Solid Waste Management is a program of the Grounds Department. The primary goal of the program is to provide environmentally sound solid waste disposal alternatives to the Cornell Campus. The program promotes reduction and reuse of materials in addition to offering a comprehensive, convenient recycling program that even includes free removal and recycling of old computers.
Currently, over 57% of the waste generated at Cornell University's Ithaca campus is diverted from the landfill. This is a 40% reduction in the amount of waste being landfilled since 1990; approximately 8000 tons of waste was landfilled in 1990 compared with 4800 tons in 2004. Of a total waste stream of around 11,300 tons, approximately 2300 tons of material was recycled in 2004 and 4150 tons of organics were composted. Recycled materials include 904 tons of office paper, 694 tons of cardboard, 410 tons of scrap metal, and 104 tons of computers and electronics. **
This is part of a trend of similar numbers that Cornell has seen over the past few years.
All offices at Cornell are supplied with a desk-side recycling bin for paper products, and bins for beverage containers and cardboard are located all over campus. Motor oil, tires, scrap metal and some types of batteries, are also recycled (yard waste, organic greenhouse waste and food scraps produced on campus are composted in separate programs). Each week, Cornell custodians collect an average of twenty-five tons of recyclable materials from more than ninety campus buildings. These materials, generated by Cornell's 28,000 faculty, and staff members and students, are placed in large bins by custodians, then the recyclables are taken directly to the county transfer station, sorted and sold to brokers, who in turn sell them to large recycling companies. All revenues are recycled back into the Solid Waste Management budget.
Beneficial Impacts of Program:
- Currently, 57% of Cornell's waste stream is recycled or composted. This means that Cornell sends 40 percent less waste to landfills than in 1990: 8,000+ tons in 1990 compared to 4,800 tons in 2004.
- A total of 2,300 tons of material was recycled in 2004 (an additional 4,150 tons was composted).
- Reuse and reduction of use of materials (for example, making double sided copies) reduces the impact of Cornell's activities on the environment, and saves money. Because waste prevention prolongs the lives of materials and products, it reduces the need to manufacture new goods or reprocess materials. By reducing the amount of raw materials that are used in manufacturing, waste prevention conserves resources such as metals, water, and petroleum, and minimizes the environmental impacts associated with mining, drilling, extracting, processing, and transporting these raw materials. Reusing or prolonging the lives of products also means that these items don't need to be purchased as frequently. Preventing waste helps extend the lives of existing solid waste disposal facilities and helps avoid disputes over siting new facilities. (Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency, Spotlight on Waste Prevention, EPA's Program to Reduce Solid Waste at the Source.)
For more information, check out the web sites in the sidebar above or contact Sal Princiotto, Acting University Solid Waste Manager at 254-1666, or email recycle@cornell.edu.
** About the data:
1. The data is for the Ithaca campus of Cornell University only.
2. Mixed office paper doesn't include weight of confidential materials shredded by outside vendors.
3. Tires are shredded for beneficial use as landfill cover.
4. Scrap metal recycling is decentralized. Reported tonnage includes Grounds and PDC only.
5. Used oil assumes 5,270 gallons at 7.3 lbs./gallon.
6. Green house waste includes plant material and potting soil.
7. Bulk trash and construction and demolition (C+D) does not include C+D waste handled by private C+D contractors.
