About Us
At-a-Glance | White
Paper | History | Blueprint/Long Term Planning | SWAB
At-A-Glance
Established in 1976, CU Recycling has become one of the leading
campus recycling programs in the country. Its mission is to divert
recyclables from the waste stream cost-effectively while promoting
the benefits of recycling and resource conservation and providing
opportunities for meaningful student involvement. Come see what we’ve
acheived!
(complete document)
White
Paper on CU Recycling
A summary of findings and recommendations for resource and waste
management at CU-Boulder.
(complete document 
28K)
Also see CU’s
2003 report on recycling.
History
2003
Review finds recycling at CU saves money over landfilling;
Recycling Financial Advisory Board formed.
2002
CU Recycling researches and publishes Colorado Institutional
Food Waste Composting Guide
2001
Student government (UCSU) funds Solid Waste Management Stations
on campus, and makes the first year of Residence Hall Automated
Cardboard recycling possible
2000
EPA Climate Protection Award given to Environmental Center and
CU Recycling
1999
Office of the Federal Environmental Executive selects CU Recycling
as the nation’s Model Campus Recycling Program
1998
CU begins administering the Colorado
Materials Exchange.
1997
CU’s Green Teams begin outreach on the Hill and other student
populated areas of Boulder to encourage and improve recycling
1995
CU Recycling receives National Recycling Coalition’s Recyler
of the Year award for Outstanding School Recycling Program
1992
An intermediate processing facility (IPF) is built on campus.
1991
Student-Administrative Partnership between UCSU and Facilities
Management is created.
1990
CU wins MTV’s national campus recycling contest.
1989
Chancellor Jim Corbridge appoints a solid waste management task
force, later to become Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB).
1987
CU President Gordon Gee proclaims April Campus Recycling Month.
1986
CU Recycling is awarded state “Recycler of the Year.”
1985
State personnel position is created by UCSU for a Recycling Director.
1983
CU hosts the Second National Recycling Congress and conducts
the first campus recycling workshop.
1980
Office paper program is incorporated into CU Recycling to give
students hands-on experience.
1978
Student government (UCSU) establishes CU Recycling with funding
for student staff and equipment.
1976
Student volunteers begin newspaper and aluminum can recycling.
1975
The “Waste Not” program, an experimental project
by custodians to collect office paper, begins.
Blueprint/Long Term Planning
In April of 2000, the University of Colorado Environmental Center
released the Blueprint for a Green Campus. The Blueprint lays out
challenging goals in the areas of climate change, transportation,
health and safety, and disposal and consumption habits...
(complete
document) - Located at CU Environmental center website.
Campus Master Plan - outlines goals
and guidelines for the improvement of the University of Colorado
at Boulder campus and institution in the areas of Institutional Goals
and Planning, Campus Setting, Facilities Needs, Land and Facilities
Plan, and Enactment and Implementation Provisions.
Solid
Waste Advisory Board
Recognizing the need for more interdepartmental coordination in order to
achieve the recycling program’s potential, the Chancellor created the
Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) in October 1990. The principal responsibilities
of SWAB are to prioritize and coordinate campus solid waste management
activities. SWAB is comprised of faculty, staff, students and administrators
and has met regularly since its inception.
Although CU is making great strides towards converting its waste from a
liability to an asset, there is still plenty of room for improvement.
The University community is encouraged to get to know SWAB and participate
in its many programs.
SWAB is comprised of students, faculty, staff and administrators and meetson
a quarterly basis. The university community is encouraged to join SWAB
and get involved in its many activities. For more information, call
303-492-8307.
