Date post: | 03-Jan-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | tiffany-leda |
View: | 22 times |
Download: | 2 times |
Recycling - towards zero waste
Russell W EnglefieldLincoln University
Canterbury, New Zealand
Why? Part of Lincoln University’s Environmental Policy
There is growing support for: reducing our waste into landfills, etc.
eliminating the harmful results of waste
improving our environment for the future
working towards environmental sustainability
Today’s students are more protective of our environment
You can save valuable resources
Save money - or break even
Disposal costs in future are likely to skyrocket upwards - currently $95/tonne to remove to landfill
Outcomes Sought
Minimise pollution from waste
Reduce the waste to landfills to zero
Lower the waste stream by: removing reusable materials increasing the efficient use of resources purchasing “smart” - reusable - recyclable - less waste
producing
Any system implemented had to be near cost neutral
Gain the support and enthusiasm of staff and students
Before you start - you need to know the facts!
Which materials can be recycled? What constitutes our waste stream?
Where does it originate from?
What quantity is involved?
Can we avoid producing any waste product?
What existing records do you have?
How are you to gather this information?
What constitutes our waste stream?
Identify and schedule the sources
The frequency of picking up
Are there common groups of recoverable materials
Houses - Halls of Residence
Academic buildings - Cafeterias - Kitchens
Grounds bins - Commercial - Industrial, and Retailing
Continued...
What Materials are Recyclable? Find out from your Local Authority (Recycle
Materials Foundation)
They find takers of recycled materials
Act as a “clearing house” for bulk recoveries
Have high specification of NON CONTAMINATION
Their advice: start simple - build up!!
Recyclable Materials Accepted Standard Paper:
– Newspaper – Hi grade – Mixed grade
95% 98%
Any paper product Cardboard – corrugated 100% Cans:
– Aluminium – Steel
99% 99%
Plastics: – PET “1” – HDPE “2”
100% 100%
Glass: – Clear – Brown – Green – Blue
100% 98% 98%
0 Metals:
– Ferrous – Non-ferrous
100% 100%
Used Oil – only undiluted oil accepted 100% Food Scraps – mixed Pork – nil Batteries All Printer Cartridges Refillable type only
What constitutes our waste stream contd... The assessments were made by:
Hands on, separating the items
Estimating the volumes
Weighing random samples
Recording the data
Combining the information
Get information from your disposal company - past years disposal records.
Continued...
What constitutes our waste stream contd...
DON’T Try to assess every waste source Create too many waste types
DO Use typical sources for the group Concentrate on items able to be recycled Take rounded values Realise samples differ daily
Lincoln University’s Annual Waste Totals Waste contractor reports: 1999 - 242 tonnes
2000 - 239 tonnes
NOTE: Only waste to landfills, does not include grounds, building,hazardous wastes or oils
Campus Refuse to LandfillAccumulative Monthly Totals
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
MONTHS (Actual to December 2000)
To
nn
es 1999
2000
The Waste Stream (from samples assessed)
Source Food Glass Paper Cardboard Plastic Cans Other
Academic 7.7 1.0 27.1 19.4 0.5 0.5 18.4
Commercial 6.2 1.5 4.1 4.2 2.6 0.5 17.8
Café/ Kitchens 21.5 4.4 3.5 3.5 0.6 2.0 26.1
Halls 12.1 7.3 4.3 5.2 1.8 2.9 16.4
Houses/ Flats 5.6 2.4 2.0 2.4 0.5 0.5 3.3
Industrial - - - - - - -
Garden/ Grounds - - - - - - -
Est. Tonnage 53.3 16.6 41.3 34.8 6.0 6.4 82.0
Target areas = 87 tonnes
“Other” includes contaminated food containers and used teaching and research specimens
Resources Available
Supervisor (Custodian) responsible for waste disposal
1.0 FTE Refuse Collector
1 flatdeck ute - with rear lift platform
Student volunteers (variable)
Contractors’ Proposals Scheduled our information Indicated our goals Sought responses and costings
Only two responses received. They were: Rather vague Relied heavily on offering existing services based on
hire rates Not innovative Charges would have significantly increased disposal
costs Rates for materials recovered were vague
Negotiating a Partnership Based on win/win partnership
We have the best knowledge of: the campus layout access and pickup routes what is acceptable operation what resources we can regularly contribute
Your contractor usually has access to a large range of recovery vehicles
Get together to work out a solution
Avoid the use of expensive specialised transport
Go for simple, low cost recovery methods
Your choice will reflect in the cost
Students are often interested in helping
Rates for materials - selected $nil
Our Solution Kerbside collection of mixed recyclables
Sources identified: houses, flats, Halls of Residence
Goal: 0.5 Tonnes/week
Solution: Partnership with Waste Management Ltd Contractor supplies 35 litre crate to houses and flats for free Contractor supplies Halls with wheelie bins for free University does the marketing Contractor collects every Tuesday at 7.30 a.m. Collected from: 86 houses, 27 flats, 15 Halls (500 beds)
Achievement: 400-500 kg materials/week
Paper Recovery Sources identified: Academic area
Option selected: All, mixed grades
Goal: 0.5 Tonnes/week
Solution: Partnership with Intershred Ltd University supplied A4 box to every room on campus Contractor supplied 100 bright yellow wheelie bins Located on every floor in all buildings Room occupier empties paper to collector bin When full, secretary issues Job Card Fresh bin delivered, full one to store (free service) Advise contractor when 30 bins are full Contractor removes bins and replaces with empty ones
Achievement: 1.0+ Tonnes/week
NOTE: Library books will be added and students will assist by cuttingout the security tape in the spine.
Cardboard Recovery
Sources identified: Academic area and Commercial/Retail
Selection: Corrugated cardboard only
Goal: 0.5 Tonnes/week
Solution: University supply bright yellow wooden crates Located near the main circulation on ground floor Staff deposit cardboard into these Refuse Collector monitors daily on round Uplifts cardboard to bulk store Contractor collects weekly with kerbside operation
Achievement: Service just begun - no results to date
24 Hour Multi-bin Sources identified: Staff, day students, special waste generated Options Selected:
Newspaper Plastics - types 1 and 2 Glass - 3 types Cans - aluminium and steel
Goals: No defined goal To encourage recycling - open to all students and staff
Solution: Bin has 8 separate disposal ports Each port drops directly into a wheelie bin Is accessible 24 hours 7 days a week Has two accessory bins for non-recyclable goods:
• Plastics• Glass
Emptied weekly in conjunction with kerbside collection Very popular with non-residential staff and students
Other Materials RecycledOther materials being recycled on campus are: Aluminium cans - bins throughout campus Oils - from the Engineering section Trade waste - Property Maintenance group
ferrous metal non-ferrous metal old paint tins window glass
Grounds waste: woody material chipped for mulch leaves composted composting of green waste investigated - next years initiative
Removal: By special negotiation with contract recyclers Batteries – all types
Recycling - what does it cost?
1 Kerbside Collection – weekly $Houses & Flats – 35 litre crate: 86 @ 50¢ 43.00Halls of Residence – wheelie bin: 16 @ $3.00 48.00Multi-bin – wheelie bin: 8 @ $3.00 24.00
Weekly charge (to empty) $115.00
2 RecoveriesSale of materials NILLower landfill costs @ $97/ tonne, ie. 500 kg $48.00
Recycling - what does it cost?3 Paper $
Setting up: 250 A4 cardboard boxes @ 85¢ 100 yellow wheelie bins 10 x 500 litre crates for cardboard
212.00 Free
460.00$672.00
Operating Collection from Academic areas:
Average $3.00 each Per week: 10 bins @ 100 kg 30.00
Uplifting by contractor and return Free
4 Recoveries Sale of materials Lower landfill costs (1 tonne)
Nil97.00
Lincoln University Refuse Waste 1999-2002
Campus Refuse to CompactorTotal Tonnage per month
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
MONTHS (Actual to February 2002)
To
nn
es
1999
2000
2001
2002
Lincoln University Refuse Waste 1999-2002
Reduction to Landfill: 35 Tonnes Period: 7 months
Annual Projection: 84 Tonnes
Campus Refuse to CompactorAccumulative Monthly Totals
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
MONTHS (Actual to February 2002)
To
nn
es
1999
2000
2001
2002
Cost vs Savings
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
Jun-01
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun-02
Do
llars
$N
Z
Landfill ($150/Tonne) Operating Cost ($145/week)
Landfill cost savings ($97/Tonne)
Year 1 Saving: $1,881
Year 2 Saving: $3,948 and ongoing
Conclusions Kerbside Recycling (Mixed)
Goal: 500 kg per week Achieving: 26 Tonnes p.a.
Paper Recovery Goal: 1 Tonne per week Achieving: 52 Tonnes p.a.
Cardboard Goal: 500 kg per week Achieving: 26 Tonnes p.a.
TOTAL RECYCLED: 104 Tonnes p.a.
Taking our goal of 84 Tonnes of recyclables:- Year 1 - will break even Year 2
• New goal of 120 Tonnes• Savings around $10,000 p.a.
Where to next? Increase the recovery - no cost
Evaluate the small waste suppliers Discuss their needs - find a simple solution Can they combine with others?
The next big issues - food and other Food and food wrappers - possible worm farm Other - mainly items there is no market for? Composting of green waste
Adding value 10¢/kg to top grade print quality paper Students could sort “as and when” available
Reducing the waste “purchased”!! Reducing the demand for paper Setting copiers to “double-sided” by default Purchasing reusable rather than disposable
Marketing - “nothing succeeds like success” Selling your proposal
Success depends on others participating They must know:
• What it’s about• What is to be gained• How it is to happen
Seek advice from your Recycling Foundation and partner contractor
Make use of information sheets If it’s not easy to do - it won’t happen for long
Feedback Publicise the results achieved Keep the interest alive Seek ideas for improving the system
To summarise... Why do you want to recycle materials?
What do you hope to achieve?
You must know the facts of your waste stream: Where does it come from? What does it consist of? Don’t try to assess every waste source - select
Target the big suppliers of particular materials
Establish what market there is for your materials
Decide on what resources you have to assist
Contractor, partnership, or do your own thingContinued...
To summarise contd...
Your solution - keep it simple
Set your targets and goals - not too high!
Cost your solution
Marketing: Publicise your proposal and outcomes Provide feedback of results
Plan the extension into small recoverables once established
Every Tonne recycled is one less to landfills
Kerbside bins
Halls of Residence recycling
Recycling Depot
Inside multibin
Paper recycling bin