The Do’s (and Don’ts)of Recycling at MIT

Ruth Davis, Communications, Facilities

Alana Levine, Recycling Program, Facilities

Diana Daigle, Working Group Recycling Committee

September 2007

Recycling 101 Recycling and Trash statistics:

How are we doing? Massachusetts Waste Ban Recycling Streams on Campus How to Order Bins The 5 Rs WGR

Recycling and Trash 2000-2006

MIT's Recycling Rate and Amounts Have Increased Dramatically Since 2000, While Overall Trash Has Declined

648993

13291667 1871

32883033

5132

7035 6881

57885176

48514549

11% 12%16%

22%

27%

40% 40%

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006Year

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Tonage Recycled Tonage Trash Discarded Percent Recycled

MIT Recycling Components 2006

40% recycling rate Tonnage in 2006

Paper = 536.7 tons (17.7%)

eWaste = 93.1 tons (3%)

Compostables = 2119.6 tons ( 69.9%)

Commingles = 37 tons (1.3%)

Construction and Demo = 246.9 tons (8.1%)

TOTAL = 3033.3 tons

Construction & Demolition

8.1%

eWaste3%

Compostables69.9%

Commingles1.3%

Paper17.7%

Recycling saves natural resources…

24,576.51 yds³ of landfill space 6,441 pulpwood trees 909.91 tons of greenhouse gases not emitted

135 cars

40 households

26,143.57 million BTUs saved255 households

Over $265,000 in tipping fees alone

Massachusetts Waste Ban

What is the Waste Ban?The Massachusetts Waste Ban, 310 CMR 19.017, is a restriction on the disposal of certain hazardous and recyclable materials at solid waste facilities. MIT, as a producer of these “banned” materials, is responsible for diverting them from landfills and incinerators.

Commingles

Do RecyclePlastics #1 – 7

Steel cans

Aluminum cans

Glass bottles and jars

Do Not RecyclePlastic film

Polystyrene

How To RecycleGreen-topped slim jims

Plastic Bags Do Recycle

Plastic Grocery BagsJournal WrapBubble WrapAir PacksBaggies Candy Wrappers

Do Not RecycleContaminated MaterialTyvek

How To RecycleSend to “Recycling NW62”

(use label)

Cardboard Do Recycle

CorrugatedChipboardPaperboard

Do Not RecyclePolystyrene packing

materialsWaxy-coated cardboard

How to recycleBreak down boxesPlace next to recycling bins

for removal

Paper Do RecycleIf you can rip it, recycle it

Do Not RecyclePlastic- or wax-coated

paper

Food or candy wrappers

How To RecycleBlue-topped slim jims

Deskside bins

Clean-outs

eWaste Appliances

Do RecycleIncubators

Refrigerators

Centrifuges

Other lab/kitchen equipment

How To Recycle Create req in SAPweb

eWaste Electronics

Do RecycleCRTsCPUs, serversPrinters, scannersCopiers, fax machinesTVsMedia players

How To Recycle Create req in SAPweb

eWaste

TechnoCycle Do Recycle

Media – CDs, DVDs, floppies, tapes

Handheld devices – cell phones, PDAs, Blackberries

Periphery – mice, keyboards, wires, cameras

Batteries – rechargable, button

Toner cartridges – inkjet, laser

How To RecycleBins are available in all DMCs

Mail to “Recycling, NW62”

Construction and Demolition

Do RecycleFerrous and non-ferrous

metals

Wood

Concrete, masonry, gypsum

How To Recycle Create req in SAPweb

How to Order For a desk-side binNo charge for desk-side binsFill out the web form web.mit.edu/facilities/services/ bin_request_form.html

Get a commingle binOrder through Office Depot: web.mit.edu/ecat/officedepot/

Arrange for Pick up or a 90 gallon toteweb.mit.edu/sapweb/PS1/procurement_home.shtml Select Internal Provider

“Got Books?”

Between Stata and Building 56

In Westgate Parking Lot, Near Building W71

Transfer Station/Recycling Yard

What are the 5Rs?

RecycleParticipate in a program

ReduceStop or reduce consumption

ReuseProlong the life of a material

RepurchaseBuy post-consumer

RethinkChange your habits

Reduce

Buy less stuff When you do buy something, go

for products with less packaging Turn off the TV when no one is

watching Car pool with your neighbors or

colleagues

Reuse Join an exchange Donate usable items

and buy used Save packing materials Use refillable containers Use rags when cleaning Refill toner cartridges Use both sides or make

scratch paper Fix it!

(Re)Purchase wisely Buy products with recycled

content Support local farmers Shop at yard sales and second

hand shops Trade clothes

Rethink Your LifestyleCreating a more sustainable future through behaviors and practices that lead to the reduction and elimination of waste.

Making the change:

Designing products with their entire life cycle in mind

Implementing zero waste strategies into businesses, communities, industrial sectors, schools, and homes

www.zerowaste.org

Implementation Add Bins Provide Education Do Spot-checks Increase Custodial

involvement

Importance of Vigilance

Recycle properlyContaminationHandlingCompaction

Makes the program more effectiveCostCompatibilityCommunity

WGR MIT Working Group Recycling Committee

WGR membership includes MIT support and administrative staff, representatives from MIT's Environmental Programs Office and Department of Facilities, and members of other campus advocacy groups.

WGR has about 90 volunteer Recycling Ambassadors who reach out to the community and communicate WGR initiatives and encourage recycling in their particular department, lab or center.

In 2006, WGR members were recognized with an MIT Excellence Award for the work they have done in the MIT Community.

The “greening” of MIThttp://web.mit.edu/workinggreen

Recycling Ambassadors and Leaders

Contact staffrecycles@mit.edu

to join.

Ambassadors are staff who want to have greater influence in addressing recycling issues at MIT.

Their primary role is to be a liaison between the WGR and their office, department or lab.

Volunteers are asked to commit about one hour each month to distribute and collect feedback on recycling and to attend one or two networking meetings per year.

Ambassadors make a difference!

Develop a system to address the specific needs of your department

People will follow your lead

AND…

Be a “Local Expert”!

Upcoming sessions…

R102: You and Your Role as a Recycling Ambassador Tips on how to promote recycling in your DLC (and more!)

Tues., Oct. 16, 12-1PM, NE49 OR Wed, Oct. 24, 12-1PM, E25-119

R103:   Learn How to Generate Less Solid Waste How to create less waste during the holidays Dispelling the myths about recycling

Tues., Nov. 27, 12-1PM, NE49 OR Wed, Dec. 5, 12-1PM, E25-119

Questions?

Working Green at MIT website web.mit.edu/workinggreen

Facilities FAQ page web.mit.edu/facilities/environmental/recycling-faq.html

Email staffrecycles@mit.edu

Contact recycling@mit.edu