Worcester State College On Campus Recycling Strategies

Worcester State College Our Campus 60 Acre Site 12 Buildings 800,000 Sq Ft 3 Residence Halls 2 Dining Areas and 1 Coffee Shop Student Center and Bookstore Learning Resource Center

Worcester State College 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 Executive Order #438 Massachusetts 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Additional Items Not Allowed Wood or Pallets Industrial Metals Furniture Clothing Construction Debris Computers and Electronics Devices

Worcester State College 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 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 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 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

Contact Information Bob Daniels - EH&S Officer Worcester State College 486 Chandler Street Worcester, MA