Introduction to Campus Recycling

1. Introduction to Campus Recycling Melissa Cadwell SU Sustainability Division

2. SU Overview • LargeCan be 24,000 people on campus • Private • 4-year, graduate, professional degrees • Urban • Highly residential

3. Trash • Trash in Onondaga County is burned and converted into energy • Metals are recovered by magnetic and non-magnetic systems • Air pollution is controlled by state-of-the-art monitors and scrubbers • Electricity is sold to the grid - Facility produces enough electricity annually to power itself and 25,000 homes • Leftover ash (reduced to about 20% of total trash) is non-hazardous and is landfilled • OCRRA enforcement officers continually inspect loads to make sure significant amounts of recyclables are not mixed with trash • Charged by the pound for trash

4. Recycling • Recycling protects and expands U.S. manufacturing jobs and increases U.S. competitiveness. • Recycling reduces the need for landfilling and incineration. • Recycling prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from virgin materials. • Recycling saves energy. • Recycling decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change. • Recycling conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals. • Recycling helps sustain the environment for future generations. Source: US EPA • Free

5. Recycling Symbol • It started with a student competition over 30 years ago • Each element of the symbol has significance • The first arrow represents collection. • The second arrow represents remanufacturing - reprocessing • The third arrow represents the purchase of products made from recycled materials

6. Establishing a Recycling Program • Difference between trash and recycling • Single VS. Dual Stream • Your County Recycling Plan • Onondaga County Resource Recover Agency (OCRRA) • Waste Management Contract • How to Start a Program

7. Recycling Laws • Business • Recycling LawOnondaga County's Source Separation Law applies to the county's 12,000 businesses. Under the law, businesses must recycle corrugated cardboard and paper. • Residential • Cardboard, newspapers, magazines and catalogs, junk mail and envelopes, office an school papers, cereal, pasts and other food boxes, pizza boxes, bottles, jars, cans milk and juice cartons and foils.

8. Single Stream Recycling • One bin for all • Increased amount of recyclables collected • Hand sorted • Machine sorted • Sold as a commodity

9. Dual Stream • Syracuse University • Multiple containers • Plastic, cans, glass go in one bin • Papers ( newspaper, magazines, direct mail) in second bin • Hand sorted and machine sorted • Gives cleaner product to MRF • Sell at higher rates • Not as popular as Single Stream

10. Starting a New Programthe Proposal • Research past problems • Identify College, Local and State Laws, Executive Orders and Policies on Waste Prevention and Recycling. • Examine the University Waste Stream • Economic Argument

11. What is Recyclable • Know the laws in your county or state • Know your waste contract • Contact your local recycling expert, Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency • Utilize their expertise • Find out what is and what is not recyclable

12. Markets for Recyclables • Check Out Markets for Recyclable Material • Look a the Current Cost and Methods of Waste Disposal • How much does the school spend on disposal? • Is the charge by weight, volume, or fixed rate? • If the charge is by weight or volume then the economic incentive for recycling is greatest. • Where does the waste go? Landfill? Incineration? Waste to electricity?

13. Starting a program Create a recycling team Syracuse University Recycling and Composting Committee • Facilitator - Sustainability • Invite key members: Housing, Food Services, Facilities, Student Life • Schedule regular meetings • Twice a month in the beginning • Monthly once established • Minutes

14. Collection Process • Decide What Type of Collection Process Will Work Best. • Where to collect • Offices • Main entrances • What containers to use • Who will gather the material and where does it go • Materials pickup • Possible Collection Methods: • A drop off Center • Building Pickups • In-House Pickups • Outside Contractor

16. Initial Capital Investment • Ask for an Initial Capital Investment • labor • Buy necessary materials • Containers • Educational information • Posters

17. Purchase Recycled Products • Purchasing Policy that stress recycled content material • Offices use recycle content paper • Mugs • Get rid of disposables

18. Organization Structure • Recycling Coordinator • Recycling Committee • Students • Faculty • Staff

19. Implementing • Create a program • Create a contact • Set - up pilot program • Set – up Recycling Guidelines • Collection Practices • Track Campus Waste Stream

20. Getting the Word Out • New Employee Orientation • Departmental presentations • Web site • Electronic newsletter • Posters • Tabling • Residence Hall and Off-Campus Life programs • Work closely with the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency

21. Continuous Improvement • Monitor • Recycling containers for wrong materials or trash in the bins • Measure success • Amount of recyclables collected • Reduction of garbage going into garbage dumpster • Sustain the program • Ongoing education

22. Contact Info • http:greenuniversecity.syr.edu • sustain@syr.edu • 443-9820