C.U. Recycling
At-A-Glance
2007
Established in 1976, the mission of the University of Colorado’s Recycling Services is to cost-effectively reduce and recover resources from the waste stream while promoting the environmental and social benefits of recycling and providing opportunities for meaningful student involvement. Over the past thirty years, the program has exemplified responsible materials management. Get to know CU Recycling and it’s comprehensive approach to resource and
waste management.
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ORGANIZATION
• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between student government and administration signed in 1991, forming a partnership for recycling operations. University of Colorado Student Union (UCSU) is responsible for conducting
procedural training and promotions, processing of recyclables, and overseeing contracts for the marketing of materials.
• Facilities Management, (FacMan) 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.
• Constant contact within Partnership including students, faculty, staff, and administrators who also guide C.U.'s waste reduction, green procurement, advocacy campaigns, and research projects.
PERSONNEL
• Administrative staff of 1.0 FTE FacMan, 2.0 FTE UCSU (five permanent University staff total).
• Collection staff of 7 FTE FacMan employees and 9 FTE student deskside staff.
• 4.5 FTE student processing staff (24 UCSU employees total).
• 1.5 FTE student promotions staff (5 UCSU employees 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
• Materials are collected from 10,000 deskside and 775 central locations. The program serves 29,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff on a 650-acre campus with 160 buildings.
• Six grades of paper as well as one, co- mingled container grade totaling over 1,250 tons.
• Over 220 tons of grounds debris and 118 tons of pre/post-consumer foodwaste
composted.
• 20 cubic yards of reusable clothing, books, and appliances donated to civic groups for resale.
• comprehensive collection of additional materials: automotive, electronics, cartridges, C&D, etc.
• 35-40 percent of total campus waste stream is diverted by recycling and composting efforts.
EQUIPMENT / FACILITIES
• 3 high cube vans – for manual collections from over 775 central locations.
• 1 front loader trash truck – equipped for automated collections of newspaper and co- mingled containers from 37 residence hall and family housing docks (2x/week)
• 1 rear load compactor truck - for automated collections of corrugated cardboard at 25 docks
• 1 electric-assist 3 wheeled bicycle – for special event recycling and pilot program collections.
• 7,000 sq ft Intermediate Processing Facility
• five screened, multi-material enclosures for staff and vendor drop-off
ECONOMICS
• $470,000 Intermediate Processing Facility (IPF) constructed in 1992 to upgrade and densify campus recyclables. 7 year ROI from disposal savings.
• Over $70,000 generated yearly from the sale of materials under competitively-bid contract. Revenues are returned to UCSU to help offset expenses.
• Student fee investment of $175,000 this year to fund education and outreach (~$3.00 per student/semester).
• Over $500,000 in annual avoided disposal costs and $235,000 in net savings.
SOCIAL BENEFITS
• More than 12 academic projects facilitated each year.
• Community-based social marketing (CBSM) approach results in over 60 percent Campus participation. Participation on campus benefits larger efforts in the community.
• Pervasive environmental justice mission and partnerships with Americorps, Habitat for Humanity, Cerebral Palsy, Kiwanis, Denver Public Schools, and campus-based diversity initiatives.
PROGRAMS UNDERWAY
• Multi-cultural recycling program.
• Incoming student and staff orientations.
• In-office workshops and residence hall seminar programs.
• Special event recycling for athletic events and concerts.
• Confidential shredding service.
• Waste minimization programs include: reusable CUPPS, waste exchanges, pay-for-print, print over-run policing, and revision of vendor contracts.
• Campus Master Plan revised to include recycling provisions in remodeling and construction projects.
• Expansion to new Sustainability Operations Center (SOC) with plans to
co-locate biodiesel refining, composting, and upcycling center.
• Purchasing programs for environmentally preferably products.
• Applied academics including research and internship coordination.
• Assistance provided to numerous off-campus organizations.
• Annual reporting on Zero Waste goals and Environmental Management
System (EMS)
