Project Title: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Campus Waste Characterization Studies
Sector: Higher Education
Location: Champaign-Urbana, IL
Service: Waste Characterization Study
Background: The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) Technical Assistance Program (TAP) was contracted by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to conduct a campus-wide waste characterization study and pilot new waste stream diversions.
Additionally, TAP piloted four targeted zero waste efforts for campus: plan and execute a zero-waste football game; deploy a campus-wide nitrile glove recycling program; design and monitor on-the-go recycling bins for the main quad; and collect real-time fill data using commercially available sensors to gauge route efficiencies and recycling rates. See the link below for “Other projects with this client” to learn more about those related projects.
Approach: The two-phase project involved sampling eight buildings, including two residence halls, one academic building with laboratories, one academic building without laboratories, an administrative building, the student union, a bookstore, and a mixed-use event building. Each building was also audited for availability and location of refuse and recycling bins. Subsequently, employees and students that occupied these buildings were surveyed, to gauge knowledge of current programs, gaps in service, and overall satisfaction with the campus recycling program. With this data, TAP created both waste reduction and diversion plans for the individual buildings, as well as campus-wide recommendations.
The second phase of this project also involved a public engagement aspect funded by the University’s Student Sustainability Committee. TAP staff members worked with a pair of graduate students to design and build a sculpture made from waste materials taken from the University’s waste stream. See the link to a description of that project below under “Results.”
Results:
- Baseline Waste Stream Characterization Study (2014)
- Recycling and Waste Reduction Opportunity Assessment, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2015)
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Campus Waste Sculpture
Other projects with this client:
https://tap.istc.illinois.edu/category/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign/