Recycling - towards zero waste

1. Recycling - towards zero waste Russell W Englefield Lincoln University Canterbury, New Zealand

2. Why? • Part of Lincoln University’s Environmental Policy • There is growing support for: • reducing our waste into landfills, etc. • eliminating the harmful results of waste • improving our environment for the future • working towards environmental sustainability • Today’s students are more protective of our environment • You can save valuable resources • Save money - or break even • Disposal costs in future are likely to skyrocket upwards - currently $95/tonne to remove to landfill

3. Outcomes Sought • Minimise pollution from waste • Reduce the waste to landfills to zero • Lower the waste stream by: • removing reusable materials • increasing the efficient use of resources • purchasing “smart” - reusable - recyclable - less waste producing • Any system implemented had to be near cost neutral • Gain the support and enthusiasm of staff and students

4. Before you start - you need to know the facts! • Which materials can be recycled? • What constitutes our waste stream? • Where does it originate from? • What quantity is involved? • Can we avoid producing any waste product? • What existing records do you have? • How are you to gather this information?

5. What constitutes our waste stream? • Identify and schedule the sources • The frequency of picking up • Are there common groups of recoverable materials Houses - Halls of Residence Academic buildings - Cafeterias - Kitchens Grounds bins - Commercial - Industrial, and Retailing Continued...

6. What Materials are Recyclable? • Find out from your Local Authority (Recycle Materials Foundation) • They find takers of recycled materials • Act as a “clearing house” for bulk recoveries • Have high specification of NON CONTAMINATION Their advice: start simple - build up!!

7. Recyclable Materials

8. What constitutes our waste stream contd... • The assessments were made by: • Hands on, separating the items • Estimating the volumes • Weighing random samples • Recording the data • Combining the information • Get information from your disposal company - past years disposal records. Continued...

9. What constitutes our waste stream contd... DON’T • Try to assess every waste source • Create too many waste types DO • Use typical sources for the group • Concentrate on items able to be recycled • Take rounded values • Realise samples differ daily

10. Lincoln University’s Annual Waste Totals Waste contractor reports: 1999 - 242 tonnes 2000 - 239 tonnes NOTE: Only waste to landfills, does not include grounds, building, hazardous wastes or oils

11. The Waste Stream (from samples assessed) Target areas = 87 tonnes “Other” includes contaminated food containers and used teaching and research specimens

12. Resources Available • Supervisor (Custodian) responsible for waste disposal • 1.0 FTE Refuse Collector • 1 flatdeck ute - with rear lift platform • Student volunteers (variable)

13. Contractors’ Proposals • Scheduled our information • Indicated our goals • Sought responses and costings Only two responses received. They were: • Rather vague • Relied heavily on offering existing services based on hire rates • Not innovative • Charges would have significantly increased disposal costs • Rates for materials recovered were vague

14. Based on win/win partnership We have the best knowledge of: the campus layout access and pickup routes what is acceptable operation what resources we can regularly contribute Your contractor usually has access to a large range of recovery vehicles Get together to work out a solution Avoid the use of expensive specialised transport Go for simple, low cost recovery methods Your choice will reflect in the cost Students are often interested in helping Rates for materials - selected $nil Negotiating a Partnership

15. Kerbside collection of mixed recyclables Sources identified: houses, flats, Halls of Residence Goal: 0.5 Tonnes/week Solution: Partnership with Waste Management Ltd Contractor supplies 35 litre crate to houses and flats for free Contractor supplies Halls with wheelie bins for free University does the marketing Contractor collects every Tuesday at 7.30 a.m. Collected from: 86 houses, 27 flats, 15 Halls (500 beds) Achievement: 400-500 kg materials/week Our Solution

16. Sources identified: Academic area Option selected: All, mixed grades Goal: 0.5 Tonnes/week Solution: Partnership with Intershred Ltd University supplied A4 box to every room on campus Contractor supplied 100 bright yellow wheelie bins Located on every floor in all buildings Room occupier empties paper to collector bin When full, secretary issues Job Card Fresh bin delivered, full one to store (free service) Advise contractor when 30 bins are full Contractor removes bins and replaces with empty ones Achievement: 1.0+ Tonnes/week Paper Recovery NOTE: Library books will be added and students will assist by cutting out the security tape in the spine.

17. Sources identified: Academic area and Commercial/Retail Selection: Corrugated cardboard only Goal: 0.5 Tonnes/week Solution: University supply bright yellow wooden crates Located near the main circulation on ground floor Staff deposit cardboard into these Refuse Collector monitors daily on round Uplifts cardboard to bulk store Contractor collects weekly with kerbside operation Achievement: Service just begun - no results to date Cardboard Recovery

18. Sources identified: Staff, day students, special waste generated Options Selected: Newspaper Plastics - types 1 and 2 Glass - 3 types Cans - aluminium and steel Goals: No defined goal To encourage recycling - open to all students and staff Solution: Bin has 8 separate disposal ports Each port drops directly into a wheelie bin Is accessible 24 hours 7 days a week Has two accessory bins for non-recyclable goods: Plastics Glass Emptied weekly in conjunction with kerbside collection Very popular with non-residential staff and students 24 Hour Multi-bin

19. Other Materials Recycled Other materials being recycled on campus are: • Aluminium cans - bins throughout campus • Oils - from the Engineering section • Trade waste - Property Maintenance group • ferrous metal • non-ferrous metal • old paint tins • window glass • Grounds waste: • woody material chipped for mulch • leaves composted • composting of green waste investigated - next years initiative • Removal: By special negotiation with contract recyclers • Batteries – all types

20. Recycling - what does it cost?

21. Recycling - what does it cost?

22. Lincoln University Refuse Waste 1999-2002

23. Lincoln University Refuse Waste 1999-2002  Reduction to Landfill: 35 Tonnes  Period: 7 months  Annual Projection: 84 Tonnes

24. Year 1 Saving: $1,881 Year 2 Saving: $3,948 and ongoing

25. Conclusions • Kerbside Recycling (Mixed) • Goal: 500 kg per week • Achieving: 26 Tonnes p.a. • Paper Recovery • Goal: 1 Tonne per week • Achieving: 52 Tonnes p.a. • Cardboard • Goal: 500 kg per week • Achieving: 26 Tonnes p.a. • TOTAL RECYCLED: 104 Tonnes p.a. • Taking our goal of 84 Tonnes of recyclables:- • Year 1 - will break even • Year 2  • New goal of 120 Tonnes • Savings around $10,000 p.a.

26. Where to next? • Increase the recovery - no cost • Evaluate the small waste suppliers • Discuss their needs - find a simple solution • Can they combine with others? • The next big issues - food and other • Food and food wrappers - possible worm farm • Other - mainly items there is no market for? • Composting of green waste • Adding value • 10¢/kg to top grade print quality paper • Students could sort “as and when” available • Reducing the waste “purchased”!! • Reducing the demand for paper • Setting copiers to “double-sided” by default • Purchasing reusable rather than disposable

27. Marketing - “nothing succeeds like success” • Selling your proposal • Success depends on others participating • They must know: • What it’s about • What is to be gained • How it is to happen • Seek advice from your Recycling Foundation and partner contractor • Make use of information sheets • If it’s not easy to do - it won’t happen for long • Feedback • Publicise the results achieved • Keep the interest alive • Seek ideas for improving the system

28. To summarise... • Why do you want to recycle materials? • What do you hope to achieve? • You must know the facts of your waste stream: • Where does it come from? • What does it consist of? • Don’t try to assess every waste source - select • Target the big suppliers of particular materials • Establish what market there is for your materials • Decide on what resources you have to assist • Contractor, partnership, or do your own thing Continued...

29. To summarise contd... • Your solution - keep it simple • Set your targets and goals - not too high! • Cost your solution • Marketing: • Publicise your proposal and outcomes • Provide feedback of results • Plan the extension into small recoverables once established • Every Tonne recycled is one less to landfills

30. Kerbside bins

31. Halls of Residence recycling

32. Recycling Depot

33. Inside multibin

34. Paper recycling bin