Ecologue

Students sift through waste to aid recycling

Source: John Deuel, 541-737-2856; john.deuel@oregonstate.edu
By: Amie Hookland, 541-737-5398; amie.hookland@oregonstate.edu

Two dozen students from an Oregon State University sustainability assessment class (SUS 304) will sort through garbage from across campus on Oct. 12 as part of the second annual waste audit. Hosted by Campus Recycling and the sustainability double degree program, the audit will take place from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., in the SEC Plaza, 2251 S.W. Jefferson Way, Corvallis. The public is invited to watch the process.

The students will be divided into six teams and will sort and weigh waste from different areas of campus, including residence halls, academic buildings and dining centers. Trash and recycling will be sorted, weighed and documented, and all eligible items will then be recycled.

The audit provides a snapshot of the composition of Oregon State’s waste and recycling streams. This year’s results will be compared to the 2017 audit results, which will help Campus Recycling assess if Oregon State is recycling correctly. Campus Recycling will then determine how to modify operations and outreach to make recycling more efficient and less contaminated.

This audit will also raise awareness about how to effectively and correctly recycle on campus. The kinds of items accepted in recycling bins on campus has recently changed, meaning that some items previously accepted are no longer recyclable. These changes were instituted to meet requirements of Oregon State’s haulers and regional recycling markets. Everyone is affected by these changes, so staying up-to-date on which items are recyclable is integral to becoming a more sustainable university.

For more information, contact Recycling Program Supervisor John Deuel at john.deuel@oregonstate.edu.