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Recycling Initiatives Andrew Henry

Recycling Superintendent, Physical Facilities Operations Center

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Waste Minimization Plan

Fully Co-Mingled/Single-Stream Approach

A fully co-mingled approach to recycling

The all in one approach simplifies collection/boosts

participation.

Improving Infrastructure

Broader Recycling Coverage

Grants through the Alcoa Foundation have supplied an

additional 165 recycling bins.

The creation of a

campus drop-off

area for recyclables

Engage the Community

Campus Events.

Brand Awareness

Education

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Individual Material Tonnage by Year

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The University of Akron joined the RecycleMania competition in 2011. Each year, members of UA’s Recycling Department, a division of Physical Facilities, eagerly anticipates the start of RecycleMania and the chance to compete against several hundred other universities across the country and neighboring Canada. The Alcoa Foundation Recycling Bin

Grant Program is an effort to help

schools boost their recycling results

during the eight-week RecycleMania Tournament, and

expand their recycling efforts throughout the year.

RecycleMania is a friendly competition that aims to

promote recycling and raise awareness about waste

reduction programs on college campuses.

2013 is the second consecutive year that The University of Akron has been awarded recycling bins through Alcoa’s Grant Program. In 2012, UA received 90 recycling bins, valued at nearly $11,000, from the Alcoa Foundation and its partners. Physical Facilities reports that the awarded bins have captured in excess of 6 tons since their arrival.

RecycleMania and the Alcoa Bin

Grant Program

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OneShirt Challenge National Collegiate

Clothing Drive In collaboration with the national organization

SustainU, the University of Akron helps to collect clothing,

and other textiles, as part of the week-long OneShirt

National Clothing Challenge.

Over a hundred colleges and universities

compete annually for the title Big Shirt on Campus and

national bragging rights. The school that works with its

community to collect the most clothing during the week of

the challenge is declared the winner.

At the University of Akron, unknowing participants

are rewarded with merchandise, and other

valuable prizes, each day of the challenge for being

caught ‘Green Handed’. Rewards have included

such items as new apparel, school supplies, and

CamelBak reusable water bottles.

In 2013, the University of Akron placed third for overall poundage collected.

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A collaborative event between the Recycling

Department, Safe Kids Coalition of Summit

County, and the Center for Child Development

at the University of Akron. Car-seats and

helmets are inspected for deficiencies and/or

recalls free of charge by certified personnel.

Parents and other community

members are invited to attend and

recycle outdated or damaged

car-seats and helmets instead of

disposing of them less responsibly.

Car Seat and Helmet Check and Recycle

Recycle Programming @ Akron Summit County Public Library

A 2-part program was held in the spring of

2013 on the importance of recycling and

the University of Akron’s role in improved

community sustainability. Library Patrons

came to learn more about the University of

Akron’s Recycling Department and how

materials such as cardboard are processed

once they leave campus.

http://prezi.com/hvnwfk8ag1uq/recycling-at-the-university-of-akron/

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Move-In Each August, the department of Physical Facilities

(PFOC) assists students as they move into their respective residence halls. It is a great

opportunity for PFOC employees to welcome first-year students and their families. In addition

to helping students load and unload their belongings, the PFOC staff drives the event’s

recycling campaign. In preparation for move-in, several large recycling containers are placed

outside of each residence hall. These containers help to capture packaging materials which are

typically very recyclable . During move-in and the weeks that follow, there

is typically an influx of 37% in terms of paper-products collected, including cardboard.

Although it is important that these types of materials are recycled , it is always more environmentally beneficial if

recyclable materials are first reused, if applicable.

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The University of Akron (UA) has

participated in the EPA

sponsored, Game Day Challenge,

for the past two seasons. During

the challenge, colleges and

universities implement waste

reduction programs during home

football games. Each school tracks

and reports waste reduction and

disposal data, which in turn, is

used to rank the schools in one of

five categories. The 2012

challenge had several highlights ,

including UA being ranked 7th

overall for compost/organic

reduction and the realization of a

departmental goal, exceeding a

recycling diversion rate of 50%.

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Thank You

Andrew Henry

Special Services Superintendent

Recycling Superintendent

(330) 972-6019

andrewh@uakron.edu

Recycling Website:

http://www.uakron.edu/pfoc/recycling.dot