Agnes Scott College
OP-18: Waste Diversion

When Agnes Scott College began its sustainability program in 2007, setting goals to reduce our waste and to increase our diversion from the landfill were our first commitments. Our Sustainability Steering Committee agreed to this policy: In accordance with the college’s strategic plan and the mission of the Sustainability Steering Committee, Agnes Scott is committed to reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink. Specifically, the college staff, faculty, and students will participate in an aggressive waste reduction program that includes, but is not limited to, single-stream recycling, ink cartridge and electronics recycling, used cooking oil reuse, as well as paper reduction initiatives. With a 2011 diversion rate of 73%, Agnes Scott College is on its way to achieving its zero waste goals. The college implemented a campus wide, single-stream recycling program in 2008. The following year, we began composting in our dining hall and first-year residence halls. Selecting waste reduction and diversion as our first major program has yielded important results with no budget increases. In addition, every member of the campus community has been directly involved as this has become a natural part of college life. We’ve decided to change our recycling hauling company in order to receive rebates. Because of the switch, we were able to compact our recyclables, a process which not only increases our capacity and overall output, but helps reduce our contamination problems. In addition, we have an area to hold scrap metal and a successful electronics recycling program. All of these have made it possible to reduce our trash hauls and overall tons sent to the landfill. We know these efforts are a daily practice, and we’re excited by the support and enthusiasm from the campus community.