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• July 1st - Custodial Service Changes
• "One Less Bottle" Decals Available
•  "Techno Trash" Collection Bins
• OSCAR Recycling

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• Recycling Guide
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•  C&D Waste Guidelines
• UVM Surplus Program
• Eco-Reps Program
• Greening UVM
• Dining Services Sustainability
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About Us

The UVM Recycling and Solid Waste program is part of the Physical Plant Department. Our program oversees the daily collection of solid waste, recycling and food scrap composting on campus from all University buildings and facilities. We also manage the surplus property program by collecting surplus furniture and equipment and making it available to the community. We conduct recycling education and advocacy to promote the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle philosophy among students, staff and faculty.

Our administrative office is located at 284 East Avenue, and our crew works out of a modest trailer located behind Centennial baseball field. 

What do we do?

Much of the work accomplished by the Recycling Team is somewhat routine. Each day, the team collects an average of 1.5 tons -- over 3,000 pounds-- of paper, cans and bottles. We collect materials from over 120 locations and buildings on campus, and then transport them to the Material Recovery Facility in Williston. In addition to the core task of picking up recycling each day, the Recycling Team: 

• Collects trash from the small “house-style” buildings on campus.
• Oversees the daily collection of trash and cardboard from dumpsters, done by a private contractor.
• Manages the daily pickup of food waste to be composted from all dining hall locations.
• Picks up all bulky trash items on campus, such as: appliances, scrap metal, wood pallets, scrap tires, old computers.
• Picks up and hauls surplus property for reuse to the Wheelock Surplus Barn.
• Provides special cleanout service for offices and labs.
• Sweeps and cleans up loading dock areas and areas around dumpsters.
• Manages the OSCAR (Office Supply Collection and Reuse Program).
• Handles the disposal of scrap computers, CRT’s and monitors in an environmentally-sound manner.
• Collects and ships film transparencies for recycling.
• Conducts recycling education, advocacy, communication with, and meeting with students, staff and faculty and the neighboring community.
• Conducts seasonal pick-up of telephone books for recycling.
• Handles the collection of trash and cardboard during Student Move In weekend.
• Coordinates the tremendous effort of extra trash and donated items during Student Move-Out Week.
• Ensures compliance with regulations pertaining to environment and safety.
• Maintains records about materials and waste disposed of or recycled.
• Provides recycling services for special events and functions.
• Shovels snow in the wintertime around dumpsters, loading docks and containers.
• And of course, many other duties as assigned!

How Did We Get Here? Brief History of UVM Recycling Program

Late 1980’s	The Physical Plant Custodial Department takes the lead in creating an institution-wide recycling program. VSTEP- Vermont Students Environmental Program (a student organization) helps set up a committee, conduct research and write an action plan.
1992	Residence Hall recycling program starts and trash chutes in those buildings are officially closed. A "3 bin" system is implemented in all Residence Hall areas to collect paper, mixed bottles & cans, and trash.
1994	The waste management function (responsibilities of trash hauling and disposal) of Grounds department is transferred over the newly created "Solid Waste Office" within Physical Plant.
1993-1996	The “Farm” Years: UVM operates a paper/fiber composting program in conjunction with the UVM Dairy Farm. All fiber (including lower grades of paper) are shredded, turned into “cow bedding” and then composted. After several years of operation, the cow bedding project folded: a victim of its own success.
1996	UVM starts sending commingled paper and containers to the Chittenden County Material Recycling Facility (MRF) located in Williston. A contractor is used to haul 30-yard dumpsters full of recycling to the facility.
1997	UVM Recycling/Solid Waste separates from Custodial Department to become a more autonomous work unit. Food waste from dining halls is collected by a contractor and hauled to the Intervale for composting. New recycling “cluster” bins are placed throughout academic/administrative buildings.
1998	UVM Recycling begins a successful “Student Move-Out” campaign and collects over 5 tons of clothing and food donations from Residence Halls. Starts collection of used overhead film transparencies for recycling.
1999	UVM Recycling starts Office Supply Collection And Reuse program, known as OSCAR.  We also began collecting old computers, CRT’s, and monitors for recycling in an environmentally-secure manner.
2000	UVM Recycling and Environmental Safety Facility (ESF) start a household battery collection program for campus residence halls. UVM Recycling expands food waste compost collection program to residence hall rooms by providing special bio-degradable bags to students.   A pilot program to caputure and back-haul foam polystyrene from Cook Commons area ends due to high cost, logistical obstacles and lack of market for foam.
2001	UVM Recycling purchases a new self-dumping collection truck to enable UVM to deliver its own material to the Chittenden Material Recycling Facility, thus avoiding the contractor hauling fees.  The Surplus Property program, formerly part of Purchasing Department, is transferred to Recycling/Solid Waste within Physical Plant.
2002	UVM Recycling continues to encourage Reduce-Reuse-Recycle philosophy throughout the campus community.
2004	UVM Recycling participates in RecycleMania - an intercollegiate recycling competion among residence hall students.  UVM ranks 7 out of 17 schools overall.   UVM Recycling starts the ECO-REPS program and hires students in each dorm to help promote recycling, conservation and environmental awareness in the residence halls.
2005	UVM participates in RecycleMania for a second year.
2006	The ECO-REPS program is moved to its permanent home in Residential Life Department as part of the new South Quad "GreenHouse" program.
2007	UVM Recycling is recognized as "Outstanding College/University Recycling Program of the Year" by the National Recycling Coalition.

Last modified February 26 2008 04:57 PM