menu-hamburger

Campus Building Waste Characterization & Opportunity Assessment

Campus Building Waste Characterization & Opportunity Assessment

The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) Technical Assistance Program’s Zero Waste team conducted a Campus Building Waste Characterization & Opportunity Assessment (full report and executive summary available in the related documents area) to help F&S identify and measure the types of landfill (trash) and recycling material generated on campus.

The audit involved hand-sorting materials from landfill-bound and recycling waste stream samples into predetermined material categories (e.g., cardboard, mixed paper, plastic bottles, other plastic containers, etc.) and weighing the amounts of each category present in the samples. Calculating the percentage of a sample waste stream represented by each material group, in turn, identified specific opportunities for waste prevention, reduction, and diversion.

Due to the size and volume of waste and recycling generated on campus, sorting all materials is not feasible. Thus, an “activity zone” approach was used for the audit. This involves selecting a representative set of buildings across campus based on the classification of a building according to its primary function and service. For this waste audit, four activity zones and eight respective buildings were included:

  • Academic – Business Instructional Facility (BIF); Campus Instructional Facility (CIF)
  • Academic + Laboratory – Roger Adams Laboratory (RAL); Noyes Laboratory
  • Multi-Activity – Illini Union; Activities & Recreation Center (ARC)
  • Student Living – Lincoln Avenue Residence Halls; Allen Residence Hall

Summary of Findings

Landfill Analysis

Within all 1742.3 pounds of landfill-found trash sorted across activity zones in this audit, only 18.9 percent had no other fate than being sent to the landfill. The avoidable amount was estimated to be 34 percent. Nearly 23.1 percent of all landfill waste was paper towels, which could be composted, recycled through a special program, or replaced by electric hand dryers instead of being trashed. Currently recyclable materials represented 12.9 percent of the waste stream, or 224.76 pounds of material. Another 17.1 percent might be recycled with expanded recycling programs. Finally, 17.1 percent was compostable.

Recycling Analysis

Within all 1065.7 pounds of material from recycling streams across activity zones sorted in this audit, 81.4 percent was correctly recycled; 62.3 percent of material sorted was cardboard. 18.6 percent is not currently accepted and is considered contamination. Liquids were the largest (by weight) material category contributing to contamination at 2.6 percentage of materials sorted. Liquid contamination can ruin even correctly recycled items; paper and cardboard must be clean and dry to be eligible for baling and sale as commodities.

Improvement Strategies

Based on operations at those buildings, 39 recommendations grouped into seven themes were identified in the assessment. You can read the full report, as well as the executive summary, on this page under “Documents.” Numerous hyperlinks within the recommendations are available in the PDF file.

Activity Zone Key: CW = Campus-wide | AC = Academic | ACL = Academic + Laboratory | MA = Multi-Activity |SL = Student Living

Responsible Party Key: F&S = Facilities & Services | FMs = Facility Managers | Stores = Central Stores & Receiving | DRS = Division of Research Safety |iSEE = Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment | Campus Rec = Campus Recreation | DIA = Division of Intercollegiate Athletics

Education & Outreach

Infrastructure

Programming

Policy

Purchasing

Retail

Research

Presentation Video: How the University is Moving Toward Zero Waste

Related Providers

Waste Transfer Station


The Waste Transfer Station is at the center of campus waste management and recycling activities. The station supports the overall campus goal to reduce the amount of material entering the waste stream.

Waste Transfer Station

Related Services



Related Projects