Client
A major university in the Northeastern United States.
Summary
A waste audit uncovered a large amount of recyclable materials in the university's trash stream, including a lot of Keurig K-cups. Targeted recommendations resulted in an increase in the campus buildings' diversion rate, from 43 percent to 76 percent.
Challenge
The university wanted to understand what actions it could take to drive sustainability improvements at three of its major campus buildings.
Solution
Great Forest conducted a waste audit at the three campus buildings that provided valuable data. Among the findings:
- The waste diversion rate was just 43 percent.
- 35 percent of the trash stream consisted of potentially recyclable materials.
- Keurig K-cups were a large presence in the trash stream.
- 27 percent of the total waste stream consisted of mixed paper.
- Over 15 percent of the waste stream consisted of organics.
Based on the data gathered, the following Great Forest recommendations were implemented:
- The coffee-making process was reevaluated to address the large amount of coffee pods in the trash stream.
- Signage was improved.
- An educational campaign was conducted to improve upstream sorting of materials.
- An organics program was implemented.
- An effort was made to go paperless where possible to reduce paper use.
Results
With the changes implemented, the buildings increased their diversion rate from 43.3 percent to 76.8 percent.
Talk to us today to see what we can do for your institution. Questions? Contact info@greatforest.com
Learn More:
Largest global study of commercial waste: Watch this 80-second summary of the report