Campus-wide Purdue Recycles
As the result of ongoing individual, departmental and organizational efforts, Purdue diverts a considerable amount of recyclable material from landfills each year. The Purdue community is currently recycling a greater volume and wider range of materials than ever before. In 2010-11, the University’s institutional diversion rate was 77 percent, a 12 percentage point increase over the 2009-10 rate of 65 percent.
The campus community’s participation in and adoption of the Purdue Recycles dual-stream desk-side recycling program has significantly contributed to recent increases in diversion of recyclables from landfills. The Purdue Recycles interior recycling program replaced desk-side trash receptacles with recycling containers designed to capture mixed recyclables and office paper. Additionally, recycling centers have been added to classrooms, conference rooms, study lounges and break areas, providing convenient, easily accessible recycling locations to students, faculty and staff.
More than 50 additional exterior recycling collection points have also been placed in well-traveled areas throughout campus and are frequently paired with trash receptacles for ease of use. Outside recycling locations are commonly positioned along walkways, near building entrances and in parking garages.
During Green Week 2010, Boiler Green Initiative member, Rachel Huber, as "Bagman," shares information about plastic bag usage with fellow students in front of Ford Dining Hall. (Purdue photo)
As a facet of these expanded recycling efforts, the traditional definitions of “trash” and “recyclables” on the West Lafayette campus have been adjusted. Trash, which should be discarded into waste receptacles, is now limited to organic materials and food waste, liquids, personal tissues, paper towels and snack wrappers. All other items are recyclable.
“It is important that special care is taken to ensure that trash is properly separated from recyclables to avoid contamination that can prevent items from being suitable for recycling,” says Terry Ashlock, senior director of buildings and grounds.
By consistently depositing appropriate materials in recycling receptacles, each member of the Purdue community contributes to the University’s recycling success.
“Purdue’s students, faculty and staff have clearly demonstrated this community’s commitment to recycling,” Ashlock says. “We’ve made great strides in diverting recyclables from landfills as the result of individuals’ daily decisions to recycle.”
Purdue recycles and diverts a number of unconventional materials beyond those collected in office and classroom settings. Housing and Food Services participates in oil and grease recycling programs and collaborates with the City of West Lafayette to utilize food waste from Dining Services in a digester that generates energy. Additionally, the stadium recycling program has resulted in the collection and diversion of a significant amount of recyclables.
Concrete construction debris is crushed and used for other projects, and plant and landscape waste is composted or made into mulch. The University Warehouse and Surplus Store diverts items from landfills by decommissioning, securing and recycling e-waste and selling furniture and equipment to the public when it is relinquished by departments.
“We are proud of our ability to positively contribute to the sustainability of the Purdue community by facilitating the reuse and recycling of these items,” says Alan Leonard, director of service enterprises. “Preventing landfill disposal of usable items benefits the University and the local community.”
Buildings and Grounds and Service Enterprises staff members play critical roles in Purdue’s recycling program. From educating customers about items that are appropriate for recycling to collecting and processing materials, Building Services, Refuse and Recycling and University Warehouse and Surplus Store staff ensure that the University is consistently and actively engaged in operational recycling activities.
In addition to implementing a multifaceted, award-winning campus-wide recycling program, Purdue has become involved in Recyclemania. Recyclemania is an annual student-driven competition in which hundreds of colleges and universities vie for top honors in a number of categories related to recycling and diversion. With the guidance of student leaders, the University has participated in Recyclemania for the past two years and in 2011 placed eighth in the Gorilla category, which measures the total amount of recyclables collected.
From improving the convenience of recycling receptacles to redefining categories of waste and participating in a recycling competition, the University community is well represented by the phrase Purdue Recycles.
