Garrand Building Waste Audit
2.21.07
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Non-Recyclable Trash
Recyclable Under Current Program
Compostable Materials
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Trash
Paper
Non-Recyclable Waste= products for which no recycling exists: Styrofoam coffee cups, Styrofoam
and plastic take out food containers, non-paper food packaging
Recyclable Under Current Program= All materials currently recycled: paper, cardboard, plastic
bottles, yogurt containers, glass bottles, milk and juice cartons, aluminum and tin cans
Compostable Materials= Paper plates, paper and waxed coffee cups, napkins and paper towels
Trash: The Garrand Building’s trash bags (both desk side and kitchen) contained an overwhelming amount of
recyclable material (50%) and an equally large amount of compostable material (43%).
The majority of the trash was composed of recyclable paper. This includes computer paper, junk mail, books,
information pamphlets, cardboard mailers, cardboard food packaging, etc.
The next largest component of trash was compostable materials. This includes paper and waxed coffee cups, paper
plates, towels and napkins, food waste and coffee grounds.
Proposed Plans:
1. There is a reason for a large amount of recyclable paper in the trash bins, and perhaps a solution for improving
the recycling rate of Garrand. Are there simply not enough paper bins? Are they poorly labeled or located in
inconvenient areas?
Due to the overwhelming amount of paper found in the garbage, I propose to research the building and implement a
plan to improve the recycling rate.
2. Set up a food waste and paper composting collection bin in the building. This would include a composting bin in
the kitchen to begin, an Eco Representative to explain the benefits and logistics of the project, in addition to willing
and able employees in the building. Composting requires zero contamination, and the Eco Rep would be in charge
of monitoring the bin, as well as emptying it in the Clean Green collection bin behind the new Fine Arts building.
Paper Recycling: As the graph shows, the paper recycling bins were composed of paper (95%). This is excellent,
and yet confusing.
As the trash graph indicates, half of the waste was composed of paper and other recyclable materials. This means
that although there is a paper recycling bin in Garrand, which is frequently used, desk side trash bins are continually
filled with recyclable paper.