Materials consumption contributes directly to climate change.  It requires energy to mine, extract, harvest, process, and transport raw materials, and more energy to manufacture, transport, and disposal of products.  This is a throw-away society.  Waste prevention and recycling are important components in the University’s effort toward carbon neutrality.  Zero Waste is a goal for how campus should responsibly manage materials and the energy required to make them.  Zero Waste requires a “whole systems” approach to resource management that implicates purchasing, maximizes recycling, minimizes waste, reduces consumption and ensures that products are made to be reused, repaired, or recycled back into the system.

The University will need to expand its recycling and reuse efforts to reduce material directed to landfill.  While existing strategies have been successful, increasing landfill amounts require a renewed commitment and additional strategies to reduce waste.

Identify, label and communicate the location of recycling stations (paper, bottles and cans) around the office/building and if needed request new bins by contacting Facilities & Services. Also, print the acceptable materials lists below to ensure all recyclables make it into the appropriate containers.