Brown University Recycling: Program Summary
OBJECTIVE:
Since 1989, Rhode Island law has mandated that recyclable materials be
segregated from solid waste. Brown University's Department of Plant Operations
manages a full-scale recycling program that encompasses 86 office buildings,
41 dormitories, and 70 rent al properties. During the regular school year
(September to the end of May with a five week winter break), approximately
5500 undergraduate students and 1200 graduate students (of which 4300)
live in Brown-owned dormitories or buildings) and 2900 Univers ity employees
participate in the program. Total solid waste generated is approximately
3000 tons per year.
HISTORY:
The Center
for Environmental Studies (CES) has always worked closely with the
Rhode Island community, and has used campus programs as models for innovation
at the local and state levels. A campus-wide recycling program begun on
the Brown campus in 1984 p rovided the background for the design of the
first statewide mandatory recycling program in the country. CES students
planned the program, wrote the implementing regulations and proposed refinements.
Based on information from the pilot program, recyclin g of aluminum cans
and newspaper was introduced to all on-campus housing in September 1987.
White paper was added to the list of materials to be recycled in 1988,
and was soon followed plastic bottles, newspaper, cardboard and mixed office
paper.
The most recent waste and recycling contract was negotiated in
October of 1991, requiring that all waste (recycling and landfill materials)
be measured and reported to the University. It was at this same time that
recycling began to save money for the Un iversity. A composition study
in 1992 revealed that as approximately 45% of the material could be recycled
under market conditions at the time. Brown is recycling approximately 30%
of its total solid waste stream of nearly 3,000 tons.
PROGRAM SPECIFICS:
Materials that can be recycled in the program include: corrugated cardboard,
white paper, mixed office paper, newspaper, glass bottles, limited types
of plastic bottles, food waste, yard waste, wood waste, automobiles, white
goods (appliances), vehicle ba tteries, laser printer toner cartridges,
used lubricating oil, telephone directories, and scrap metals.
Dormitories
In the dorms, each room is provided with a white bucket in which recyclables
can be collected. It is the students' responsibility to separate the contents
of the white buckets into larger bins that are placed at centralized locations
in all of the buildi ngs. We use yellow 44 gallon bins for the mixed containers,
red 32 gallon barrels for newspaper, and blue 44 gallon bins for mixed
office paper. These bins are lined with clear plastic bags so that the
recyclables can be clearly identified once they are removed from the bins.
Twice a week, the custodians of each building move the bagged recyclables
outside, where they are picked up by a contracted waste hauler.
Near the end of each semester, collection areas and containers for reusable
clothing and durable goods are set up near the dormitories. A student group,
TOGATHER, coordinates collection and distribution of these items to community
support organizations t hroughout Providence.
Other Buildings
The office buildings, libraries, laboratories, copy centers, and computer
centers all have volunteer recycling coordinators who oversee the recycling
operations of the particular building. The system works in the same manner
as the one for the dorms, wit h recyclables collected at a central location
and then moved outside twice a week by custodians. Where accessible, larger
65 gallon toters are used in order to reduce plastic bag use and labor
requirements.
Food Services
Food waste from the University cafeterias are stored in 55 gallon drums
and collected daily by a local pig farmer. Grease and meat trimmings are
also stored in 55 gallon drums and hauled away to make livestock feed and
soap. Food Services recycles corru gated cardboard, mixed containers, and
newspaper. The corrugated is stored in dedicated dumpsters and a compactor
outside of the food facilities. The other materials are collected in the
same yellow, red and blue bins and toters that can be found in oth er University
buildings. Reusable mugs are sold at the campus snack bars, and their use
is encouraged through price reductions on items such as soft drinks when
the mug is used instead of a disposable cup.
Yard Waste
An estimated 60 to 75 tons of yard waste are generated and hauled by the
Department of Plant Operations Grounds Division. Since the spring of 1989,
such wastes had been by hauled by Brown to local farms, where it was composted.
The material is currently composted at a state-run facility located near
the landfill and materials recovery facility. Recent efforts to reduce
the biomass material generated include the investigation and implementation
of alternatives to traditional landscaping techniques and t he use of mulching
mowers.
Other Operations
The University now recycles scrap metal and wood wastes in large roll-off
containers. In 1991, outside recycling bins for mixed paper, newspapers,
and mixed containers were placed in six locations around campus. In a recent
study, these were found to be very successful, reporting only 3% contamination.
Also, old phone directories are collected for recycling during a two week
period when the new directories are distributed in the fall of each year.
PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION:
Publicity and education are vital to the program's success. Information
concerning how and what to recycle are distributed to every first year
student upon their arrival at Brown. Furthermore, outreaches are conducted
in all first year dorms that explai n the recycling program to the students
and act as a forum for questions. Posters near containers, electronic bulletin
boards, and periodical advertisements in the student newspaper encourage
participation. Clearly marked containers are placed in "stati ons" in strategic
locations throughout campus.
MONITORING THE PROGRAM:
Several students are hired as interns to organize and monitor specific
components of the system with the Department of Plant Operations Custodial
Division. Their duties include managing volunteers who make periodic checks
on campus buildings, researching alternative avenues for source reduction
within the University community, inventorying all dorms and offices for
missing containers, and managing a database of the weights of the recyclable
and landfill materials. The waste hauler is under contract to s upply Brown
with a weekly accounting of the materials collected.
Evaluation of the program is accomplished through periodical composition
studies which are useful in determining the degree of contamination. Meetings
are held with custodians and recycling coordinators to determine how efficiently
the program is running . Establishing communication between the "players"
of the game is essential to an effective strategy.
For further information on the program, contact:
Email Recycle@Brown.EDU
Phone 401-863-7837
This document is created and maintained by:
BIG_Web@Brown.Edu
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