2000 — 2001

Established in 1976, C. 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.

ORGANIZATION

• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UCSU and Administration signed in 1991, forming a partnership for recycling operations.
• UCSU (student government) is responsible for conducting procedural training and promotions, processing of recyclables,and overseeing contracts for marketing of recyclables.
• Facilities Management, an administrative department, is responsible for custodial collection of deskside containers, collection of central containers, siting and upgrading collection sites, and a new automated recycling and disposal system.
• Partnership is directed by Chancellor’s Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) and is comprised of students, faculty, staff, and administrators. SWAB also guides C.U.’s waste reduction, procurement, and research efforts.

PERSONNEL

• Administrative staff of four permanent University employees (2.9FTE).
• Collection staff of eight Facilities Management employees for recycling and solid waste and 126 custodians for deskside.
• Processing and promotions staff of 24 student employees, (6.5 FTE total).
• Over 1,000 hours of community service work referred by the county courts.
• Research and development of the program provided by students, faculty, and staff.

MATERIALS COLLECTED ANNUALLY

• Six grades of paper as well as one co-mingled container grade totalling over 1,150 tons. Materials are collected from 8,500 deskside and 350 central locations. The program serves 25,000 students and 6,000 faculty and staff on a 600-acre campus with 160 buildings.
• Over 200 cubic yards of compostable grounds waste.
• 20 cubic yards of reusable clothing, books, and appliances donated to local civic groups for resale.
• 37 percent of total campus waste stream is diverted by recycling and composting efforts.

ECONOMICS

• $280,000 Intermediate Processing Facility (IPF) constructed in 1992 to upgrade and densify campus recyclables.
• Over $45,000 generated from the sale of materials under competitively-bid contract. Revenues are returned to UCSU to help offset expenses.
• Additional $103,000 in funding from UCSU’s student fees (approximately $4.00 annually per student) to fund education and outreach.
• Over $60,000 in avoided disposal costs accrued annually. Savings help fund Facilities Management’s efforts.
• Program’s gross expenses, including debt service, total $480,000.

SOCIAL BENEFITS

• More than 12 academic projects facilitated annually.
• Equivalent savings of 158,000 fir trees, 215,000 gallons of gasoline, and 559,000 pounds of air pollutants since 1980.
• Over 70 percent paticipation which benefits larger efforts in the community.

PROGRAMS UNDERWAY

• Incoming student and staff orientations. Student "Green Teams" for neighborhood improvements off campus.
• Web site and e-mail listserver.
• In-office waste reduction and recycling workshops and residence hall seminar programs.
• Special event recycling for athletic events and concerts.
• Confidential shredding service.
• Waste minimization programs: reusable CUPPS, water-dispersable adhesive labels, state-wide waste exchange.
• Campus Master Plan revised to include recycling provisions in remodeling and construction projects.
• Infrastructure development project initiated to revise contracts and recover costs from wastes imported to campus.
• Aggressive purchasing program: over 60% of total paper purchases ($525,000) contain post-consumer content.
• Applied Research Center formed to conduct contract research for city, county, and state agencies.
• Planning and technical assistance provided to several off-campus committees and coalitions.
• Steering Committee participation in National Recycling Coalition’s College and University Recycling Council (CURC).