Helen Lee, LEED GA Zero Waste Coordinator American University 1

What We Will Discuss Today What is AU’s zero waste goal? How do we get to zero? Understand by auditing Steps AU has taken to get closer to Zero Waste – Campus-wide organics collection – Review our containers, placement & collection – Improving exterior collection – Housekeeping training – What else can we divert? Next steps – “on our way to zero waste” 2

What is Zero Waste? “Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use.” Zero Waste Alliance International

AU’s Commitment 4 “The university shall strive to reach zero waste to landfill and incineration by 2020.” AU’s Zero Waste Policy:

AU’s Sustainability Commitments SITES 2 Star SITES Pilot Certified LEED Certifying 25 buildings STARS Gold rated University ACUPCC Climate Neutrality by

Background Located in Northwest Washington D.C. 86 acre campus 12,000 students (half undergrad, half grad) 3700 – on campus students 2700 staff/faculty Total Population around 15,000 No football stadium No medical complex 6

Background President Neil Kerwin signed the Zero Waste Policy in January 2010 Zero Waste Coordinator was hired 2012 – July 31, 2013, reuse, recycle compost 50% waste – December 2015, reduce solid waste by 10% and divert 90% from landfills and incineration – December 2020, reduce additional 10% and send zero waste to landfill and incineration 7

How do we get to zero? What are we throwing away? 8

Waste Audits 9

Total Waste Summary for the Library (Recycling Bins + Landfill Bins) 10

Organics Chopsticks Coffee Grounds Food Waste Napkins Paper Towels Soiled Cardboard Tea Bags Wet paper Metals Plastics Glass Mixed Paper Dry Cardboard Paperboard Recyclables Trash  Chip Bags  Candy wrappers  Styrofoam 45% = Compostable 45% Recyclable 10% Landfill AU Waste Stream

Developing a Campus-wide Organic Waste Collection Program 12

45% of our waste Organic Waste Carbon Containing Anything once living! 13

What is organic waste? – Once living? Organic! Organic vs. Compost Daily Pick-up Green Biodegradable Liners Lids 14

FAQ & Lessons Learned Will the bin smell? Will there be pest problems? Lids on containers? 15

Internal Review of Infrastructure & Collection Methods Container Design Container Placement Quantity of Containers 16

Dual Stream Separation 17 Downcycling of paper Lost quality and value of material Reduced rebates Not exact weights

Redesigning Waste Bins Color Coded bins & liners Bins need to educate and market the zero waste program Different Lids to accommodate materials Aesthetically Pleasing Meet AU graphic requirements Bins made out of recycled material Durable and Recyclable MIXED PAPER PLASTIC METAL GLASS ORGANICLANDFILL 18

Redesigned Containers 19

Trash Metal, Plastic, Glass Paper Cardboard 20

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Improving Efficiency in Exterior Collection 22

-$ Savings -Higher Rebates -Reduced Transportation Emissions -Accurate Weights -Inspect sorted materials on a daily basis 23

Training 24

Purchasing Consumer Housekeeping Hauler How does waste travel? How do we reduce contamination? Pest Control 25

Essential to Train Housekeeping 26

Waste Diversion Recycle Mixed Paper Plastic – Metals – Glass Cardboard Scrap Metal Construction Waste Vehicle Waste Electronics Batteries Reuse Clothes Electronics Furniture Books Plastic Bags Compost Food Waste Yard Waste Paper towels WASTE MATERIALCOMMODITY WITH VALUE 27

Next Steps Reuse & Reduction – improve surplus management Removal of all classroom containers with signage inside Installation of collection system outside classroom facilities to encourage participation Removal of all small desk-side bins in offices Eliminate or replace 10% with alternatives Work with manufacturers – go upstream Sustainability language in contracts

We are a very wasteful society We need to change the culture, we need to educate our future leaders Everyone has to play part, from manufacturer down to the consumer, from procurement to waste management. 29

30 Connect with us!    Twitter.com/ZeroWasteAU  Facebook.com/ZeroWasteAU  Youtube.com/ZeroWasteAU  Pintrest.com/ZeroWasteAU

Sorting inside Buildings 31

Paper Towel Composting 32

Food Waste Composting 33

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Scrap metal, Construction Waste, Yard Waste 35

Clothing Donation 36

Plastic Bag Collection 37

E-Waste Recycling 38

Other Recycling 39