Recycling within the RMC

1
Recycling within the RMC

• By Heather Griffis
• Teresa Gore
• Megan Rua

2
Problem

• Texans dump enough trash ever 2 wks to fill
  astrodome
• 19.2 mill tons of municipal solid waste currently
  in TX landfills would fill 2 lanes of I-10 from
  Beaumont to El Paso 10 ft high
• NY LA recycle 20-40 of waste, Houston recycles
  7
• Houston area generates 4.5 mill tons of solid
  waste each year 60 of it could be recycled
• Regions per capita waste production 7.09,
  national average 4.4 lbs
• Based on 2000 disposal rates, regions 21
  landfills will reach full capacity by 2013

3
Problem cont.

• Rice not keeping its promises
• Talloires signatory
• Sustainability policy
• Integrated Waste Management Services (IWMS)
  mission statement
• In 98-99, Rice recycled 15 of total waste, BUT
  44 could have been recycled

4
Solution

• RMC Recycling
• Expand recycling program in RMC
• Only bins were out of sight in the basement
• Add bins to first floor in highly visible areas
• Conduct public awareness campaign about bins
• Beer Mug Program
• Purchase reusable plastic beer mugs to sell to
  pub patrons to reduce plastic cup waste
• If patron uses mug, receives discount on beer

5
Expected Results

• Reduce waste leaving RMC by getting bins on first
  floor, increase recycling
• Sell reusable beer mugs to pub patrons, reducing
  cup waste

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Methodology

• Recycling Program
• Meeting with Frank Smith
• Meeting with Franco gained support for the
  project
• Meeting with Student Recycling Council, Student
  Association Environmental Committee,
  Environmental club to procure outside funding

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Methodology

• Meeting with Boyd Beckwith where we presented him
  with a map of existing trash can locations and
  appearance
• Gained approval to place bins on the first floor
  of the RMC

8
Methodology cont

• To alleviate worries that Mr. Smith expressed
  concerning the manpower needed to empty recycling
  bins, we gained monetary support from the CSES to
  pay clubs to pick up the recyclable as a
  fundraiser
• Final meeting with Mr. Franco, Beckwith, and Mr.
  Smith to cement bin location and size

9
Methodology cont

• Bin Placement
• Aluminum, Plastic, and Glass in front of the
  Grand Hall
• Paper in sitting area in front of Grand Hall
• Paper in Kelley Lounge

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Methodology cont

• Publicity Campaign
• Posted signs showing location and proper usage of
  bins in various locations throughout the RMC
• Sent out listserv announcements to Colleges and
  Departments announcing new bins and correct usage

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Methodology cont

• To evaluate effectiveness we weighed garbage
  leaving the RMC before we installed the bins and
  after bin installation

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Methodology cont

• Observed effectiveness of recycling by analyzing
  content as well as establishing baselines
  concerning bin capacity for resource conservation
  calculations

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Recycling Bin Use
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Methodology cont

• Beer Mug Program
• Met with Pub Manager David Meeker and Pub
  Management Committee to discuss possibility of
  adding recycling within RMC as well as
  possibility of adding a Beer Mug Program.
• TABC vetoed this idea due to concerns of underage
  consumption.
• Program terminated.

15
Methodology cont

• Recycling in other areas of the RMC
• Met with Veronica Boorum concerning recycling in
  Sammys
• Contacted Ann Chou about instituting recycling in
  the newly renovated Coffee House
• Both programs were terminated due to a lack of
  funds and time

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Results

• Measurements taken before recycling bin placement
  and after bin placement showed a slight decrease
  in waste leaving the RMC
• Average weight for each period also decreased

Averages Pre-Bin Placement 138 lbs Post-Bin
Placement 117 lbs
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Results cont

• Standard deviation for weighings done before bin
  placement was quite high at 60, while standard
  deviation for weighings done post bin placement
  was around 20
• This indicates that there may be some underlying
  factors influencing our data such as increased
  foot traffic through the RMC during the pre-bin
  placement period
• The RMC calendar does not justify this
  explanation, however, there is no data concerning
  the number of individuals which pass through the
  RMC on a daily basis

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Analysis

• 36 recycled bottles make 1 square yard of carpet
• Our bins hold 74 plastic bottles, meaning we
  could produce 2 square yards of carpet every time
  the bins fill up
• Recycling one glass container saves enough energy
  to light a 100-watt bulb for 4 hours
• Our bins hold 76 glass bottles, meaning when full
  we save enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb
  for 304 hours (12.6 days).

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Analysis cont

• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to
  run a TV for 3 hours
• Our bins hold approximately 141 cans allowing us
  to save enough energy to run a TV for 423 hours
  (17.6 days)

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Analysis cont

• Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 trees (35
  tall), 2 barrels of oil (enough fuel to run the
  average car for 1260 miles or from Dallas to Los
  Angeles), 4100 kilowatts of energy (enough power
  for the average home for 6 months), 3.2 cubic
  yards of landfill space (one family size pick-up
  truck) and 60 pounds of air pollution. (Trash to
  Cash, 1996).
• Our two paper recycling bins hold 94 pounds
  (0.047 tons). This means that for every bin we
  fill we save 1 tree (35 tall), enough fuel to
  travel 60 miles, 385 kilowatts of energy, 0.3
  cubic yards of landfill space and 6 pounds of air
  pollution

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Analysis cont

• We learned the importance of communication and
  persistence
• Future Recommendations
• Use Biodegradable trash bags
• Update recycling website
• Conduct larger campus wide publicity campaign
  concerning recycling
• Have a future group evaluate long term
  effectiveness of recycling in the RMC

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Figure 2a) Heather removing the garbage from the
dumpster.b) Megan weighing the garbage and
recording the measurement.
A
B