Waste Minimization
The choices we make as individuals are important. The most important step in recycling is thinking about the products we are using & minimizing what we use. Work toward the reduction of waste. Before you purchase a product, ask yourself:
- Do I need it? If so, how much of it do I need?
- Is there an alternative product I could use?
- Are the materials I am using recyclable or made from recycled materials?
- Do I know what is recyclable vs. what is waste?
- If I spend the time recycling, what happens to all the materials?
Make sure to utilize recycling stations in halls and common areas. There are paper containers & comingled containers.
Western's Waste Program Mission
- Practice waste reduction & implement a recycling program
- Promote active participation from staff & students
- Provide leadership on sustainable purchasing
- Focus on alternative ways to re-use materials we purchase
Purchasing
The TC Café offers $0.57 refills on 12 and 16 ounce drinks if you bring your own mug or cup.
The TC Café offers reusable cups for water, ceramic plates, and silverware.
RecycleMania
Western Ranks First in the State for the Second year in a row!
View Results
RecycleMania is a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities.
Over a 10-week period, schools report recycling and trash data which are then ranked according to who collects:
- The largest amount of recyclables per capita
- The largest amount of total recyclables
- The least amount of trash per capita
- or have the highest recycling rate.
Ways to participate on Campus
- Use a reusable water bottle or thermos instead of disposables
- Use real plates, cups, and utensils in the TC Café
- Bring your own bag or tote to the café or Campus Shop
- Print only print what you really need on school computers, and print double-sided
- Use the back side of used papers as scratch paper
- Only purchase food you will eat and minimize left-overs going to the trash
E-Waste
As of September 1, 2010, a state-wide ban was put into effect which prohibits electronics from being disposed of at landfills and incinerators. Because of this new ban, Harter's Quick Clean-Up is no longer able to pickup electronics.
Eco-Clamshell Program
For more information see the handbook created by Eckerd College, the original founders of the project.
Eckerd College Eco-Clamshell Handbook (pdf)
- Simply ask for one at the Union Market
- Use your Eco-Clamshell at the Union Market
- Return your used, rinsed Eco-Clamshell to the dishwashing area in the Union Market
- Then do it all over again!
At a Glance
Western recycles:
- plastics 1 & 2
- paper
- aluminum
- tin
- steel
- glass
- batteries
Paper & Cardboard
DO place in bin:
- Office Paper - white, colored, shiny, etc.
- Cardboard
- Card Stock (cereal boxes, soda boxes, etc.)
- Brown Paper Tape
- Corrugated Paper Cartons
- Envelopes (window, manila, labeled)
- Magazines
- Newspaper
- Phone Books
- Post-It Notes
- Soft/Hardcover Books
Comingled
Comingled items are plastics 1 & 2 , aluminum , tin , steel , glass
How do I prepare plastics?
- REMOVE PLASTIC CAPS. Remove them and put them in the Cap-It-Forward container. Plastic caps are a different plastic.
- RINSE.
- CRUSH. Crushing plastic containers, such as milk jugs, will create more space in your recycling station.
Plastics Recycling
Recycling a single plastic bottle can conserve enough energy to light a 60 watt light bulb for up to 6 hours.
Plastic bottles take hundreds of years to decompose.
Recycled bottles help make hundreds of everyday products like fleece jackets, carpeting, lumber for outdoor decking, kayaks, even yo-yos.
The oil that is used to produce plastic water bottles in America is enough to fuel about 100,000 cars for a year.
