college/university recycling award | Stanford university

Stanford University’s recycling program began in the late 1970s as a student project. It has grown significantly, with nearly 3,000 tons of paper recovered for recycling by the 17,000-strong student population in 2008. Also impressive, campus efforts resulted in an overall 64 percent diversion rate in the same year. Included in the program are mixed paper, magazines, newspapers, paperboard, and corrugated (cardboard) containers.

Photo courtesy of Stanford News

The university’s waste hauler hires student interns and partners with student organizations to educate the campus community through online outreach, promotional materials, and personal contact. To further increase visibility, the university participates in Resource Awareness Week, Earth Week, and the National Recycling Coalition’s RecycleMania contest. On-campus support is also provided to dorms and academic departments through staff presentations.

 

From left to right: Julie Muir, Stanford University;

Jim Howell, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation;

and Ted Tucholski, Stanford University

As a result of successful communication and outreach, participation and collection helped the university avoid more than $130,000 in landfill fees in 2008.

For more information on Stanford University’s recycling program, visit http://recycling.stanford.edu/.

Click here to see the 2009 AF&PA Recycling Awards video!

 

did you know...

  • The paper industry hopes to recover 60 percent of the paper Americans consume by 2012
  • In 2008 the amount of paper recovered for recycling averaged 340 pounds for each man, woman, and child in the United States
  • 87 percent (256 million) of Americans have access to curbside or drop-off paper recycling programs

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