Coastal Carolina University
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Coastal Carolina University takes great pride in diverting waste on campus. There are many programs, policies, and outreach efforts that are used to minimize the amount of waste that is disposed of on our campus. Recycling is at the forefront of our operation to minimize the waste that is disposed of at the university. Recycling is available in every building on campus, outdoor areas, in residence halls, and at on-campus events. The comingle recyclables are collected in a single-stream form and are ultimately separated at the Horry County MRF. Ink cartridges, batteries, and techno-trash are recycled from our buildings daily. Most buildings are equipped with a techno-trash bin that makes it stress-free for recycling those materials. Below is a list of the items that can be recycled in any of our buildings. • Mixed Paper - Newspaper, Magazines, Paper (shredded paper must be in clear bags), Junk Mail, Catalogs, Phone Books • Cardboard - Corrugated Cardboard, Pizza Boxes, Snack Boxes, Cereal Boxes • Plastic Bottles & Jugs • Metal & Aluminum Cans • Glass Bottles & Jars • Empty Ink Cartridges (all sizes, brands, including toners) • Used Batteries (alkaline, lead-acid) • Techno Trash (used ink cartridges, computers, computer parts and accessories, cell phones, CD's, floppy disks, VHS tapes) Composting of both pre-consumer food waste and yard waste is done here at Coastal Carolina University. We have a compost pile that is located near the Greenhouse on campus. Pre-consumer food waste is picked up daily and taken to the compost pile where it is mixed with shredded yard debris that is collected from campus. We also keep a 30 yard container that is exclusively for collecting yard waste that can be composted at the local landfill. Special recycling efforts are made during on-campus events such as football games, basketball games, baseball games, triathlons, etc. With football games being the biggest opportunity to divert waste we make recycling efforts very visible during these games. Tailgating bags are handed out before the game for recyclables, recycling bins are placed in very high volume tailgating sections, bins are placed in suite areas, and the stadium recyclables are gathered after the game. Move- In and Move-Out at a university can create massive amounts of waste. We have programs in place for both of these to minimize waste and give back to the local community. During Move-Out in the Spring semester, the Campus Salvage Program sets out PODS across campus to accept unwanted items from students, staff and faculty at the end of the school year. More than half of the items we collect are donated to local organizations in need. The rest is sold at a community sale to pay for the costs to place the PODS on campus and help provide funding to the CCU Student Green Fund. During Move-In each August a full team of staff and volunteers capture a vast majority of the cardboard that is used for moving. Small satellite stations and large roll-off containers are strategically placed across campus for students and their parents to drop off cardboard.

Non-perishable food is collected from students during our “Campus Salvage” program. This program is conducted when students are moving out at the end of each spring semester. Students can donate their food at one of the many POD locations that are set up across campus. The food is then taken to local charities by members of the sustainability department.

Pre-Consumer food waste is gathered and placed in plastic roll cart containers outside of the food preparation buildings on campus. We have a total of three containers that contain approximately fifty pounds of food scraps each. The containers are then picked up daily and taken to a compost pile located on campus. The food scraps are mixed with yard debris that is mulched to build the compost pile. The compost is then used by employees of the university who work in the facilities area once ready for use.

In partnership with SMART Recycling and Aramark Dining Services, Coastal Carolina University entered into a post-consumer composting program utilizing 9 roll carts at two dining locations. The carts are emptied 3 times per week.

Other materials that the institution includes in its waste diversion efforts Oil Filters Anti-Freeze Others that are not part of the calculations for this part E-Waste Asphalt Shingles Brick Concrete Drywall Wood/Scrap Mixed C&D