Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 33.58
Liaison Paulina Szlachta
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

St. Lawrence College
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.89 / 8.00
"---" 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 131.59 Metric tons 12.77 Metric tons
Materials composted 38.69 Metric tons 0 Metric tons
Materials donated or re-sold 0 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 166.20 Metric tons 150.80 Metric tons
Total waste generated 336.47 Metric tons 163.57 Metric 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, 2016 Jan. 1, 2017
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2005 Jan. 1, 2006

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):
2006/2007 was selected because of accessibility of data

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 703 703
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 7,306 4,834
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 524 144
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 1,255 0
Weighted campus users 5,107 3,909.25

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.07 Metric tons 0.04 Metric 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:
50.61

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
50.61

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 No
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) 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) :
0 Metric 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?:
No

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):
14

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:
This is a work in progress. We develop signage with graphic and words to improve interpretation in 2016 but these still need to be posted in every location Tri-Campus. Over the next three years we will be focusing on this aspect and identify areas of improvement.

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:
Over the past 3 years we have improved our sorting graphics and improved our tri-campus communication. The goal is to have consistent messaging through out our departments and campuses.

A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:
Each year we preform two tri-campus waste audits. Waste generated in a 24 hour period is tagged with the location, and sorted for sorted. Bags are be sorted to determine the amount of waste and recycling in each stream. The sorting team opens every bag and sort by materials and contaminates. The sorted material and contaminates will be weighed. The results are used to make recommendation for improvement each year.

A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):
We are moving towards reducing plastic waste. This year we are evaluating contracts with beverage and food providers to reduce waste and our Associate Director Procurement, Contract Management & Distribution.

A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:
This is a work in progress.

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):
This is a work in progress

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):
Staff and faculty have set printing limits each month. This is done by setting a monthly printing 'budget'. If a person exceeds their allotted printing budget, they will not be print anymore pages that month, unless they contact IT services and explain why.

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:
We have moved to a online platform called SLC.me for students and faculty to login to their profiles to access their courses schedules. We also utilized Blackboard for each course offered. This is a online platform for faculty to post course outlines, content and reading materials, and students can submit their digital assignments.

A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:
We partner with local thrift store to collect unwanted items for re-sale instead of allowing the items to be sent to landfill. On our Kingston Campus (our largest campus and largest residence building) now has a permanent donation bin located conveniently for student and staff to donate their unwanted items.

A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
This is a work in progress.

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.