Quad Recycling Containers Implementation Project

Illinois Sustainable Technology Center along with Facilities and Services approached the Student Sustainability Committee for financial assistance to add recycling containers at the Quad. The intent of the Zero Waste Illinois team is to improve the waste process in and around the Quad. The first step was to merge the existing 40 stand-alone refuse containers with twenty new recycling bins, creating a total of 30 combined waste/recycling stations. All containers were cleaned, painted, and color-coded to clearly indicate that one bin is for recycling and one is only for landfill-directed refuse. In addition to the expanded bin options, signage will be placed in the buildings on the Quad to launch the new standards and clarify what can be recycled. To measure the impact from this project, waste audits will be conducted before and after the proposed changes. This project looks to change the culture of campus, placing partial responsibility for a sustainable waste stream back on the shoulders of the consumer. By taking a systems approach to waste minimization, all individuals are involved from the moment they need to dispose of material. The choice regarding which bin to place the item in engages that individual in the process. By having recyclables sorted from landfill before the material is delivered to the Waste Transfer Station, the sort line will be more efficient, enabling more volume to be recycled per hour.