Recycling Initiatives
Andrew Henry
Recycling Superintendent, Physical Facilities Operations Center
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Waste Minimization Plan
Fully Co-Mingled/Single-Stream Approach

A fully co-mingled approach to recycling
The all in one approach simplifies collection/boosts
participation.
Improving Infrastructure

Broader Recycling Coverage
Grants through the Alcoa Foundation have supplied an
additional 165 recycling bins.

The creation of a
campus drop-off
area for recyclables
Engage the Community

Campus Events.

Brand Awareness

Education
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Individual Material
Tonnage by Year
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RecycleMania and
the Alcoa Bin
Grant Program
The University of Akron joined the RecycleMania competition in 2011.
Each year, members of UA’s Recycling Department, a division of Physical
Facilities, eagerly anticipates the start of RecycleMania and the chance to
compete against several hundred other universities across the
country and neighboring Canada.
The Alcoa Foundation Recycling Bin
Grant Program is an effort to help
schools boost their recycling results
during the eight-week RecycleMania Tournament, and
expand their recycling efforts throughout the year.
RecycleMania is a friendly competition that aims to
promote recycling and raise awareness about waste
reduction programs on college campuses.
2013 is the second consecutive year that The University
of Akron has been awarded recycling bins through
Alcoa’s Grant Program. In 2012, UA received 90 recycling bins, valued at nearly $11,000,
from the Alcoa Foundation and its partners. Physical Facilities reports that the awarded
bins have captured in excess of 6 tons since their arrival.
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OneShirt Challenge
National Collegiate
Clothing Drive
In collaboration with the national organization
SustainU, the University of Akron helps to collect clothing,
and other textiles, as part of the week-long OneShirt
National Clothing Challenge.
Over a hundred colleges and universities
compete annually for the title Big Shirt on Campus and
national bragging rights. The school that works with its
community to collect the most clothing during the week of
the challenge is declared the winner.
At the University of Akron, unknowing participants
are rewarded with merchandise, and other
valuable prizes, each day of the challenge for being
caught ‘Green Handed’. Rewards have included
such items as new apparel, school supplies, and
CamelBak reusable water bottles.
In 2013, the University of Akron placed third for
overall poundage collected.
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Car Seat and Helmet
Check and Recycle
A collaborative event between the Recycling
Department, Safe Kids Coalition of Summit
County, and the Center for Child Development
at the University of Akron. Car-seats and
helmets are inspected for deficiencies and/or
recalls free of charge by certified personnel.
Parents and other community
members are invited to attend and
recycle outdated or damaged
car-seats and helmets instead of
disposing of them less responsibly.
Recycle Programming @
Akron Summit County
Public Library
A 2-part program was held in the spring of
2013 on the importance of recycling and
the University of Akron’s role in improved
community sustainability. Library Patrons
came to learn more about the University of
Akron’s Recycling Department and how
materials such as cardboard are processed
once they leave campus.
http://prezi.com/hvnwfk8ag1uq/recycling-at-the-university-of-akron/
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Move-In
Each August, the department of Physical Facilities
(PFOC) assists students as they move into their
respective residence halls. It is a great
opportunity for PFOC employees to welcome
first-year students and their families. In addition
to helping students load and unload their
belongings, the PFOC staff drives the event’s
recycling campaign. In preparation for move-in,
several large recycling containers are placed
outside of each residence hall. These containers
help to capture packaging materials which are
typically very recyclable .
During move-in and the weeks that follow, there
is typically an influx of 37% in terms of
paper-products collected, including cardboard.
Although it is important that these types of
materials are recycled , it is always
more environmentally beneficial if
recyclable materials are first reused, if
applicable.
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The University of Akron (UA) has
participated in the EPA
sponsored, Game Day Challenge,
for the past two seasons. During
the challenge, colleges and
universities implement waste
reduction programs during home
football games. Each school tracks
and reports waste reduction and
disposal data, which in turn, is
used to rank the schools in one of
five categories. The 2012
challenge had several highlights ,
including UA being ranked 7th
overall for compost/organic
reduction and the realization of a
departmental goal, exceeding a
recycling diversion rate of 50%.
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Thank You
Andrew Henry
Special Services Superintendent
Recycling Superintendent
(330) 972-6019
[email protected]
Recycling Website:
http://www.uakron.edu/pfoc/recycling.dot
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