Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 44.43
Liaison John Stolz
Submission Date March 4, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Duquesne University
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.06 / 8.00 Carissa Lange
Graduate Assistant
Center for Environmental Research & Education (CERE)
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Parts 1 and 2: Waste Minimization 

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 180.89 Tons 138.08 Tons
Materials composted 162 Tons 59.65 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 960.39 Tons 1,342.14 Tons
Total waste generated 1,303.28 Tons 1,539.87 Tons

If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
We collect commingled recycle product through asingle stream process. The product is collected and transferred to a GreenBuilt Marathon Compactor for recycle material only. This compactor is transported directly to the recycle company for processing. Composted materials are only collected at two locations - Hogan Dining Center and the Catering Kitchen in the Student Union Building.

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2019 Dec. 31, 2019
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2014 Dec. 31, 2014

If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:

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):
The baseline year of 2014 was chosen because this year is the earliest year that compost, recycling, and landfill data were all available.

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 3,745 3,822
Number of employees resident on-site 12 17
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 8,783 9,502
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 1,766 2,238
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 291 310
Weighted campus users 8,632.75 9,532.25

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.15 Tons 0.16 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
6.55

Part 3: Waste Diversion

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
26.31

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
26.31

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:
Batteries, light bulbs, and printer cartridges are collected and recycled.

Optional Fields 

Active Recovery and Reuse

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) :
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Recycling Management 

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?:
Yes

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

Contamination and Discard Rates 

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:
Signage is provided on each recycling container throughout campus. Facilities team members also spot check recyclables to reduce contamination.

Programs and Initiatives 

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:
Duquesne University's Evergreen Club initiated the annual Waste is Wack event during Earth Week which aims to educate the campus community about how to reduce their waste footprint, promoting reusable materials and recycling effectively. Additionally, Hogan Dining has initiated the quarterly Weigh the Waste event so that students can see how much food waste they are generating per person every meal.

A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Hogan Dining has initiated the quarterly Weigh the Waste event so that students can see how much food waste they are generating per person every meal.

A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
Duquesne University supports Green Purchasing, upholding the philosophy of a Green Campus by assessing the environmental impacts of incoming commodities and outgoing waste. We encourage vendors to minimize waste, reduce excess packaging, recycle, reduce, reuse, prevent pollution and/or offer resource efficiency. It is our goal to maximize environmental responsibility on the University Campus.

A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
No official policy - but Sustainability Manager assists in facilitating exchanges.

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):
No official policy - but Sustainability Manager assists in facilitating exchanges. Campus Computer Store assists with buying back and re-selling computers and other technology.

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):
Yes, the campus library has restricted free printing for students. Students can print 3000 pages per academic year. Any additional pages must be purchased at approximately $0.03 per page.

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:
These materials are available for free on Duquesne University's website. In July, 2010, Duquesne University implemented an automated payroll process that eliminated three paper processes. Other programs have been successfully used such as FAMIS, a computerized maintenance management system that reduces paper usage. Another paperless program assists us in managing the custodial operations and building inspections via handheld PDAs (Personal Data Assistant) instead of the paper checklists of the past.

A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
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A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
No official policy - but Sustainability Manager assists in facilitating exchanges both on campus and with local non-profits.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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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.