December 2006 Newsletter
In this Issue:
- UF Recycling
- New Life for Shands Mattresses
- Biodiesel at UF
- College and University Waste Reduction Committee
- Respected Recycling/Solid Waste Coordinator Retires
- How Do YOU Contribute to Global Climate Change?
- Dairy Research Unit Turns Animal Waste Into Resource
- Announcements
- Sustainability Forum
UF Recycling
Reduce, Re-use, RECYCLE
The
recycling program at UF began in August 1989 under Al Krause,
the former solid waste coordinator with UF ’s Physical Plant.
It has since expanded to include programs for recycling dozens of types of waste, including chemicals, yard debris, toner cartridges, and many more, according to Physical Plant.
There are currently
eight Physical Plant employees who work with the recycling
program, according to Dale Morris, UF’s current
solid waste coordinator. UF’s campus has 132 receptacles for beverage
containers and 1257 bins for paper.
These receptacles receive at least 1800 scheduled services
per week.“The majority are emptied weekly, some are emptied multiple
times a week, and others in isolated areas are emptied every
two to four weeks, ” said Morris.
In fiscal year 2005, 36.93% of the solid waste generated at UF was recycled. With UF’s goal of becoming a zero-waste institution by 2015, improving on-campus recycling lies largely in the hands of students.
Environmental science major Ryan Graunke has been interning for the Office of Sustainability since May and is currently working on an education campaign to help educate students about the importance of recycling.
“ It’s surprising how many misconceptions students have about recycling,” said Graunke. He developed a brochure that answers basic questions about what can and cannot be recycled at UF.
According to the brochure, number one and two plastics can be recycled, along with all glass and aluminum cans. Newspaper, office paper, magazines, soft-cover books and corrugated cardboard can also be recycled on campus.
Graunke set up a table at Gators for a Sustainable Campus’ recent Sustainability festival. He displayed several recyclable and not recyclable items and asks students to sort them into their proper containers.
“ I decided to take a more hands-on approach to educating students because I think it will help them remember more, ” said Graunke.
Although his efforts are valuable, Graunke feels that UF’s recycling program cannot be successful without more student participation.
“ You can’t just go put more bins out there, you have to educate the students too, ” said Graunke.
In fact, developing higher levels of participation and promoting the use of existing collection centers is considered a main priority, according to the Physical Plant.
In the future, Graunke
says he would like to see the marriage of trash and recycling
receptacles.
“
If every trash can on campus also had a recycling bin next
to it, I think students would get the idea, ” said Graunke.
--Adrian
Erlenbach
New Life for Shands Mattresses
Hospital and local organizations team up
In support of the university's ongoing goal of reducing waste to zero
by 2015, Shands Hospital has donated over 150 mattresses to Gainesville
organizations.
The project, spearheaded by Environmental Services Director
Mike Halabi, not only relieves the hospital of having to pay
disposal fees, but also benefits the community by keeping more
trash out of landfills and providing nonprofit organizations
with a useful supply.
Recipients of the mattresses include Gainesville Habitat for Humanity, Spark, Gainesville Ministries, and the Alachua County Church Group. Shands plans on continuing this project with each change-out of mattresses at the hospital.
Biodiesel at UF
Research and operations converge
In
creating a campus that serves as a living laboratory for sustainability,
the conversion of waste vegetable oil from campus dining services
provides opportunities for education and research as well as
more sustainable fuel supplies for campus.
Dr. Ann Wilkie, of the Soil and Water Science Department, is researching "closed loop waste-to- energy systems" for the production of bio-gas and bio-fuels. To demonstrate the production cycle of biodiesel, Dr. Wilkie has built a mini unit with the help of student interns that is capable of producing 40 gallons of biodiesel per cycle. Read more.
As part of UF's alternative fuel directive, the Physical Plant Division
completed a successful pilot program for the use of biodiesel in UF fleet
vehicles. Read
more.
Following on this pilot, Doug Renk, a UF research assistant, is currently converting
nearly 500 gallons of UF restaurant waste oil to biodiesel, which then fuels
a PPD pickup truck and several lawnmowers on campus. In conjunction with Gator
Nest,
Renk and a team of students are planning an expansion of the current operation
to fuel more UF-owned vehicles.
Photo: VP Ed Poppell gets a tour from bio- energy interns James Duncan and Scott Edmundson.
--Guneeta Singh-Bhalla
College and University Waste Reduction Committee
A forum hosted by Recycle Florida Today was held in the Reitz Union on Oct. 26 during UF's inaugural Campus and Community Sustainability Conference to discuss the problems of collegiate recycling programs around the state.RFT's annual Issues Forum takes place on Jan. 11 and 12 in St. Augustine, Fla. There they will host their first Florida College & University Recycling & Waste Reduction Workshop.
Respected Recycling/Solid Waste Coordinator Retires
New coordinator will carry on legacy
Al Krause, Recycling/Solid Waste Coordinator for the University's Physical Plant Division, retires after eighteen years of service. Krause oversaw the implementation and growth of one of the most successful institutional recycling programs in the United States. Following Al's retirement, Dale Morris will take over as Recycling/Solid Waste Coordinator at Physical Plant, and the outgoing coordinator says the program is in good hands.
How Do YOU Contribute to Global Climate Change?
Check out your calculation
Ever wonder what volume of greenhouse gases you generate in a given month? Check out this individual calculator for an estimate. Calculate here...
Dairy Research Unit Turns Animal Waste Into Resource
A technological process perfected by UF scientists can convert cattle, swine, and poultry excrement into methane, which is used to heat water for the Dairy Research Unit where it is located, and carbon dioxide. This exciting feat is accomplished with an anaerobic digester that also removes most of the smell from the organic matter.
Announcements
- Powell Center Internship
- Greening the Campus conference
- Join the Sustainable UF Listserv
- UF Sustainability News
Sustainability Forum
Send us your questions about campus sustainability
Q: Is there a way to get recycling at my apartment complex?
A: Yes! Everyone should be able to recycle. First of all, talk to the office at your apartment complex. They may have recycling bins placed somewhere that you just aren't aware of. Apartment complexes are required by the City of Gainesville to provide recycling for newspaper, glass, aluminum, and plastic. If your complex does not, you can call (352) 334-2330 and leave a message with your name and contact information. The city will contact the complex and follow up to improve recycling there. Send your questions to sustainability@ufl.edu.
