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Recycling – Behind the Scenes: Compost

May 23rd, 2013

Accepted Food WasteWhat is accepted:

Collection Route:

  • All food waste (including animal products)
  • Coffee filters & tea bags
  • Fibers (napkins, paper towels, pizza boxes, etc)
  • Compostable serving ware (labeled as such)

Worm Bins:

  • Non-animal food waste (no meat/dairy/eggs)
  • Coffee filters & tea bags
  • Napkins & paper towels

3-Bin Systems:

  • Non-animal food waste (no meat/dairy)
  • Coffee filters & tea bags
  • Fibers (napkins, paper towels, pizza boxes, etc)
  • Paper compostable serving ware (labeled as such, no compostable plastics)

 

How it is processed:

Compost is collected by Campus Recycling from all dining centers, and most coffee shops and restaurants on campus.  Some departments on campus collect compost in their break rooms as well.

Republic Services of Corvallis picks up the compost from the recycling warehouse and transports it to the Pacific Region Compost Facility (PRC), just north of town.  Commercial loads of compost (such as those from OSU) and residential loads are processed separately.

First, the organic material from OSU is shredded in a grinding machine. Next, the shredded material is transferred to a conveyor belt where pickers remove non-organic material such as plastic.

Click to view larger.

Organic material is shredded and any contamination is removed. Click to view larger.

Then, the organic material is put into piles and mixed with wood chips in order to get the ideal proportions of high and low nitrogen materials. While the material is decomposing, aeration tubes suck air through the piles.

Piles of compost are placed over aeration tubes. Click to view larger.

Piles of compost are placed over aeration tubes. Click to view larger.

After the material is cured, it is sorted into different grades using machinery with conveyor belts and blowers. Any material that hasn’t been decomposed at this point goes back into the piles. The resulting compost is sold to nurseries (for resale), farms, and individuals.

Learn more about the PRC by watching this informational video.

 

Any materials collected at the Student Sustainability Center, ALS 3-Bin System, and in department worm bins are used by the people and/or organizations that maintain them.

Recycled product:

  • Finished compost
compost-behind the scenes

Click to view larger.

 

Learn more about how to recycle this material from our Tip of the Week on Compost.

This post is part of our “Behind the Scenes” blog series, which details what happens to OSU’s recycling after you place it in a recycle bin. Tune in every week to learn more.

Recycling – Question of the Week: DIY Demonstrations

May 22nd, 2013

reusable bottleTime for our Question of the Week!

The first person to to answer correctly will win an OSU reusable water bottle like this one!

Submit your answer here (“Leave a Reply,” below) or on our Facebook page. Only one guess per person, please.

Question of the Week:

The May Repair Fair will host three DIY Demonstrations. What and when are they (please include the start and end time, and at least the title)?

Answer

5:45-6:05 DIY Safe Pest Control: Ants & Fruit Flies – Learn how to minimize ants and fruit flies in your home, using natural, homemade methods, and take samples home with you to get started. (Leaders: Lindsey Almarode, Campus Recycling Outreach Assistant and Jodie Davaz, Waste Watchers volunteer)

Waste Watcher Annie Kersting provides sewing help during her presentation.

Waste Watcher Annie Kersting provides useful tips in her demonstration, “3 Common Sewing Fixes” at the April Repair Fair. Click to view larger.

6:15-6:45 Basic Bike Maintenance – Learn basic maintenance and repairs like fixing a flat tire and chain upkeep. Learn when you should take your bike to a professional, and learn what bike repair resources are available to you locally. (Leader: Jacob Kollen, SSI Transportation Projects Coordinator)

7:00-7:20 Don’t Just Spring Clean, Green Clean - Whether you’re moving out of the dorms, ending a lease, or just looking for a little spring cleaning, learn how a few basic, food-safe ingredients can clean your whole home. Leave with a sample of all-purpose cleaner so you’re set to get started. (Leaders: Kyle Reed, Campus Recycling Outreach Assistant and Amanda Abbott, Waste Watchers volunteer)

The May Repair Fair is on Wednesday, May 29 at 5:30-7:30 pm. Learn more in our other blog post.

Waste Watchers Spotlight: Lindsey Almarode

May 20th, 2013

LindseyName: Lindsey Almarode

Title: Outreach Assistant & “Recycling Fairy”

Major: Environmental Science

Year: Senior

When did you start working on waste reduction and recycling at OSU?

I started volunteering with the Student Sustainability Initiative as a freshman; I attended several recycled craft events and managed my floor’s compost in my residence hall. During my sophomore year, I worked as the SSI Landscape Coordinator, maintaining the garden and compost systems at the center.  In December of 2011, I was hired as the Outreach Assistant at Campus Recycling.

What has been your favorite project or event that the Waste Watchers have been involved in?

The Repair Fairs are some of my favorite recurring events.  They not only reduce waste, but help people learn repair skills and build community in the process.

What are the main ways you reduce waste at home or at school?

One of the main ways I reduce waste is by not creating it in the first place.  I shop almost exclusively in the bulk and produce sections of the grocery store in order to minimize packaging waste. I also try to buy things used whenever possible. At home, I reuse, recycle, and compost as much as I can.

What would you like to see the Waste Watchers do in the future?

I’d like to see the Waste Watchers put on more collaborative events that involve students who might not normally participate in our regular events.  These events might involve working with student groups, Greek Life, or the cultural centers.

If you could change one thing at OSU that relates to waste reduction, what would it be?

I’d like to see OSU as an institution work to reduce waste more actively.  In other words, I’d like to see sustainability and more specifically waste reduction be a guiding principle for each department on campus.

 

To learn more about the Waste Watchers, visit: http://recycle.oregonstate.edu/volunteer

Surplus – May Dot Sale on the 22nd

May 20th, 2013

Dot Sale graphic

Come to the OSUsed Store on Wednesday, May 22nd between 12:00 and 3:00 p.m, where all dotted merchandise will be 75% off, and white tag items (housewares) will all be 50% off!

The OSUsed Store is located at 644 SW 13th Street in Corvallis (view on Google Maps). We will have many items for personal or departmental use – computers and computer accessories, furniture (desks, file cabinets, tables, chairs, bookcases, etc), office supplies, sporting goods, household items, bicycles and much more.

Our public sales provide an opportunity for the general public to make personal purchases. Departments are welcome to shop 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, or during public sales on Wednesdays. Sale price is only good during the public sale time listed above.

See our other sale dates on our calendar. For more information, visit our public sale page or contact us.

Recycling/Surplus – Repair Fair Wed. May 29: Free repairs and demonstrations

May 16th, 2013

Come to the Recycling Warehouse at 644 SW 13th Street on Wednesday, May 29th between the hours of 5:30 and 7:30 pm for our last Repair Fair of the year!

Bring your broken items and questions; volunteers will help you learn how to repair your things.

Save money, save natural resources and be part of a DIY and reuse culture. Free and open to all.

Clothing repair station

Volunteer Randi Ponce helps at the clothing repair station. Click to view larger.

Repair skills offered:

  • Appliances (small items only, please)
  • Bicycles
  • Clothing (hand and machine sewing)
  • Computers (hardware and software)
  • Electronics (small items only, please)
  • Housewares (furniture, lamps, ceramics, vacuums, etc.)
  • Jewelry
  • And more!

 

Repair demonstrations:

5:45-6:05 DIY Safe Pest Control: Ants & Fruit Flies – Learn how to minimize ants and fruit flies in your home, using natural, homemade methods, and take samples home with you to get started. (Leaders: Lindsey Almarode, Campus Recycling Outreach Assistant and Jodie Davaz, Waste Watchers volunteer)

Bike workshop

Volunteer Kevin Grant leads a bike maintenance workshop at the April Repair Fair. Click to view larger.

6:15-6:45 Basic Bike Maintenance – Learn basic maintenance and repairs like fixing a flat tire and chain upkeep. Learn when you should take your bike to a professional, and learn what bike repair resources are available to you locally. (Leader: Jacob Kollen, SSI Transportation Projects Coordinator)

7:00-7:20 Don’t Just Spring Clean, Green Clean - Whether you’re moving out of the dorms, ending a lease, or just looking for a little spring cleaning, learn how a few basic, food-safe ingredients can clean your whole home. Leave with a sample of all-purpose cleaner so you’re set to get started. (Leaders: Kyle Reed, Campus Recycling Outreach Assistant and Amanda Abbott, Waste Watchers volunteer)

Additional event details:

Facebook event

We don’t have spare parts, but will do our best to repair what we can and/or refer you to where you could find the parts you need. If you have parts already, we may be able to help you install them.

RSVP and invite your friends on Facebook.

Map of location and parking

Map of location and parking. Click to view larger.

Directions: We are located on the corner of 13th St and A Ave at 644 SW 13th Street. Enter through the warehouse gates on 13th St., between the railroad tracks and A Ave. Also see the map to the right.

This event is organized by the student group Waste Watchers, a joint group of Campus Recycling and the Student Sustainability Initiative. Repair Fairs occurred twice per term during the 2012-13 academic year, and this is the final one of the year. For more information, contact Andrea Norris via email or at 541-737-5398.

Video

Want to see what a Repair Fair is all about? View this video clip recap from a past fair:


YouTube Direct

Recycling – Question of the Week: Repair Fair video

May 15th, 2013

reusable mugTime for our Question of the Week!

The first person to to answer correctly will win an OSU stainless steel mug like this one!

Submit your answer here (“Leave a Reply,” below) or on our Facebook page. Only one guess per person, please.

Question of the Week:

Our recently posted Repair Fair video clip (below) gives an overview of what this twice-per-term event is all about. What are the first and last names of the three people in the video who had items fixed at the fair?


YouTube Direct

Answer

Nicole Elliott, Alex Pederson and Uli Bartels. Watch the clip above to see what they had repaired.

Recycling – Now hiring for a Student Design Assistant!

May 14th, 2013

Download the position description

Campus Recycling is now hiring for a Student Design Assistant to join our outreach team, to design and implement print and digital media.

Job Description

Job duties include:

Graphic design (constitutes 60% or more of work hours):

  • Designing, ordering and distributing print and digital media such as posters, fliers, recycle bin signs, newspaper ads, and graphics for digital use (website, blog, social media, TV slides, etc.)
  • Using OSU brand identity guidelines and/or templates to create media
  • Taking photos and/or recording video for marketing pieces or to capture events and activities

Other marketing:

  • Assisting in the development of marketing plans
  • Occasionally creating written content (blog posts, website information, event descriptions, etc.)
  • Occasionally staffing booths at events, providing event support, contributing to event planning, participating in volunteer meetings or assisting with other waste reduction outreach as needed

The successful applicant will start work by the start of fall term 2013 (Sept. 30), or can start in summer if available (any time on or after June 18).

The position is for 10-16 hours/week, at a starting wage of $9.50/hour. Applications are due Tuesday, May 28.

For a list of qualifications and application instructions, please download the full hiring announcement here (PDF).

Recycling – Behind the Scenes: Film Plastic

May 14th, 2013

What is accepted:

Clean film plastic free of contamination (food, dirt, paint, etc.) including:

Accepted Film Plastic

  • Cereal box liners
  • Grocery/bread/produce bags
  • Electronics wrap
  • Plastic shipping envelopes
  • Retail bags (strings removed)
  • Shrink wrap
  • Tyvek
  • Ziplock type bags
  • Other bags labeled #2 or #4

How it is processed:

Film plastic is picked up from departments by Campus Recycling on an as-needed basis. We send the film plastic, most of which is stretch wrap, to Garten Services.  At another facility, the different types of film plastic are hand-sorted with other like films. It is exported to China to be made back into plastic film, sheeting, toys, furniture, and sometimes car parts.

Recycled products:

  • Plastic film and sheeting
  • Toys
  • Furniture
  • Automotive parts
film-plastic-behind the scenes

Click to view larger.

Learn more about how to recycle this material from our Tip of the Week on special recyclables.

This post is part of our “Behind the Scenes” blog series, which details what happens to OSU’s recycling after you place it in a recycle bin. Tune in every week to learn more.

Recycling – Waste Watchers Spotlight: Kyle Reed

May 13th, 2013

Name: Kyle Reed

Title: Reedcycler

Major: Biology (with an option in Marine)

Year: 1st Year

When did you start volunteering with the Waste Watchers?

I began volunteering with the Waste Watchers almost immediately upon arriving at OSU during this last Fall term.

What has been your favorite project or event that the Waste Watchers have been involved in?

All of the projects have been immensely fun, although I particularly enjoyed creating Jellyfish sculptures out of recycled plastic. I love being able to express good principles and ideas through unconventional or creative means.

What are the main ways you reduce waste at home or at school?

As a general rule, I try to avoid having anything that might produce waste to begin with. What does have a by-product is most-often recyclable or compostable, so as to minimize what trash I might have.

What would you like to see the Waste Watchers do in the future?

I would love to see us continue to reach out to the community, making even stronger connections and maybe even participating in events that might not directly seem related to waste reduction, just to demonstrate the wide variety of fields, areas, and topics that waste reduction affects in some manner.

If you could change one thing at OSU that relates to waste reduction, what would it be?

Given the resources, as well as an understanding and amiability on the students’ part, I would enact a campus-wide composting program that would strive to eliminate food waste and other biodegradable substances. I simply feel dreadful watching things waste away.

Recycling – What are the Repair Fairs? Watch the video and save the date for May 29!

May 10th, 2013

Have you heard about the Repair Fairs? If not, be sure to watch our video which gives an inside look:

The video was filmed by Waste Watcher Jodie Davaz at the February Repair Fair.

Be sure to mark your calendars, for we will be holding our last Repair Fair of the year on Wednesday, May 29 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.. Learn more at the calendar and Facebook pages. We hope to see you there!