.21 Tons |
A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
Materials are sorted both at WPI into waste and recycling compactors and in the Waste Management facilities prior to conversion to recover recyclables or compostables. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcdO9traZ-I&feature=youtu.be
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2018 | June 30, 2019 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2013 | June 30, 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):
Accurate data was available from these dates
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,230 | 1,860 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 67 | 4 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 112 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 5,371 | 4,125 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 1,251 | 916 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 306 | 134 |
| Weighted campus users | 5,423.25 | 4,146.25 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.15 Tons | 0.24 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 | Yes |
| Tires | Yes |
| Other (please specify below) | Yes |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
WPI has an email alias similar to CriagsList that is called Potpourri@wpi.edu. This email list to used to redeploy furniture and/or equipment to others on campus for either campus or personal use, among other things. Also, WPI works with the City of Worcester and local non-profits to donate any supplies, equipment, and furniture that are no longer used on campus. In additional to recycling old computers and peripherals, our Information Technology reworks old but usable computers for re-use in the local school district, and the institution offers a free electronics waste drive to the entire WPI community each spring. In May of each year, WPI holds a move-out drive and donates clothing and small appliances to a local thrift store.
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 Department of Facilities and Student Green Team conduct an annual waste audit on America Recycles Day. This audit analyzes one day's waste and recycling from three to six buildings, then sorts it to determine potential recycling rate. A report is published to illustrate issues that were discovered and recommendations for future action. In addition, custodians who empty trash or recycle bins report heavy contamination issues, which are generally rare.
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:
During New Student Orientation, a Minute-to-Win-It Series of games are held, including a recycling game to illustrate what should be disposed of in the waste stream and what should be recycled.Each year students work on new signage for waste, recycling, and food waste containers. Sustainability Ambassadors conduct peer to peer training on recycling, food waste, and waste. During the first semester, the Student Green Team and Veg Club conduct a food waste audit every Tuesday to weigh food and discuss food waste with students.
A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Since 2011, WPI's Office of Sustainability, Dept of Facilities, and Student Green Team conducts a waste audit on or around America Recycles Day, 11/15. This event draws students, staff, and faculty to sort through one day's worth of trash and recycling from three buildings around campus to determine the building waste and recycling rates, and to identify issues in the process that can be resolved. The Green Team then produces report that is posted on the sustainability website that shows the actual recycling rates as well as the potential recycling rates. Problems identified have included the number of single use recyclables. Students acted to remedy this issue by working with Dining Services to purchase and distribute reusable take out containers to all incoming first year students. In addition, they were able to enact a change in the Dunkin Donuts franchise on campus to provide an incentive (next size up) for customers who brought their own coffee cups.
A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
WPI faculty and staff are encouraged to consolidate orders, make use of electronic or CD-ROM catalogs, and buy only what they need. Further, WPI gives preference to products that are durable, reusable, upgradeable, and recyclable or compostable. A reusable takeout container program was launched in 2018 to minimize the use of single-use plastics. Consolidation of office supply orders is encouraged to minimize packaging materials and deliveries. A chemical inventory system was launched to decrease the number of orders by individual departments.
A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
WPI has surplus inventory for equipment and furniture that it reuses on campus, gives to employees, and donates to local school districts and non profit agencies in and around Worcester. We do not monitor the weight of surplus items that are recycled in this way but this year the amount was likely around 30,000s of pounds.
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):
WPI provides a community-wide service that encourages peer-to-peer exchange and reuse of goods via the "potpourri@wpi.edu alias." This exchange platform is highly used by the members of the community.
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):
Students pay for all printing; all printers purchased through WPI have settings that default to double-sided printing.
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:
WPI encourages the use of online resources. Course catalogs, directories, and instructional materials are all available online. Limited printing of materials is done and community members are directed to online resources. Course evaluations are on-line.
A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
There is a "Movin' Out" Drive conducted every May to collect unwanted items from students. These items are then donated to a local charity. In addition, student groups (three in 2019) held clothing drives in their resident halls to encourage the reuse of clothing rather than its disposal.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
WPI uses an email alias so that members of the community can advertise items for free, trade, or sale. Additionally, the department of Facilities manages the disposition of surplus furniture and equipment by first offering it to members of the community for use in campus or home offices; then to the local public schools, then to local non-profits, and finally either to ReStore or to the local recycler, Superior Recycling.
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 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.