Reuse                                             Source Reduction               

                                 
            Recycling                                              Composting

                                 
                                      Trash

Composting
In-vessel Composting System
Biodegradable Service Ware

In-Vessel Composting System

Ohio University was one of six state awardees that received a $250,000 grant through Ohio Division of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention program.  The funding will be used to purchase and install an in-vessel composting system for the Athens campus. It will be the first full-scale composting project at an Ohio college or university. 

Ohio University chose to purchase the system from Wright Environmental Management, Inc. The system, slated to be up and running by the end of summer 2008, will be located on the Ridges just off of Dairy Lane. It will handle up to two tons of compostables per day, including food waste, biodegradable service ware, landscaping waste and other organic materials. This waste will be processed into a nutrient-rich soil within 14 days.

ODNR also awarded Ohio University an additional $50,000 toward the in-vessel composting initiative. The additional funds will go toward the purchase of a 6.15-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array expected to generate 35 percent of the electricity needed for the composting site. Using a solar array to power the composting system will offset 9,000 pounds of carbon emissions each year, resulting in roughly 270,000 pounds of carbon avoided over an operational period of 30 years, Marcus said. The installation of a solar energy source for the system also will free up additional resources for the Department of Facilities Management in a time of rising energy costs.

Additional funds from this grant will be directed toward site preparation, including water and drainage lines, and Ohio University's first compost toilet.

In a letter included in the grant application, Ohio U. President Roderick McDavis noted that this initiative would provide both a fiscally progressive and environmentally sound method to dispose of the university's biodegradable waste and help position the state of Ohio as a national leader in new energy solutions.

Biodegradable Service ware

Ohio University's new Baker University Center, which opened on January 2nd, 2006, features biodegradable service ware. Corn and sugar cane plates, cups, forks, spoons and take-out containers are all compostable.

Ohio University's Child Development Center composts the food waste from their classrooms and uses biodegradable plates when their normal reusable plates are not appropriate.

Recycling
Adopt-A-Game
Construction and Demolition
Greeks for the Globe
Homecoming Floats
RecycleMania
Universal Waste

With over 16,000 recycling bins spread across Ohio University, Campus Recycling works towards their goal of recycling 80% of the waste generated at the university.  Campus Recycling is responsible for maintaining, monitoring, and upgrading the recycling and solid waste management at campus buildings and on the grounds.

Adopt-A-Game

Ohio University’s popular recyclable recovery program, called “Adopt-A-Game,” takes place at home basketball games.  Groups sign up to collect trash and recyclables in different sections of the Convocation Center throughout home basketball games.  Massive amounts of recyclables have been diverted from the waste stream with the help of Adopt-A-Game participants.

Construction and Demolition

In addition to the traditional recycling of cans and bottles, the recycling department works with contractors and project managers when construction projects occur on campus, to ensure that as many materials are reused or recycled as possible.  Some materials such as doors and lumber are salvaged and sent to ReUse Industries, while scrap metal in many forms is recycled.  In the future, the Ohio University Campus Recycling Department hopes to further expand its ability to recycle specific materials such as concrete and ceiling tiles.

Greeks for the Globe

Campus Recycling worked with the Greek House, Delta Gamma, to reduce their waste and the cost of waste management in half by switching their trash pick-up from Rumpke to City of Athens Ohio Garbage Pickup and adding recycling. Fiji house, Pi Beta Phi, Chi Omega, and Sigma Phi Epsilon followed suit. Delta Zeta and Beta Theta Pi are in discussion with Refuse and Recycling Manager Ed Newman about beginning recycling at their houses. In addition to working with fraternities and sororities, Campus Recycling is working with Student Senate to expand recycling to other multi-unit off-campus housing groups.

Homecoming Floats

Campus Recycling also requires that all Ohio University Homecoming floats made for the big parade are recycled. All the floats go to a parking lot at the end of the parade where they can be dismantled. Almost all of the floats are recoverable because they are made out of products like chicken wire, wood, metal, cardboard, paper, plastic or aluminum.

RecycleMania

Ohio University and Miami University co-founded the now famous RecycleMania competition in 2001. RecycleMania is a 10-week competition between university and college recycling programs across the United States.  The friendly competition allows campuses to compete in different contests.  Awards go to each university or college who has the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, and the highest recycling rate.  The competition has grown every year, with over 400 participating schools in 2008.  And it all began at Ohio University! 

Universal Waste

Ohio University continues to revise and expand its recycling of universal waste—waste that contains hazardous components such as mercury, lead, cadmium and other substances.  Sources of universal waste include fluorescent lights, batteries, computer monitors and even cell phones.  Many universal waste items cannot be dumped in landfills.  These items require special recycling practices when they are no longer functional.  Ohio U. currently has special recycling practices for computer monitors and fluorescent lights, and is developing strategies for the recycling of other universal waste items.

Reuse
Move Out
Surplus Materials

Move Out

Every June, when students move out of the dorms for the summer, they leave behind clothes, school supplies, furniture and food that make their way back into the community.  OHIO Campus Recycling sets up sites at every dorm where students can donate unwanted goods.  Volunteer community groups like the New Marshfield Golden Gaits 4H Club go around to the sites daily and collect the donations.  The Athens County Agricultural Society, the Junior Fair Board and the Athens County Fair Board then distribute these items to people who need them.

Surplus Materials

Ohio University tries to prolong the life of surplus materials, whether its office equipment, excess building materials, or non-perishable food items.  Used equipment from the university is picked up and organized by the Moving and Surplus Department. These items are offered for sale at a reduced cost to other Ohio University departments, as well as at monthly auctions that are open to the public.

Materials that do not sell through the Surplus department are sent to ReUse Industries, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to waste reduction.  ReUse keeps a truck stationed at Campus Recycling that can be loaded with these materials and then taken to the main ReUse Industries facility in Albany.  These building materials, office equipment and odds-and-ends are then offered for sale to the public at affordable costs.

In the summer of 2006, Ohio U. put their items of refuse to good work. They sent a semi-truck load of beds and mattresses to Honduras. They were able to do this through the Institution of Recycling Network. The cost to send the materials to Honduras was comparable to sending the used goods to the landfill. In addition to sending mattresses to Honduras, Ohio U. also sent 500 chairs to the Materials Assistance Providers (MAP) in Columbus. MAP is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to serve the community by providing a free furniture bank for families and individuals in need. In 2007, OU sent a very timely load of over 700 mattresses and office supplies to the Caribbean in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean.  The project was a cooperation of Ohio University, The Institutional Recycling Network and Food For The Poor. 

Additionally, there are a lot of small efforts to reuse at Ohio University that don't get a lot of publicity, but can make a huge difference in waste reduction.  Pallets and bread and soda crates are items that would generate a large amount of waste if they were not reused on a daily basis on campus. 

Source Reduction

OHIO Campus Recycling supplies waste materials to the ceramics department, saving them from buying materials to fire up the kilns. They also work with the Theatre department in all set breakdowns in order to recover recyclables.

Prior to a major overhaul of the pre-printing process, Printing and Graphics Services used one-time-use, non-recyclable plastic films covered in silver to make the metal plates which print the paper. Printing and Graphic Services made the decision to modify old methods and switch to pre-printing using only a computer and a metal plate, thereby eliminating altogether the silver covered plastic films.

Individual efforts can play a large role in source reduction on campus.  Actions like carrying a re-useable coffee mug will not only save on the amount of waste you generate daily, but will often get you a discount at one of the coffee houses in town.  In Winter 2008, the Green Network developed a pledge for students and staff to sign. The pledge committed signers to stop purchasing bottled water on campus.  Instead they committed to carrying a reusable container for water and other beverages.

Trash

Trash is picked up from Ohio University and taken to Athens-Hocking Reclamation Center in Nelsonville. Pick-up rates vary. For example residence hall trash is picked up approximately three times a week, but Baker University Center trash is picked up twice a day. Ohio University produces approximately 5,000 tons of trash per year.