ASU plans to dramatically reduce waste by 2015
Nov 11, 2014, 1:36 PM | Updated: 1:36 pm
With tens of thousands of students and faculty stepping foot on Arizona State University every day, a well-organized trash removal system is a must.
However, university officials plan to be on the forefront with how the large campus reduces its amount of waste.
The East Valley Tribune reports ASU’s sustainability office partnered with Waste Management Inc. last year and issued a proposal to transform the university into a zero-waste campus by 2015.
ASU’s Sustainability Operations Officer, Ray T. Jensen defines zero waste as a, “90 percent reduction in waste to area landfills from our current business-as-usual status.” For a community of 85,000 people, this means creating less than 800 tons of waste per year.
The proposal also calls for climate neutrality, zero water waste, principal practices like green housing and offices and active engagement by 60 percent of people on campus.
ASU Director of University Sustainability Practices Nick Brown told the East Valley Tribune that the school plans to educate the community about avoiding wasteful products in the first place and preventing waste through recycling, composting and repurposing.
The school held its first zero-waste event during the Clinton Global Initiatives conference on the Tempe campus in April.
Corey Hawkey, an expert in sustainability operations and manager of the zero waste initiative, said 99 percent of waste was diverted on the first day of the conference and 95 percent was diverted on the second day.
ASU currently has dozens of blue bins for recycling and black or silver bins for waste. A green receptacle is expected to be introduced over the next few months that will take compostable items and organic food materials.
“Moving forward, we will work to incorporate zero waste into every aspect of the university from purchasing, custodial, building managers, to students, faculty, staff and guests,” Hawkey told the East Valley Tribune. “Zero waste is going to require cooperation across campus, a new and open way of thinking and an informed and engaged campus community.”
