Web-Workspace

WHY RECYCLE?

RECYCLING INFORMATION ON CAMPUS (WHAT TO RECYCLE)

WHAT TO RECYCLE The following items can be recycled at Earlham:

• Plastics #1 and #2 (look at bottom of container and the number inside the triangle to determine a #1 or #2)
• Aluminum Cans
• Glass
• Office paper
• Newspaper
• Corrugated Cardboard
• Lead/acid Batteries
• Scrap metal
• Old electronics/computers
• Old Cell phones and ink cartridges

HOW AND WHERE TO RECYCLE ON CAMPUS

(note: upon receiving the grant we will want to include descriptions of the recycling bins-color, shape, size, etc. familiarize the information below)

It is the responsibility of individuals to place all recyclable materials in the correct bins placed around campus. It is also important to avoid contamination of bins with incorrect materials or trash. For example, office paper placed in a co-mingled bin contaminate it, and can result in that bag being sent to the landfill. Similarly, newspaper placed in an office paper bin can render it trash. Please pay attention to the sign on a bin before placing items in it.

Office paper should have staples and tape removed, and glossy paper should be seperated and cannot be recycled with office paper.

Corrugated cardboard boxes should be flattened before being placed in a bin.  

Glass bottles, aluminum cans, and plastics #1 and #2 should be washed out if they are very dirty but otherwise can be placed directly in the blue comingle bins as is.

There are a number of locations on campus to recycle the items listed in the previous section:

• 1. Residence Halls (dorms) - On every floor of every residence hall you should find bins for:
  • 1) office paper
  • 2) co-mingled items (plastic #1 and #2, aluminum cans and glass bottles)
  • On one floor of each residence hall (almost always on the first floor) there should be a bin for newspaper.

• 2. College Houses - In every college house there should be a big blue bin with a circle cut-out in the lid for both co-mingled items (see above) and office paper. College Houses should be recycling by bringing their bin out to the street for regular city pick-up as arranged by their AD. Contact:
• 3. Academic/Administrative Buildings - On each floor of academic/administrative buildings you should find the following recycling bins:
  • 1) Tall, Blue, closed-top, co-mingled bin (for plastics #1 and #2, aluminum cans and glass bottles)
  • 2) Small, open-top red bin: office paper
  • The current placement of these is sporadic. At the very least, most department offices have a red bin located near the copy machine. Blue co-mingled bins tend to be located in the hall for greater access to students and professors/administrators/staff.
• 4. Runyan Center (student center) - Runyan Center has the following bins for recycling:
  • 1) Tall Blue bin for Newspaper only
  • 2) Tall Blue bin for Magazines only
  • 3) Tall Blue bin for office paper
  • 4) Tall Blue bin for Co-mingled items (for plastics #1 and #2, aluminum cans and glass bottles)
• 5. Outdoors - Currently there are no outdoor receptacles for recycling.
• 6. At Certain Events
• 7. Maintenance - The following items can be brought to Maintenance (located across from the side entrance to Hoerner and behind the Wellness center):
  • 1) scrap metal-location?
  • 2) corrugated cardboard- a dumpster is located between the back of maintenance and the big yellow equipment shed.
  • 3) old electronics/computers-location?
  • 4) lead/acid batteries-location?
  • 5) ink cartridges/cell phone batteries-location?

RECYCLING BEYOND EARLHAM

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT RECYCLING

Q-I imagine we should get our heads together, to generate more questions. S.H.

• 1. What happens when trash is put in recycling bins (or some other way to address contamination)?
• 2. Can I recycle all types of cardboard at Earlham?
• 3. Maybe the same sort of question about plastics??

COMPOSTING AT EARLHAM

WHO SHOULD I CONTACT IF MY COMPOST IS NOT BEING PICKED UP? Contact: Dan Horowitz (horowda@earlham.edu)

WHERE CAN I COMPOST:

1. 1. In the dining hall: Next to the trash bins where trays are also brought, there is a separate can for compostable items.
2. 2. All college houses have one five gallon compost bucket.
3. 3. Clear Creek Food Co-op: Inside the co-op there is a bucket for waste generated from daily lunches, as well as a large trash can outside of the co-op, on the Barrett side.

WHAT CAN I COMPOST: *All food except meat and dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.)

WHERE DOES THE COMPOST GO and HOW DOES IT GET THERE? All compost generated at Earlham goes out to Miller Farm. Miller Farm is a college-owned, student-run farm located on Abington Pike. For more info go to http://www.millerfarm.org Two to three student workers are hired each semester on a work-study basis to transport the compost out to the farm. Bikes are used to carry the compost out on a regular basis depending on pick-up location. The compost is then used on gardens maintained by the residents of Miller Farm throughout the growing season.

WHY DOES EARLHAM COMPOST?

We compost to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and to benefit the student-run agriculture program based at Miller Farm. Food waste that goes out to Miller Farm would otherwise go with the rest of trash to the Richmond landfill. By composting, over time, we significantly reduce the amount of waste we produce. And, the soil at Miller Farm is enriched by the application of the compost.

HOW IS THE COMPOST USED AT MILLER FARM?

Compost is brought from the dining hall and put in a pile where it begins to decompose. Successive loads of compost result in a mass of ‘organic matter’ which generates heat via the decomposition process. A variety of organisms (aerobic bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes and macroorgamisms such as earthworms)consume the nutrients available in leftover food and help to produce 'humus.' Humus-a soil-like substance-is incorporated into the soil and improves soil structure, increases moisture retention, and increases the availability of nutrients and minerals for plant growth. Residents of Miller Farm manage the compost piles and use the humus after spring tillage to add organic matter to the soil. The compost is applied when necessary during the growing season to strengthen soil balance and prevent pest and disease spread. It is sometimes used again after fall harvest and before a winter cover crop is sown to build soil quality over the winter.

For more information on compost and composting go to: <www.cfe.cornell.edu/wmi/Composting.html>, <css.wsu.edu/compost/>

CONTACTS

Director of Facilities: Glen Haywood (haywogl@earlham.edu) x1678
contact regarding comingled pickup, and drop-off of other recyclables on campus

Housekeeping Director: Bruce Dodds (doddsbr@earlham.edu), x1854
contact regarding office paper recycling pickup, summer pickup of comingled

Environmental Responsibility Committee:
contact regarding policies, planning, and campus oversight

• Scott Hess, Convenor (hesssc@earlham.edu)
• Glen Haywood
• Katie Delbecq
• Rick Foreman
• Nancy Jackson
• Ben Jaffe
• Christine Larson
• Jennifer Lewis
• Charlie Peck (sabbatical, 2006-2007)
• Meg Streepey

Earlham Environmental Action Coalition (http://www.earlham.edu/~eeac/)
contact regarding student initiatives and participation in recycling programs

Earlham Energy Awareness Project (http://eeap.cs.earlham.edu/)
contact regarding tracking energy use in campus houses

Miller Farm (http://www.millerfarm.org/wiki/Main_Page) x2982
contact regarding composting

MAINTENANCE BUILDING HOURS
8:00am -4:00pm M-F
contact regarding recycling drop-off for cardboard, batteries, and scrap metal what else can be dropped off here?? - CL

CURRENT RECYCLING POLICIES

File:Recycling policies.pdf