Green  Fund  Final  Report  

 Project  Overview    To  accommodate  the  growing  recycling  needs  of  the  School  of  Engineering  and  Applied  Science  (SEAS),  the  SEAS  Green  Team  redesigned  an  existing  trash  room  in  the  Towne  Building  with  the  assistance  of  a  Green  Fund  grant.    Creating  a  space  for  recycling  collection  out  of  an  area  already  designated  for  waste  stream  collection  would  send  a  strong  signal  of  SEAS’  commitment  to  sustainability  and  be  aligned  with  University’s  Climate  Action  Plan  goals.      The  SEAS  Recycling  Center  provides  convenient  access  to  the  University’s  single-­‐stream  recycling  system  as  well  as  collections  for  non-­‐traditional  items,  such  as  CFLs,  ink  and  toner  cartridges,  electronic  waste,  pens  and  markers,  and  batteries.      Since  the  project’s  completion  in  September  2012  and  the  submission  of  the  Green  Fund  Final  Report  in  October  2013,  more  than  28,780  lbs.  of  assorted  recycling  was  diverted  from  the  SEAS  waste  stream  through  the  Recycling  Center.    Diverting  items  from  the  trash  stream  leaves  more  room  in  the  FRES  Urban  Park  trash  trucks,  contributing  to  more  efficient  pick-­‐up  trips  and  saving  on  truck  fuel  usage.    Most  of  these  diverted  items  are  broken  down  to  their  simplest  forms  and  the  raw  materials  are  re-­‐sold,  decreasing  natural  resource  depletion  and  providing  alternative  supply  chains  for  manufacturers  and  businesses  both  locally  and  nationally.      This  diversion  system  and  related  reduction  in  trash  waste  has  allowed  SEAS  to  permanently  remove  two  trash  dumpsters.    The  Recycling  Center  also  provides  greater  awareness  of  electronic  device  procurement  and  life  cycle.  For  example,  the  SEAS  IT  department  uses  E-­‐waste  removal  metric  data  to  help  reduce  unnecessary  or  excessive  ordering  of  equipment.    The  modest  space  with  simple  collection  &  storage  systems  in  the  Recycling  Center  allows  SEAS  to  retain  recyclables  in-­‐house  for  longer  periods.  The  transition  to  monthly  removal  trips  from  previous  daily  or  weekly  removal  intervals  reduces  carbon  emissions  from  recycling  

SEAS  Recycling  Center    Completed  Fall  2012  Green  Fund  Awarded  Spring  2012  Grant  Amount:  $17,250    

    Green  Fund  Final  Report  

collection  vehicles.        The  SEAS  Recycling  Center  has  been  a  successful  endeavor  that  positions  the  School  to  contribute  to  the  University’s  Climate  Action  Plan  Goal  of  a  40%  diversion  rate  by  2014.    The  SEAS  Green  Team  provides  information  about  the  project  goals  and  their  partnership  with  E-­‐Force,  a  University-­‐approved  e-­‐waste  recycling  vendor,  on  their  website.    See  page  3  for  photos  from  the  launch  of  the  Recycling  Center.    Lessons  Learned    There  have  been  valuable  lessons  learned  through  the  implementation  and  operation  of  the  Recycling  Center,  which  have  provided  SEAS  with  information  to  improve  the  center’s  management  and  messaging  strategies  to  enhance  the  effectiveness  of  the  center.    Some  challenges  that  have  been  identified  include  regulatory  compliance  issues  surrounding  the  recycling  process  of  materials  like  batteries.  SEAS  advocates  for  continued  progress  on  these  issues  through  the  implementation  of  campus-­‐wide  collection  and  disposal  policies.    Logistical  issues  also  pose  difficulties  for  the  Recycling  Center  including  the  need  for  effective  signage  and  layout  display  for  drop  off  and  pick  up  of  recyclables,  volume  tracking  and  storage  adjustment,  improved  vendor  relations  and  consistent  data  and  financial  reporting  systems.    Despite  the  self-­‐serving  nature  of  the  Center,  it  still  requires  maintenance.    SEAS  encountered  some  difficulties  in  keeping  the  location  organized  and  identified  the  need  for  volunteers  to  regularly  check  the  space  for  clutter.    Housekeepers  are  an  integral  component  to  successful  operation  and  provide  consistent  feedback  on  the  changing  nature  of  the  Recycling  Center.    Food  waste  is  now  the  largest  item  in  SEAS’  waste  stream  and  no  collection  or  removal  process  exists  yet.    The  flexibility  of  the  Recycling  Center  is  celebrated  for  its  ability  to  accommodate  the  changing  nature  of  waste  streams  as  the  project  progresses.        One  reason  why  the  Green  Fund  Review  Board  funded  the  SEAS  Recycling  Center  was  because  of  its  scalability  and  ability  to  be  replicated  in  locations  across  the  University.  In  the  fall  of  2013,  the  Perelman  School  of  Medicine  opened  a  recycling  room,  based  on  the  success  of  the  SEAS  recycling  room.              

    Green  Fund  Final  Report  

Photos  from  the  SEAS  Recycling  Center  Grand  Opening