On Campus Recycling Strategies

1. On Campus Recycling Strategies Worcester State College

2. Our Campus60 Acre Site12 Buildings800,000 Sq Ft • 3 Residence Halls • 2 Dining Areas and 1 Coffee Shop • Student Center and Bookstore • Learning Resource Center Worcester State College

3. Our Campus- Ghosh Science & Technology Center- Sullivan Academic Center- Gymnasium- Administration Building People • 1,050 Resident Students • 5,500 Graduate and Under Grad. Students • 500 Faculty, Staff and Administrators Worcester State College

4. Executive Order #438Massachusetts State Sustainability Program • Signed into Law in 2002 by Governor Swift • Agencies must initiate a process to review internal operations, identify environmental impacts and make recommendations for reducing said impacts. • Write an agency Sustainability Plan that reviews all internal operations and establishes a system to address environmental impacts Worcester State College

5. Sustainability Plan Focus • Waste Prevention & Recycling • Climate Change/Energy Efficiency • Mercury & Other PBT Reduction • Sustainable Design & Construction • Water Conservation • Environmentally Preferable Purchasing • Environmental Compliance Worcester State College

6. Goals and Objectives • Increase Recycling of Solid Waste • Simplify the Recycling Process Without Increasing Operating Costs • Engage All Facets of the Campus Community • Improve the College’s Overall Image • Establish Measurement Tool to Track Progress Worcester State College

7. Our Old Process • In the past, items such as paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and metal had to be segregated. Arrangements had to be made for the collection and storage of these individual waste streams which caused many cross-contamination and logistical problems. Worcester State College

8. Our Old Process • Generated Approximately 450 Tons of Trash Annually • Only Captured About 50 Tons of Recyclable Material Annually. • Cost Approximately $100,000 Annually • Lacked Structure and Campus-Wide Involvement Worcester State College

9. Why Address Recycling? • Address Concerns from the Campus Community • Mandated by Mass General Law • Presumption that recycling was cumbersome and increased costs • The Program already existed, it just needed a renewed focus • It’s the Right Thing To Do! Worcester State College

10. Single Stream Recycling Allows for the Co-mingling of Several Waste Streams into One • Reduces the need for sorting • Reduces the number of collection containers needed • Simplifies the collection process • Reduces cost Worcester State College

11. What is Acceptable for Single Stream Recycling? • Cardboard • All Office & Computer Paper (white, colored, staples are OK) • Shredded Paper (must be in a clear plastic bag) • Magazines, Catalogs, Phone books, Newspapers • Junk Mail, Envelopes (Manila, Windowed are OK) • File Folders • Post It Notes • Card Stock Paper Worcester State College

12. What is Not Acceptable for Single Stream Recycling? • Food Waste of Any Type • Packaging Contaminated with Food Waste • Styrofoam (Dunkin Donuts, Food Take-out, Packaging Peanuts) • Greasy Pizza Boxes Worcester State College

13. What is Acceptable for Single Stream Recycling? • Aluminum Cans • Tin Cans • Glass Bottles and Jars • Plastic Bottles and Containers • Basically any Plastic Container with a Recycling Logo on it Worcester State College

14. Additional Items Not Allowed • Wood or Pallets • Industrial Metals • Furniture • Clothing • Construction Debris • Computers and Electronics Devices Worcester State College

15. Implementation • Get the Buy In from the Top • Understand Your Existing Process • Identify Ways to Make Things Easier • Get Help and Form a Core Group • Lay Out A Strategy to get EVERYONE Involved – Kick-Off Program, Website • Be Prepared to Measure your Progress Worcester State College

16. Establish Some General Guidelines • Office recycling receptacles WILL NOT have plastic liners in them. • All shredded paper to be collected in CLEAR plastic bags. • Everyone will get a desk-side recycling container. • There should be a recycling container next to every trash container • The Custodial Staff will be collecting material in 96 gallon totes • Totes will be emptied into the Blue Compactor on the Student Center dock Worcester State College

17. Set A Goal • Our Goal is to Increase the Amount of Solid Waste Recycling by at least 30% in the First Year. • Last Year we Recycled about 42 Tons of Paper / Cardboard • New Program implemented in October 2006 • As of January 11, 2007, We have Recycled Approximately 20.5 Tons of Material which Includes Cans, Bottles, Plastic, Etc. • Based on the Current Rate, We Could Double the Amount Recycled Last Year! Worcester State College

18. Implementation Schedule • Administrative Offices and Common Areas – Copiers & Mailrooms - Complete • Classrooms, Hallways, High Traffic Areas -Complete • Student Support Items – Food Preparation, Dining Areas, Bookstore - Complete • Events and Functions – Spring & Summer • Residence Halls – Spring Semester • Outside – Walkways, Building Entrances – Spring 2007 Worcester State College

19. Worcester State College

20. Contact Information • Bob Daniels - EH&S Officer Worcester State College 486 Chandler Street Worcester, MA 01602 Rdaniels@worcester.edu 508.929.8099 http://worcester.edu/greencampus Worcester State College