State and National Services

Composting | Computers & Electronics | University Recycling Reources | Special Events/ Olympics

Composting

The Governor’s Office of Energy Management and Conservation is teaming up with the University of Colorado to advance foodwaste composting in the State. Grant funding was provided recently for CU-Boulder to research and recommend ways to handle this challenging part of the waste stream.

Institutions like colleges, hospitals, and correctional facilities generate significant amounts of foodwaste. A typical cafeteria can serve over 3,000 meals each day and the resulting organic scraps and food -related paper can comprise up to seventy-five percent of total waste generation by weight.

When done properly, composting is a cost-effective strategy for diverting materials from landfills. It has the added benefit of creating valuable fertilizer that institutions can use on their grounds or generate revenue from.

See Planning Guide

Computers and Electronics

Dell helps Boost E-Scrap Recycling at CU

A national award from Dell Computer, along with support from the National Recycling Coalition, helped make CU's first "Computer Round-Up" a success.  Over 17 tons of computers and peripherals were collected during the three day event.  An additional 2.9 tons were tested, secured, and bundled for donation to national and international community development organizations.  

Read the full report. (27mb)

The Colorado Materials Exchange (COMEx) has begun a project to build capacity for computer and electronic reuse in Colorado. Computer reuse is the first step towards electronic waste prevention because of its efficient use of raw materials and reduction of contaminants into the waste stream. The Colorado Computer Reuse Project will increase capacity for reuse of computers, peripherals, and other electronics by providing information and opportunities for electronics reuse across the state.

More information

Visit the Colorado Materials Exchange

University Recycling Resources

Zero Waste

Zero waste is a dynamic term that approaches solid waste from a new and arguably more effective direction. Institutions like colleges and universities are ideal settings to advance zero waste principles and demonstrate zero waste programs. In addition to introducing fundamentals and including a directory of zero waste resources , this presentation challenges campuses with the following areas for improvement:

• What policies on sustainable resource management will be required at
  colleges and universities?
• What subsidies for waste and pollution should be avoided on campus?
• What products should be boycotted from campus?
• What green practices should be “procotted” on campus and around town?
• What products on campus (beyond the basics) must be recoverable
  through reuse, recycling or composting?
• What staff and student opportunities are ripe for consumer education
  and product take-back?
• What campus and/or community centers are needed for total recovery—
  reuse, recycling and composting, material exchange, and education
• Where are the jobs for college grads and how do they get them?

View the presentation

Colorado Campus Recycling Network
The Colorado Campus Recycling Network facilitates information exchange between institutions of higher education in Colorado about resource and solid waste management.

Visit the CCRN site.

Recycling and Solid Waste
Presentation for establishing or expanding campus recycling programs and integrating them with solid waste disposal. Resources section includes contact information for numerous agencies and organizations.

View the presentation

Soft Drink Vending Contract Revision
The products and packaging entering the campus from vendors’ contracts have direct financial and environmental impacts on the campus. Soft drink packaging in particular may have significant effects on a campus recycling program.

"Soft Drink Vending Contracts and Recycling: A Toolkit for Change" was prepared for the College and University Recycling Council. It is designed to help maximize the level of recycling associated with soft drink vending while promoting vendors’ assistance in recycling and waste reduction.

The Toolkit includes sample bid language, options to address recycling and waste reduction concerns, a cost analysis of converting vending machines from aluminum cans to plastic bottles, and case studies from nine schools around the country.

View the document: "Soft Drink Vending Contracts and Recycling: A Toolkit for Change"

Special Events / Olympics

CU Hosts National College Recyclers
The National Recycling Coalition's 26th annual Congress and Expo is coming to the Denver-Boulder area September 15 - 19.

View all the collegiate activities and programs of this conference here (pdf). 

CU Recycling’s Director toured the recycling and solid waste management operations at the Winter Olympic games in Salt Lake City. While the effort to divert recyclable and compostable materials is commendable, the operation should not be emulated until important improvements are made.

Click here for photos.