Sustainability
Recycling and waste reduction program
Mission statement:
The mission of the Wofford College Recycling and Waste Reduction Program is to reduce the cost of solid waste disposal. In addition, we endeavor to increase campuswide knowledge and awareness of recycling and waste reduction initiatives. We support Facilities’ mission to economically provide and maintain a safe, comfortable and attractive environment for all members of the Terrier community through a commitment to excellence.
Recycling education and promotion
The primary goal of a campuswide recycling and waste reduction education program is to divert recyclable waste from disposal in the landfill. Our program aims to show students, faculty and staff how to reconsider their purchasing and disposal habits. With the changing economy and awareness of global concerns, we must take steps to reduce our waste and our impact on the environment.
A successful recycling program must provide insight and incentive to increase participation. In the interest of developing a successful program, recycling program contacts are needed for each department to assist with the dissemination of information. Communications will be primarily through email. A list serve will be established to link the contacts with the Recycling and Waste Reduction Manager to keep departments informed and inspired, to distribute information and help students, faculty and staff actively participate in reducing waste on campus. Recycling and conservation activities are available in which Wofford may get involved. Earth Day (www.earthday.net) and Campus Race to Zero Waste (campusracetozerowaste.org), which runs from January through April each year, are two national and international events in which Wofford participates to increase awareness of waste reduction and conservation.
Recycled materials are collected by Facilities staff. However, it takes the entire Terrier community to make recycling at Wofford successful. Before you buy something, think about your real need and what will become of the item when you are done with it. There is a finite amount of landfill space available for future generations. Let’s make better choices in what we purchase and be responsible in how we dispose of our waste. If recycling is an option, it’s a better choice. If re-use is an option, it’s the best choice.
Recycling
Recycling at Wofford focuses on three main initiatives: Cardboard, Commingled Recyclables and Compostables, but we collect and recycle many other materials as well.
Corrugated cardboard is collected daily at Burwell Building and placed in two (eight-yard) front load containers. It is picked up by Republic Services three times per week. It is also collected daily campuswide by our housekeeping staff and brought our Maintenance Facility, where it is broken down and placed in a (20-yard) open top container, which is picked up by Republic Services two to three times per month. All cardboard is then taken to Pratt Industries Recycling where it is sorted and baled. It is then sent to one of their three paper mills to be turned into 100% recycled content packaging for the community We receive a rebate for the cardboard, which helps to offset the hauling costs. Annual diversion averages 204,000 pounds.
Single Stream (Commingled) Recycling is facilitated through individual recycle bins with clear plastic bags in each building on campus, which are used to collect these materials. We also have outdoor recycle containers at various places (close to the sidewalks) around campus. The bags are collected daily by our housekeeping staff. They are brought to the Maintenance Facility where they are cut open and dumped into our open top (20-yard) Commingled Recycling container. This container is picked up by Republic Services once per month and delivered to Pratt Industries Recycling. The materials are sorted by types (No. 1 and No. 2 plastics, metal cans and mixed paper). The plastics are shredded and rid of impurities like paper. The shreds are then melted and formed into pellets, which can be made into other products. Metal cans can be melted down to make new products. In addition to becoming new cans, recycled aluminum is also used to make airplane parts, building facades and bicycles. Mixed paper is baled and sent out to the paper mills and recycled. Annual diversion averages 40,800 pounds.
Compostables: Food waste is stored in 64-gallon bins and is picked up two to three times per week at Burwell Dining Facility by Atlas Organics. All compostable materials collected are converted to compost offsite by Atlas Organics. Annual diversion averages 108,000 pounds.
Used cooking oil is collected by Filta Fry and taken to Valley Proteins. Annual diversion averages 50,960 pounds.
White office paper and other confidential or sensitive correspondence is placed in bins provided by Shred-It at various locations on Campus (we currently have 14). It is collected monthly and taken to their local facility to be shredded and recycled. Annual diversion averages 64,320 pounds.
Other “universal” recycling
Fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs, lamps and ballasts are stored at our Maintenance Facility and collected monthly, with an annual diversion average of 5,121 pounds. Batteries of all types are stored at our Maintenance Facility and collected monthly. Annual diversion averages 729 pounds.
E-Cycle (computer hard drives/monitors, calculating machines, etc) are stored at our Maintenance Facility and collected monthly. Annual diversion averages 1,483 pounds.
Toner cartridges are collected at our Milliken Science Center monthly. Annual diversion averages 266 pounds.
Used motor oil is stored at our Maintenance Facility and collected monthly. Annual diversion averages 800 pounds.
These universal materials are collected by Advanced Environmental Options (AEO), a full-service environmental company equipped with a physical/chemical and biological wastewater treatment plant, non-hazardous solidification facility and recycling center, along with seven labs. AEO is a registered hazardous/infectious waste hauler, managing daily operations including lab packing, site remediation, non-hazardous bulk and non-bulk drums and totes, as well as transportation and disposal of hazardous/infectious materials.
Other “misc” recycling
Old/used tires are taken to the landfill, where they are collected in containers and hauled off by Liberty Tire to be recycled. Annual diversion averages 2,100 pounds.
Scrap metals are collected at the Maintenance Facility and taken to a local recycling center. Annual diversion averages 18,188 pounds.
Lab packs, including paint and other potentially hazardous or flammable liquids, are also periodically collected by AEO and sent off-campus for processing as bio/blended fuels. Some are reclaimed and sent to other sites for reprocessing.
Construction and demolition debris, such as concrete and brick materials, are transported to a recycler where they are processed into aggregate for roads and other paving needs. These materials are typically hauled off under a written agreement with the general contractor.
Reuse
Wood and leaf debris is collected on campus. Once or twice a year, we have these materials double-ground into fine-grain mulch by Henson’s for reuse in ornamental beds and islands on campus. Annual diversion averages 750,000 pounds.
Landfill waste (Household/Non Hazmat) is one area that we actively seek ways to reduce. We have individual landfill bins with black plastic bags in each building on campus to collect these materials. We also have outdoor landfill containers near the recycle bins. The bags are collected daily and brought to the Maintenance Facility and placed in our 40-yard open top landfill container, which Republic Services takes to the landfill each day. We also have various smaller collection sites around campus. These eight-yard front load containers are also taken to the landfill daily by Republic Services. At least one positive aspect comes from this: the landfill waste generates methane gas, which is sold to other vendors and used by our Upstate communities as an alternate power source. Annual waste averages 973 tons.
Hazardous/Bio-Hazardous and Infectious wastes (including needles and other materials contaminated with blood or other body fluids) are collected at various sites such as Milliken Science Center, Wellness Center and Athletics facilities. These materials are picked up by AEO and taken off campus where some of the packs are sterilized with steam under pressure and properly disposed of. Others have to be incinerated. 2023’s waste was 3.5 tons.
Tree/stump removal: Usually, the contractor will take this debris to the landfill, where another service grinds them into mulch for community use.
The more we can divert from the landfill, the better. Currently, we average about 19.5 tons of diverted materials (cardboard, commingled and compostables) per month, compared with 81.1 tons of landfill waste. This equates to approximately a 19.4% diversion rate.
Comparing that to the average monthly cost for diverted materials (cardboard/commingled) of $1,078.00 and $8,816.41 for landfill waste, the cost computes to about $105.69 per ton diverted and $108.71 per ton landfill. Spending less to divert than to send to the landfill indicates cost-effectiveness. While the cost savings of diverted vs. landfill are not substantial, when factoring in the goal of becoming more sustainable in our practices, the long-term benefits outweigh.
Compostables were factored separately due to using a different vendor. We average 6.6 tons diverted at a monthly cost of $1,565.95, which computes to $237.27 per ton. When adding compostables to the diversion rate, it increases to 19.5%.
Consistency in types and labeling of collection bins for recycling makes them easier to use. Additional training for faculty, students and staff, along with a rebranding campaign, would also greatly benefit our efforts.
Current waste diversion programs
Clothing swap events: Clothing from students was collected in bins at the Greek Village organized by Wofford Panhellenic. The clothes were offered for free at the event. The aim was for the clothing to be reused instead of going into a landfill.
Northside LLC: The Northside LLC, also referred to as the “Sustainability Cohort” is a year-long Living-Learning Community dedicated to sustainability and community engagement within Spartanburg’s Northside. As a cohort of 12 students, participants live together in Milliken House at Northside Station while enrolled in a linked course each semester. The program seeks to expand the classroom by giving these 12 students the opportunity to live, learn and work in the Northside. In partnership with Northside stakeholders and community partners, students will tackle “big questions” and get first-hand, real-world experience dealing with the topics they discuss in class. Through this direct engagement, students will learn from and give back to the Northside community.
Sustainability Seminar (Anthropology 305-405): This year-long class led by Dr. Alysa Handelsman, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology, engages with the Spartanburg community in sustainability efforts via programming. Examples of programs created by the seminar include Chef’s Club, Determined Minds, Queen’s Club and STEM Club. Chef’s Club focuses on teaching children at Cleveland Elementary and Mary H. Wright Elementary how to make nutritious meals for themselves and grow their own food in a garden. Determined Minds is an afterschool program at Prince Hall and Camp Croft apartments that aims to help kids academically and outside of the classroom with activities such as learning to grow a small plant. Queen’s Club assists young girls at Cleveland Elementary and Mary H. Wright Elementary in learning about self-worth and self-empowerment. STEM Club aims to teach children about various disciplines including math, science, engineering and technology.
Sustainability Scholars: Sustainability Scholars are alumni selected to act as teaching assistants (TA) for the Sustainability Seminar. They help students in the seminar with their programs and connecting with other community mentors and partners. The program started in 2022 with Sarah Buckmaster ‘24 and has continued on with Mac Gavin ’24 and Blake Batten ’23.
Sustainability Interns: Sustainability Interns is an on-campus job for students funded by Wofford’s presidential funding. Interns strive to research ways for Wofford to be more sustainable through waste audits, collecting data about bins and bags on campus, and entering plant data for the Plants Map. The interns of 2023 were Mac Gavin ’24 and Lucy Derrick ’24.