Campus Facility Maintenance
According to a recent CFM survey, the majority of our readers are involved in some way in their college’s recycling program. Need reasons to be more actively involved? Consider these facts: 350,000 aluminum cans are produced every minute; once an aluminum can is recycled, it can be part of a new can within six weeks; if every American recycled one-tenth of their newspapers, we would save about 25 million trees; approximately 1 billion trees worth of paper are thrown away every year in the United States; about one-third of an average dump is made-up of packaging material; and packaging represents about 65 percent of household trash.
Arguably, colleges can be one of the biggest producers of waste each and every day. We recently asked our online readers if their college is cognizant of a good recycling program and if they measure a return on their investment in time and money. Here is what you had to say:
1. Is your custodial staff significantly involved in the college’s recycling program?
2. Do you feel that the employees responsible for your college’s waste management program are adequately trained to effectively manage it?
3. How does your college measure a return on investment after starting up a recycling program?
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We don’t. Out of sight, out of mind approach.
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We record all weight slips for materials that are recycled. Each quarter we do an analysis of weight recycled, revenue generated and factor in cost avoidance (dump fees), to get a final value for recycling.
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We see our returns as a “long-term” investment. We are located out in the Western United States and we see it as preserving our children’s future and our Agricultural Environment. We are very fortunate to have the open space and freedom of our outdoor living compared to the inner-cities.
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We look at the investment of time, equipment, personal protective equipment, other related safety and environmental issues and space investments and weigh them against return on investment, the cost of contracting the work out and related issues and costs.
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Dollars in vs. dollars out. Public Relations. Public perception. The correct thing to be teaching the students as well as example set for the greater community.
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Labor expense to operate the program minus the reduced waste hauling expense and any revenue received from recycled goods.
University Recycling Programs from Air Cycle
The large-scale, multi-facility context of a college or university can make waste recycling a challenge. But an
Air Cycle corporate recycling program can make it a little easier, with online tracking tools and recycling product standardization.
Learn more » Air Cycle corporate recycling
