Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 48.97
Liaison Rachael Rost-Allen
Submission Date July 28, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Johnson County Community College
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 8.00 Kristy Wittman Howell
Sustainability Education and Engagement Coordinator
Center for Sustainability
"---" 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 453.75 Tons 143.40 Tons
Materials composted 76.05 Tons 0 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 59.54 Tons 12.50 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 503.42 Tons 841.04 Tons
Total waste generated 1,092.76 Tons 996.94 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:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2015 Dec. 31, 2015
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2010 Dec. 31, 2010

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):
Paper was the only material recycled on the JCCC campus prior to 2010. Additionally, composting of food waste began in June 2010. Additionally, weights for landfill waste were not tracked prior to 2010, so that is the farthest back in time our data covers.

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 0 0
Number of employees resident on-site 0 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 22,372 25,257
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 1,401 1,908
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 3,364 2,052
Weighted campus users 15,306.75 18,834.75

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.07 Tons 0.05 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
0

Part 3: Waste Diversion

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
53.93

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
53.93

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 No
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

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) :
3 Tons

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?:
No

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):
5

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:
Student interns monitor recycling containers on the grounds, scrap metal and wood waste. Student interns do recycling pickups from docks and sort those materials. All materials that come through the Easy Office Cleanout bins are hand sorted. Waste audits are conducted every year to determine contamination rates and next steps towards diversion. When a collection system is new, we do spot checks for contamination for several weeks and then make adjustments to the system through bin location or signage.

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:
Center staff offer numerous game-related opportunities to learn about recycling and waste behaviors. We support campuswide and large staff events with sustainability interns to collect compostable materials and educate. Staff and student interns conduct numerous tours of recycling center and compost facility. Special events (fundraisers and open to the community) employ reused centerpieces made from items found on campus.

A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Please see: http://www.jccc.edu/sustainability/projects/recycling/waste-audit.html

A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
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A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
We have a centrally located room dedicated to surplus office supply storage and distribution. We call the store and associated program the R.O.S.E. Store (Reusable Office Supply Exchange). The store is available to all employees, Monday - Friday, from 10am-4pm.

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):
The JCCC institutional list serv acts as an internal Craigslist, where the campus community exchanges. Surplus exchange is handled by the warehouse. After 40 days of being held for campus reuse (during which employees can view items through govdeals.com) items are sent to auction. Warehouse surplus program coordinates closely with Sustainability to contact departments that may have a higher and better use for items on hold.

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):
We use a printing tracking and limiting software called PaperCut to monitor, limit, and facilitate the purchase of additional printing allotments, should a student need them.

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:
Center for Sustainability staff discuss paperless conversion options at new staff orientations and during all E3 office program evaluations.

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:
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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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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.