Scholarly record
WASTE AUDIT AND RECYCLING AT UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE HALLS
Abstract
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), a state-supported higher education institution, is located in a large metropolitan area in the central United States. In order to evaluate students’ attitude toward recycling and environmental sustainability, a waste audit along with a survey was conducted at three residence halls at UMKC in fall of 2009 as part of a term project for the “Introduction to Waste Management” class. The residence halls were audited by student teams that physically sorted all solid waste into various categories— glass, metals, organics, papers, plastics, and electronics; and all other tasks outlined in the Waste Audit Manual that was prepared to facilitate the assignment. Result of the audit showed that the waste stream in all three residence halls is dominated by paper and paper products, plastics, organics (food waste), glass, and aluminum; with minor amounts of electronics (batteries, etc.). A specially-designed survey was sent via email to 1470 residents to assess their attitude toward recycling. The survey revealed that more than 57\% students were actually involved in recycling efforts; about 38\% were willing to do so, and only 3\% did not want to participate in the recycling program. In addition, 91\% students expressed their willingness to serve on the “Green” team to coordinate recycling efforts at the residence halls. Survey results identified problems that were impediment to better recycling, and showed that more students would participate to boost the recycling efforts if some simple modifications were made to the existing recycling program. Some of which included placing more waste bins at convenient locations on each floor of the residence halls, proper communication about existence of the recycling program, and recycling awareness and education. Students also made insightful recommendations to improve recycling rate at the residence halls. The paper discusses the characteristics of the student’s population, methodology used for the waste audit, nature and quantity of the waste generated, survey instrument, and students’ perception on recycling and environmental sustainability.
Publication details
References4
Smyth, Danielle. 2008 University of North British Columbia Waste Audit Report, 13 p. Available at: http://www.unbc.ca/assets/green/wasteauditreport.pdf. Retrieved May 17,
United States Census Bureau. Ranking Tables for Metropolitan Areas: 1990 and 2000. Available at: http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t3/tab03.txt. Retrieved May 16, 2010. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Business Guide for Reducing Solid Waste; Report No. EPA/530-K-92-2004, 82 p. November 2004. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/wastes/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/red2.pdf . Retrieved May 16, 2010 University of Missouri-Kansas City. Student Profile 2009-2010. Available at: http://irapweb.umkc.edu/ir/files/pdf/Student%20Profile%202009-2010.pdf . Retrieved May 16, 2010. APPENDIX I Waste Reduction and Recycling Survey Building & Location: __________________________Date:_______________________ This survey’s purpose is to determine what goes into our trash cans and what we recycle. Please fill out this brief survey (front and back) to help us in the evaluation. Thank You! (Please check all that apply) Waste Materials What do you throw away? What do you recycle? Mixed Office Paper Paperboard (thin ‘cardboard’ ) Corrugated cardboard Newspaper Aluminum Cans Plastic Containers #1-7 Glass Food Waste Batteries (Acid/Alkaline) Toner Cartridges Pallets Of the above waste materials, circle three you throw away the most. Waste Reduction and Recycling Survey (continued)
What waste reduction ideas do you have for the residence hall? (Waste reduction means reducing waste at its source. Example: default all copies to double-sided, reusable mugs)
Which best describes your feelings about recycling at the residence hall? _____Glad to do it _____Willing to do it _____Don’t want to do it _____Won’t do it _____ Neutral Would you like to be on the Green Team? __________ If so, please print your name___________________________________________________
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.