1. Creating a Successful Recycling Program and, Avoiding the Traps Along the Way Randy Wilson Program Coordinator www.facilities.eku.edu/recycling

2. Tip Teacher: Does anyone know what it means to recycle? Amy: That's when I have to ride my older sister's bicycle instead of getting a new one.

3. Recycling programs are successful only when there is a market for the materials.

4. History of the EKU recycling program November, 1989- EKU enters into an agreement with Harry Gordon Scrap Materials to collect office paper and green bar computer paper on a regular basis. The total from November 1989 to April 1990 was 21,599 lbs; for a reimbursement of $226.00

5. November, 1990- Harry Gordon Scrap Metals breaks the agreement in the handling of EKU’S recycling account. Harry Gordon Scrap Metals cites various reasons to discontinue their agreement in the handling of EKU’S recycling account.

6. 1. Rising transportation costs 2. Low market value 3. Cost of handling materials

7. November, 1991- Lexington Recycling Center enters into a price contract for EKU’S office paper and cardboard recycling program. Lexington Recycling Center had specific conditions on how they would accept recyclables.

8. May, 1996- Richmond enters into an agreement to accept EKU’S recycling materials. Some of the advantages of donating EKU recyclables to Richmond Recycling were:

9. 1. No longer the need to compact and bale cardboard 2. Lower transportation costs 3. EKU does not collect enough recyclables to turn a profit. Sorting, bailing, transportation, and trying to find a buyer costs more money than can be justified.

10. January, 2004- EKU in cooperation with Americorps/VISTA, Habitat for Humanity of Madison County and, The Cities of Richmond and Berea establish a “Cans for Habitat” program designed to promote community recycling of aluminum cans.

12. Spring, 2008- EKU enters into agreement with Kentucky Recycling Incorporated to recycle all of EKU’S Industrial Waste. The advantages of sending recyclables to Kentucky Recycling are:

13. Kentucky Recycling is a one stop recycler. KY Recycling accepts E-Scrap, mixed scrap metals and white goods, Industrial waste and Universal Waste Batteries. They provide pick up of mixed metals and scrap metals and supply recycle bins to store mixed metals to be recycled.

14. May, 2009- EKU receives a recycling grant from the Kentucky Division of Waste Management to purchase 25 indoor recycling containers to collect mixed paper, plastic bottles and aluminum cans.

16. October, 2009- EKU begins collecting and processing donated waste vegetable oil from EKU Dining Services and ARAMARK to be used as an alternative fuel source.

20. Tip The road to success is always under construction.-Lily Tomlin

21. A comprehensive recycling program is the foundation for most successful environmental sustainability programs.

22. Recycling programs are only as successful as the participation that you get from staff, faculty and students.

23. How much does the EKU Richmond campus discard in an average year and what percentage of that can be recycled? Imagine that each year, EKU produces enough compacted solid waste to cover an entire football field more than 3 feet deep!

24. On average, the total amount of garbage that would go to the landfill if EKU did not recycle, would be about 3.5 million pounds, or around 1,750 tons. This year, EKU recycled more than 715,000 pounds or a little over 357 tons. That’s a 20 percent reduction from the solid waste stream.

25. Recognize waste reduction / materials management roles in relevant staff job descriptions including administrative assistants, purchasing officials, and building supervisors Incorporate recycling policy into student and staff orientation

26. Custodians are the ones who actually make the program work. They must perform the first and most important task of source collection and separation before the waste management people can process the recyclables. Barbara Lawrence, Indiana State University –Retired: Director of Custodial Services, Waste Management, and Special Services. 2006

27. Tip I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand. -- Chinese Proverb

28. www.waste.ky.gov/branches/rla/recycling Explore grant possibilities. You may receive funds for needed equipment and free publicity that money can't buy! http://www.bgpride.org www.kppc.org

40. Be innovative. Provide employee incentives for new and improved recycling ideas and techniques. Solicit support from administration at all levels

41. Creating an active program to educate employee and students about waste minimization practices

42. Donate campus surplus property collected during moving out days Habitat for Humanity of Clark/Madison Counties (aluminum cans) Salvation Army of Madison County (clothing/appliances) Goodwill Industries of Madison County (clothing/appliances)

43. Be positive! Be positive! Be positive!

44. Tip “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit.” Conrad Hilton

45. Traps to avoid

46. Don't let custodians pick their own sorting areas. ISU discovered that an area should be established out of public view because some custodians enjoy an audience and the audiences usually think they have better ways to sort than the ways we have instructed custodians.

47. Don't assume that people read everything. EKU started a curbside service for recycling in our married housing buildings. We sent instructions and the pick up days to every residence. Our students had a difficult time remembering the pick-up schedule on a bi- weekly route. We often found recycle bins full and sitting a full week before the scheduled route pick up day.

48. We have found our recycle bins used for: concrete density tests, storage containers for brooms, mops and water hoses, faucet fixtures, trash, de-icer, fertilizer/grass seed or, they disappear.

50. Don't change the rules too much. ISU changed recycling material requirements too often for some custodians to absorb, which resulted in frustrations and a less- than-cooperative attitude.

51. Poor communication between the recycle program and the custodial staff sometimes creates a nagging atmosphere. That often results in statements like, you’re not my boss, you can’t tell me what to do! Or, That’s not my job.

52. RECYCLE DATA

53. Cardboard Totals 2003 - 2009 In Pounds

54. EKU RECYCLES ABOUT 3,000 POUNDS OF CARDBOARD EACH WEEK

55. Mixed paper 2003 - 2009

56. EKU RECYCLES ABOUT 6,500 POUNDS OF MIXED PAPER EACH WEEK

57. Plastic Bottle Totals 2003 - 2009 In Pounds 0

58. EKU RECYCLES ABOUT 300 POUNDS OF PLASTIC BOTTLES EACH WEEK

59. Aluminum Can Totals 2003 - 2009 In Pounds

60. Final Thoughts Public and private schools in the Commonwealth are encouraged to develop complete recycling programs to provide our youth an opportunity to learn about conservation of resources, economics of supply and demand and important environmental issues.

61. Kentuckians face a difficult situation in preserving the Commonwealth’s environmental quality. Our students will have to deal with their waste and the legacy of waste that we adults are currently leaving behind. A comprehensive school recycling program will raise the awareness of students, teachers, administrators, staff and parents about the positive effects of environmental responsibility.