| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.15 |
| Liaison | Amber Saxton |
| Submission Date | Jan. 8, 2021 |
George Mason University
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.55 / 8.00 |
Amber
Saxton Sustainability Program Manager Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Parts 1 and 2. Waste per person
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Materials recycled | 569.78 Metric tons | 632.32 Metric tons |
| Materials composted | 44.33 Metric tons | 41.26 Metric tons |
| Materials donated or re-sold | 31.30 Metric tons | 0 Metric tons |
| Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion | 0 Metric tons | 0 Metric tons |
| Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator | 5,273.30 Metric tons | 4,650.35 Metric tons |
| Total waste generated | 5,918.70 Metric tons | 5,323.93 Metric tons |
If reporting post-recycling residual conversion, provide:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2018 | June 30, 2019 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2009 | Jan. 1, 2009 |
If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:
The baseline year was adopted based on it being Mason's peak year for waste production.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 6,612 | 4,996 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 17 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 12 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 31,272.20 | 22,430 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 4,731.60 | 3,767.30 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,634 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 27,446.60 | 20,896.98 |
Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total waste generated per weighted campus user | 0.22 Metric tons | 0.25 Metric tons |
Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
15.36
Part 3. Waste diverted from the landfill or incinerator
10.90
Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
10.90
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 |
| Electronics | 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) | No |
A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:
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Optional Fields
Active Recovery and Reuse
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Recycling Management
Yes
Does the institution use dual stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
No
Does the institution use multi-stream recycling to collect standard recyclables in common areas?:
Yes
Contamination and Discard Rates
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A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed:
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Programs and Initiatives
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A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
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A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste:
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A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
George Mason University collects surplus equipment and furniture from departments all over campus. Reusable equipment and furniture are stored at the warehouse to be redistributed to any Mason department. After a period of time, the items get auctioned and the proceeds go to the state.
A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse:
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A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption:
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A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials available online by default rather than printing them:
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A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
In order to facilitate waste reduction at Mason, the Office of Community Relations, Office of Recycling and Waste Management, and Housing and Residential Life, instituted an end-of-year move-out recycling program called Patriot Pack Out. Through this streamlined, low cost, volunteer outreach program, resident students who are leaving for the summer are encouraged to conveniently donate unwanted clothes and appliances, as well as unopened food items, which are delivered to charities benefiting our local community. In the past, these items would have just been left behind in the residence halls for university waste management staff to clear, attempt to separate, and haul to appropriate locations.
A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
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Website URL where information about the institution’s waste minimization and diversion efforts is available:
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.