“The Future of Office Waste & Recycling Collections”

Original air date: February 17th, 2021

Description:

Office recycling programs have existed for decades, yet many struggle to capture even half of the recoverable items in the waste stream. In recent years, however, leading universities, corporations, and government agencies have shown how modernizing outdated waste and recycling collections systems can remove structural barriers to achieving 75% or higher diversion from office settings.

This webinar features a panel of experts sharing best practice trends and case studies on topics including centralized collection arrangements, food organics recovery, employee engagement, and custodial contract language to support waste recovery. The program includes a discussion about adapting waste collections to COVID-19 conditions.

Author:

Speaker Panel

Alec Cooley

Senior Advisor, Busch Systems

Amy Marpman

Director, Sustainability at SBM Management Services, LP

Kikei Wong

Zero Waste Manager at University of California, Los Angeles

Abbey Massaro

Environmental Specialist, Center for EcoTechnology

Downloads and Resources

Panelist Q&A

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z4bn8UlUX4yOQ_DNTLY1OP6oQWspFaf0/view?usp=sharing

Webinar Master Slide Deck

CLICK HERE to view/download a PDF version of the presentation slides from all presenters used in the live webinar

General Resources From Webinar

Click here for the Center for EcoTechnology (CET)’s general tips & resources for office settings.

Click here for survey results from COVID Impacts to Colleges & Universities.

Click here for a blog with key takeaways from the COVID Impacts survey.

Click here for upcoming programs from CURC’s webinar series.

Click here for archived programs from CURC’s webinar series.

Resources Regarding Deskside Collection Bins

Click here for Keep America Beautiful’s 2015 Recycling @ Work study about deskside bin configuration fact sheet.

Click here for Keep America Beautiful’s 2015 Recycling @ Work study about deskside bin configuration full 115 page report.

Click here for a CET graphic about emptying bag liners.

Click here for a 3 point blog series about implementing small trash/self-service deskside arrangement at colleges and universities.

Click here for a Google sheet database with details of over 60 universities that have implemented some form of small trash/self-service deskside collections.

Resources for Centralized Bin Stations

Click here for a UCLA resource kit including signage, training guides, education materials, and bin standardization.

Click here for UCLA’s Zero Waste homepage & overview.

Click here for a George Washington University/KAB survey about bin color, shapes.

Click here for CET’s MassArt case study – use of shadow box signage; video & written blog.

Click here for a Google database of academic studies about designing bins & signage to influence recycling.

Click here for CET/Recycling Works free signage.

Click here for CET/Recycling Works form for conducting bin inventory.

Resources for Collection Systems/Housekeepers/Education & Engagement

Click here for a recording of a 2020 GreenEducation webinar regarding bag liners/de-bagging.

Click here for Recycling @ Work resources: defunct website accessible through Wayback Machine. This includes an archive of resources including employee engagement activity ideas.

Click here for a CET/RecyclingWorks case study of State Street food waste recovery/employee engagement.

Click here for a blog review of a recent Penn State study showing how messaging about what recyclable items get turned into can motivate people.

Resources for Food Organics

Click here for CET/RecyclingWorks – Source Separation Guidance for Food Waste.

Click here for CET/RecyclingWorks – Food Donation Guidance.

Click here for US Compost Council & KAB guide to setting up workplace composting.