michigan state university surplus store & recycling msu recycling.pdf · recycling seminar....

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Michigan State University Surplus Store & Recycling

Presentation for: MSU Dept. of EpidemiologyRecycling Seminar

November 29, 2018

Dave SmithRecycling Coordinator

MSU Surplus Store & Recyclingsmithd86@msu.edu

884-0941

– Recycling Coordinator, July 2012• Material Collection Operations and Staff• Material Recovery Facility• Special Event Recycling/Waste Management

– Prior to MSU• Environmental Specialist• City of East Lansing – 15 Years

– Serve on Michigan Recycling Coalition BOD– Chair of Recycle, Mi Committee

• Promotes recycling at the State level– Outdoor enthusiast

Overview• The Surplus Store & Recycling Center

– Who We Are & What We do– Mission & Vision– Rethinking Reduce, Reuse & Recycle– Highest & Best Use Philosophy– The Recycling Process

• Recycling streams• Sorting• Where materials go

Overview

• The Importance of Recycling– Why do we do it?– Why is it important to reduce waste?

• How do we Recycle?– What items are recyclable– Which ones are not

• Why is it important to recycle correctly?• Your Questions

MSU Surplus Store & Recycling Center

• Responsible for the end use of nearly all material purchased by or donated to the University!

• More than just Recycling!– Surplus Store– Books– Bicycles– Recycling– Organics– Waste

Mission

To manage MSU’s waste as a resource through an integrated system of reuse, recycling, collaboration and education.

Vision

To lead MSU toward a culture of zero waste, where all programming is funded through revenue from waste diversion.

MSU Surplus Store

Surplus Store

• Last year, reused and processed more than 1.8 million items (2.3 million lbs.) for resale and returned nearly $3 million to university departments.

– Computers– Office Furniture– Farm Equipment– Athletic Equipment– And much, much more!

MSU Books

• Collect unwanted books from MSU libraries, staff, students and public.• Drop off box at Recycling Site

– Process approx. 10,000 lbs of books per week– About 6,500 lbs are sellable

• On-line listing at MSU site plus on Amazon.com• Sold in-store

– Unsellable books• Donated to local charities• De-binding process

– Recycle the paper, bindings and covers

MSU Bicycles

• Full service bike shop• Offer:

– New & Used bike sale– Rental bikes– Repair and maintenance– Sell parts and accessories– Offer classes & education

• DIY repair station (Bessey Hall Location)

MSU Waste

• Collect waste from campus and landfill it at Granger Landfill– Landfilled 12.6 million lbs. in 2017– Overall diversion rate of 55% (Surplus, Compost, &

Recycling)

MSU Organics Composting• Food waste, paper products and farm waste is composted

on campus– Pre-consumer fruit and vegetable scraps

• Vermicomposted at the Student Organic Farm– Farm waste, including manure & bedding

• Composted by hot compost process on campus• Sold through MSU Surplus Store

– Pre and some post consumer food waste• Processed at anaerobic digester

MSU Recycling

• Provide recycling service to:– Residence halls– Faculty & staff (on and off campus)– University Apartments– Campus events

• Sporting events, conferences, charity events (5k run)

– Public– Community events

• Folk Festival, RecycleRama, etc.– On-campus food waste composting

MSU Recycling

• Public Drop-Off Recycling Center• Open 24/7, located at 468 Green Way• Accept

– Newspaper– Mixed Paper– Boxboard– #1- #7 Plastic (plastic bags)– Milk Jugs– Metal– Newspaper– Glass (brown, clear & green bottles)– Corrugated cardboard– Books

Public Recycling Drop-off CenterFaculty, staff and students, both on-and-off-campus, use the public drop-off.

The center is also open for community use.

Recycling Data

• In 2017– collected about 9.5 million lbs.– Generated $300,000 in revenue

• Nearly 3 million from public drop off• Cardboard – 2.8 million lbs• Glass – 810,000 lbs• Metal – 1.8 million lbs• Paper – 2.7 million lbs• Plastic – 858,000 lbs• Other – 500,000 lbs

Highest & Best Use Philosophy

• Def: Use of a product or process that produces the highest value (not necessarily $$ value).

• Evaluate materials and processes and ask:– How can we minimize waste?

• Reduce size of trash containers and increase recycling opportunities– Can it be reused or repurposed?

• Items of value sold, profits returned to Departments or used to support our operations– Can it be donated or shared?

• Items that aren’t sold, but have value are given away or donated.• Saves about $100,000 in disposal fees annually.

– Can it be recycled or composted?• Find new life in another form by composting or recycling

– If no, then disposal.• Waste-to-energy• Traditional landfilling – the last resort

The Recycling Process

• All materials are collected, weighed, processed, baled, & shipped for sale

The Recycling Process

• Materials collected from MSU facilities– Source separated: Most materials from Recycling

Center• Except plastics #1-#7

– Co-mingled: • Mixed paper/Boxboard bins • Plastic/Metal bins

– Single-stream: Event recycling

Recycling Process

Tipped on the floor

Lifted onto conveyor to sort line

Recycling Process

Materials are sortedby hand – studentemployees

Recycling process

Sorted into bunkersand pushed onto Bailer conveyor

Recycling Process

Material is baled, weighed again and readied for shipment to vendors.

Where Recyclables Go

– #3 - #7 Plastics – Green For Life Recycling, Detroit, MI– #1 & #2 Plastics – Tabb Packaging Solutions, Plymouth, Mi

• Made into post consumer resin for plastic bottles– Electronics – URT, Janesville, Wisconsin– Glass – Strategic Materials, Chicago

• Made into fiberglass insulation, food/beverage containers, reflective materials and other products.

– Paper & Newspaper – Green For Life Recycling, Detroit, MI• Made into various paper products such as egg cartons, building

insulation, construction paper.– Cardboard – White Pigeon Paper Company, White Pigeion, MI

• Made into 100% recycled content paperboard packaging– Metals – Friedland Industries, Lansing, MI– Expanded Polystyrene – Dart Container, Mason, MI

The Importance of Recycling

• Why do we do it?– In 1988, students petitioned MSU Board to implement

a paper recycling program– 2008, MSU establishes goal to reduce landfill waste by

30% by 2015• SSRC short-term goal of 70% waste diversion• SSRC long-term goal of “Zero waste” or 90%+

The Importance of Recycling

• Why do we do it?– If we raised the state average of 15% recycling rate to 30% we would:

• Increase jobs– Create about 10,000 jobs– Create around $225 million in income

• Increase sales and income in manufacturing sector– By around $3 billion

• Expand Michigan’s tax base– By around $17 billion

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions• Provide broad environmental benefits

– Public Sector Consultants 2009 report: Expanding Recycling in Michigan

The Importance of Recycling

• Why is it important to reduce waste?– We pay about $12 per compacted cubic yard to

dispose of refuse– $180,000 annually– Studies show that 2/3 of what MSU disposes is

reusable, recyclable or compostable

The Importance of Recycling

How do we Recycle?

• At-desk recycling

– Free containers from SSRC. Surplus.msu.edu

How do we Recycle?

• Public Space Recycling

• Located in all buildings on campus

• Fee Hall has over 40 stations

What items are Recyclable?

• Mixed Paper– Magazines & catalogs– Junk mail & envelopes– Cards– Boxboard– Newspaper– Clean paper cups/plates

• Do Not recycle – Laminated paper– Wax paper

What items are recyclable?

• Office Paper– Computer paper– Letterhead– Notebook paper– Copy paper (all colors)– Index cards

• Do Not Recycle– Laminated paper

What items are Recyclable?

• Plastic– All #1 through #7 plastics– Water/pop bottles– Milk jugs– Grocery bags– Bottle caps

• Do Not Recycle– Foam products– Rubber

What items are Recyclable?

• Glass (available in limited locations)– All colors of bottles and jars

• Do Not Recycle– Pyrex– Window glass– Mirrors– Lab glass

Why is it Important to Recycle Correctly?

• Contamination– reduces the value of recyclables– Unsanitary for workers at recycling facilities– Decreases the quality of products made from recycled materials

• In general, recyclables should be– Clean – Dry– Free of residues (i.e. food waste)

Thank you!Dave Smith

smithd86@msu.edu517 884-0941