Waste Reduction Tips for Campuses

A college campus is a great place to find many opportunities for waste reduction. Here is a list of some of the small things that people can do on a college campus that collectively has a large impact on reducing waste, thus saving money and resources.

Office/ Classroom

• double sided copying
• one sided paper use
• computer labs: pay per copy vs. flat semester fee
• toner/ inkjet reuse
• junkmail reduction
• electronic communication
  • e-mail
  • electronic forms
  • bulk e-mail messaging/ notices
  • on line newsletters/ journals
• office supply exchanges
• furniture, chair, desk, etc. redistribution network
• on-time purchasing
  • print catalogs, brochures as needed to prevent going out of date
    • correction notices for out of date information
  • use up existing stores before switching technologies or products
• envelope reuse/ routing envelopes

Food Service

• pay per serving vs. all you can eat charge system
• bulk serving vs. individually packaged items
  • cereals, drinks
• reusable dinnerware
  • travel mugs, tupperware meal containers
  • ceramic plates, bowls, etc. vs. disposables
  • financial incentives
• foodbank donation of unsold meals
• reintegration of unsold food into next days' meal
• use biodegradable/ compostable dinnerware where reusable is not possible

Facilities

custodial

• blow dryer or cloth towels vs. paper towels
• refillable soap dispenser vs. disposable bladder pouches
• purchase cleaning liquids in concentrate

grounds

• grasscycling
• xeriscaping
• purchase or create own compost as alternative to bagged soil amendments
• purchase bulk manure vs. bagged fertilizers

trades

• save scrap pieces for use on smaller projects

motor pool

• recap tires

General

• carpet tiles which can be replaced in worn sections without replacing entire carpet
• buy carpets with manufacturer take-back clause
• theater productions can reuse set frames, canvas and props for next production
• residence hall move-out reusable collection
  
  

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