Helen Lee, LEED GA
Zero Waste Coordinator
American University
www.american.edu/zerowaste
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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
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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”
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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
“The university shall strive to
reach zero waste to landfill
and incineration by 2020.”
AU’s Zero Waste Policy:
http://www.american.edu/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=2011196
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AU’s Sustainability Commitments
LEED
SITES
STARS
ACUPCC
Certifying 25
buildings
2 Star SITES
Pilot
Certified
Gold rated
University
Climate
Neutrality by
2020
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Background
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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
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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
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How do we get to zero?
What are we throwing
away?
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Waste Audits
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Total Waste Summary for the Library
(Recycling Bins + Landfill Bins)
Clothes Wood
0.01% 0.02%
Trash
12.49%
White Paper
16.29%
Tissue Paper
0.37%
Newspaper
0.91%
Other Paper
0.53%
Food Waste/
Compostable
Items
42%
Flat Cardboard
Packaging
15.69%
Glass
2.55%
Aluminum
0.97%
Plastics
14.96%
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AU Waste Stream
Organics
• Chopsticks
• Paper Towels
• Coffee Grounds • Soiled Cardboard
• Food Waste
• Tea Bags
• Napkins
• Wet paper
Recyclables
• Metals
• Plastics
• Glass
45% = Compostable
45% Recyclable
• Mixed Paper
• Dry Cardboard
• Paperboard
Trash
 Chip Bags  Candy wrappers
 Styrofoam
www.american.edu/zerowaste
10% Landfill
Developing a Campus-wide Organic
Waste Collection Program
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45% of our waste
Organic Waste
• Carbon Containing
• Anything once living!
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• What is organic
waste?
– Once living?
Organic!
• Organic vs. Compost
• Daily Pick-up
• Green
Biodegradable
Liners
• Lids
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FAQ & Lessons
Learned
• Will the bin smell?
• Will there be pest
problems?
• Lids on
containers?
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Internal Review of Infrastructure
& Collection Methods
Container Design
Container Placement
Quantity of Containers
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Dual Stream Separation
• Downcycling of
paper
• Lost quality and
value of material
• Reduced rebates
• Not exact weights
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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
ORGANIC
LANDFILL
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Redesigned Containers
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• Trash
• Metal,
Plastic, Glass
• Paper
Cardboard
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Improving
Efficiency in
Exterior
Collection
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-$ Savings
-Higher Rebates
-Reduced Transportation
Emissions
-Accurate Weights
-Inspect sorted materials
on a daily basis
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Training
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How does waste travel? How do we
reduce contamination?
Purchasing
Consumer Housekeeping
Pest Control
Hauler
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Essential to Train Housekeeping
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Waste Diversion
Recycle
• Mixed Paper
• Plastic – Metals – Glass
• Cardboard
• Scrap Metal
• Construction Waste
• Vehicle Waste
• Electronics
• Batteries
Reuse
Compost
• Clothes
• Electronics
• Furniture
• Books
• Plastic Bags
• Food Waste
• Yard Waste
• Paper towels
COMMODITY
WASTE MATERIAL
WITH VALUE
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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.
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Connect with us!
 zerowaste@american.edu
 www.american.edu/zerowaste
 Twitter.com/ZeroWasteAU
 Facebook.com/ZeroWasteAU
 Youtube.com/ZeroWasteAU
 Pintrest.com/ZeroWasteAU
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Sorting inside Buildings
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Paper Towel Composting
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Food Waste Composting
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Scrap metal, Construction Waste, Yard
Waste
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Clothing Donation
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Plastic Bag Collection
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E-Waste Recycling
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Other Recycling
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