Cal Poly Humboldt
OP-18: Waste Diversion

Recycling Services at HSU is continually trying to improve the campus recycling collection system. In September 2012 Recycling Services were awarded a grant from CalRecycle to purchase recycling containers, signs, and fund an extensive recycling education campaign. This campaign, in addition to new campus wide signage, will provide consistency to students coming to Humboldt from areas with different recycling practices. More information can be found at https://humboldt.edu/sustainability/recycling. WRRAP, an Associated Students program focused on waste reduction, provides outreach to students about issues of waste and recycling. These students table frequently at campus events and volunteer to supervise waste diversion effort during at campus events. They also produce information about recycling for students in different media types including brochures, posters, web pages, and short videos. More information can be found at http://humboldt.edu/wrrap/. As of 2012 HSU has been diverting organic waste from food service areas and at several general campus collection sites. Humboldt County is in the process of installing a regional food waste digestion system and HSU is participating as an early adopter. The campus does have cold composting, but not at the scale to accept waste from food services. The expansion of food waste collection diverts approximately 17 tons each month.

Campus Recycling collects the following materials for diversion: •Single stream recycling: bottles, aluminum and metal cans, plastics #1-7, mixed paper, cardboard, milk cartons; •Source separated items include: Hardbound books, mixed rigid plastics, pallets/waste wood, and scrap metal; •Surplus office, lab and classroom furniture and equipment, Housing furniture, electronics, surplus mechanical and building materials and vehicles are stored at an off-campus warehouse. Approximately every two years, HSU holds a public agency give-away and public auction of these materials not reused on campus; •In addition to food waste and food soiled paper being collected at the main dining areas on campus, they are also collected at football games and other eventsin addition to strategic buildings on campus. Approximately 6 tons a year remains on campus for composting, while approximately 170 tons is currently shipped to a commercial composting facility. Although some recyclable and compostable material still finds its way into the trash bins, the University’s solid waste stream is comprised primarily of municipal solid waste, mixed residue, plastic and foam packaging, and non-recyclable campus consumables.