Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 56.91
Liaison Natalie Hayes
Submission Date July 9, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Bentley University
IN-1: Innovation 1

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Natalie Hayes
Associate Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Greenbean Reverse Vending Machine

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A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome :
In October 2013 Bentley installed a Greenbean Machine. Launched at MIT in August 2011, the Greenbean is a combination of a reverse vending machine and web application. The web application incorporates aspects of gaming, social media and gives the user real time statistics on their recycling behavior. Greenbean users create an account, and then deposit their bottles and cans into the machine. Users receive a five-cent refund for MA-eligible cans and bottles which includes beverages with carbonation. The machine accepts all bottles and cans and gives real-time feedback on the amount of energy saved, tonnage diverted from the landfill and number of containers recycled to give the user a sense of the impact of recycling. The Greenbean Company also holds unique monthly challenges and competitions sponsored by businesses to increase involvement. Students were intimately involved in proposing the machine's installation, getting buy-in from the student body, promoting the machine and running challenges.

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A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):
29,876 Containers were recycled from October to December 2013. Bentley ranked #1 in number of containers recycled during the first three months of operation compared to the eight other Massachussetts colleges with Greenbean Machines. 321 Students and others used the machine 2,259 pounds of material were diverted from the landfill. $1,058 dollars were earned by campus recyclers. 5,096 Kwh saved in energy needed to produce new containers

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A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
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Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of 5):
Yes or No
Curriculum No
Research No
Campus Engagement Yes
Public Engagement No
Air & Climate No
Buildings No
Dining Services No
Energy Yes
Grounds No
Purchasing No
Transportation No
Waste Yes
Water No
Coordination, Planning & Governance No
Diversity & Affordability No
Health, Wellbeing & Work No
Investment No

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Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
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The website URL where information about the innovation is available :
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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