Holli A. E. Smith and Jason Engel, Architecture

        Future civilization depends on returning our earth to a healthy and balanced state. As the human race rapidly approaches the twenty-first century, we are slowly starting to realize the devastation that we have caused to the earth. The movement toward achieving this state relies most heavily on a cooperative population willing to follow through with some basic but critical concepts. We are beginning to implement extensive recycling programs throughout the nation to reuse valuable resources and prevent our existing landfills from being filled beyond capacity. These programs are dramatically affecting cities throughout the nation including the home of the Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.

Key Concepts

Post-Consumer Waste: The recycled content of a product that includes material used by a consumer and then recycled, rather than material recycled within a factory.

Pre-cycling: The process of planning ahead and taking action to consciously reduce the amount of materials obtained by an individual.

Recycled: Products made from material that has been used before and diverted from solid waste stream.

Recyclable: An indication that the material of a product can be recycled if it is collected, sorted, and processed for recycling.

Recycling: A method of waste disposal that involves the collection process and return valuable used resources to manufacturing of new materials and products.

Recycled Content: Composed of material which has been recycled.

Indicators, Strategies and Benefits

         The indicators (I’s in bold and underlined) measure progress towards achieving sustainable recycling systems. The strategies (S’s in bold) are recommended actions to improve each indicator. The I’s and the S’s are followed by a brief statement of societal, economic, and environmental benefits.

I.1. Reduce the amounts of food and material waste carelessly tossed into the trash by dining center employees and student diners as well as throughout the campus.
S.1.a. Educate students on the importance of recycling and the impact they can provide in the overall reduction of waste.
S.1.b. Provide easily accessible deposit sites for diners, students, staff and faculty to separate recyclable scraps and materials.
        The benefits include reduced waste in landfills, more nutrient-rich soil, substantial monetary savings to WSU, dining centers, and students.

* For further explanation of the above click on report: RECYCLING AT WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY by Holli Smith.

I.2. Reduce the amounts of recyclable material disposed of in individual trash cans and taken to landfills.
S.2.a. Educate the public on the positive effects of recycling in order to reduce the amount of trash going to our landfills.
S.2.b. Provide citizens with convenient pick-up or drop-off recycling facilities.
          The public does not realize how the amount of waste adds up. The benefits of recycling material include less waste to landfill, creating a more sustainable society and cleaner, healthier environment.

*  For further explanation of the above, click on report: RECYCLING IN THE CITY OF PULLMAN by Jason Engel.

WSU Recycling Facts (Daily Evergreen, September 23, 1997, Washington State University)

• The amount of total waste recycled is up 3 tons from last year.
• Average WSU employee on campus recycles 7 ounces of material per day.
• Employees from the Alumni Center average 3 pounds, 9 ounces of material per day.
• Occupants of the Owen Science Library average 2 pounds, 4 ounces of material per day.
• From July 1, 1996 to June 30, 1997, WSU produced 3,612 tons of waste. Although 30% was recycled, 2,420 tons still went to the landfill (most of this waste could have been recycled).
• WSU as a whole recycles one-third of its waste, the remaining 66% goes to the landfill.. The goal of WSU this year is to recycle 1,300 tons of waste.
• One ton of waste costs $144 to be taken to the landfill. It costs 25% less for WSU to recycle that same ton of materials.
• WSU saved $40,000 last year by recycling.
• WSU has the facilities, equipment, trucks, containers and staff on campus to handle all the waste, if every student and faculty member choose to recycle.

1.  Recycled Content is composed of material which has not been recycled…True or False?

2.  Recycled refers to products or their materials that have been used before and diverted from solid waste stream...True or False?

3.  Recycling is a method of waste disposal involving the collection, process and return of used materials to the manufacturing processes, which are then return to the solid waste stream…True or False?

4.  Post-Consumer Waste is the recycled content of a product including materials used by a consumer and then recycled, rather than materials recycled within a factory…True or False?

5.  Recyclable - The material of a product can be recycled if it is collected, sorted, and processed for recycling…True or False?

(Answers: 1. False, 2. True, 3. False, 4. True, & 5. True)