• 1. Campus Recycling Report
• 2. Local Recycling Info: Green Teams
• 3. Industry News: Landfilling Regulations
• 4. Frightening Fact: Colorado Newspaper Impact
• 5. Glimmer of Hope: CU Students Favor Recycling Improvements
• 6. Get Involved / Upcoming Events: Environmental Awards, Master Composting, Solid Waste Advisory Board, more

1. *************** Campus Recycling Report *****************
From Jack DeBell, CU Recycling Director

With one-half of CU Recycling’s fiscal year completed, an accurate picture of record levels of recycling activity is emerging. Through December 1999, 722 tons of recyclables were collected. This is an increase of 76 tons (twelve percent) over the same period last year and sets a new record for CU Recycling. Bear in mind that these additional tons were not collected from any single source but result from thousands of people across campus recycling a newspaper here or a can there. Recycling is indeed on the rise!

Another noteworthy finding is how much the recycling effort is diverting from area landfills. Facilities Management reports a 37 percent diversion rate in the first half of the year. This amount exceeds the national average of 27 percent and is in the top tier of colleges and universities nationwide. It’s worth noting that CU pays only $16 per ton in tipping fees at the landfill compared to the national average of $60 per ton. That we are able to post such high diversion rates with such low tipping fees is a testament to the campus community’s involvement. Good Work, CU!

There’s still a long way to go, however. Between 60-80 percent of CU’s waste stream is readily recyclable with existing markets and technologies. In order to reach CU’s potential, a number of exciting new intitatives are being planned. If funded, these programs will increase the types of materials recycled as well as boost convenience. Stay tuned for more details as CU Recycling moves through our budget process.

CU Recycling extends many thanks and best wishes to Suzie Chambers, who leaves the CU Arts and Sciences Deans Office this week. A recycling liaison for Old Main for several years, Suzie became active with the Solid Waste Advisory Board in 1997 and has offered invaluable recycling insight and recommendations (such as the formation of this email listserve).

2. *************** Local Recycling Info ***************

"Recycle Right" is the motto of a relatively new program designed for CU students living off campus. The Green Teams are a small but active group of students who provide instructions and encouragement to recycle properly in the city of Boulder’s curbside recycling program. They visit houses whose recyclables are rejected by the Recycle Boulder program in an effort to improve participation and reduce litter in predominantly student neighborhoods. Printed information, kitchen magnets, and curbside recycling bins are some of the materials they can provide. For more information about the Green Teams, contact CU Recycling.

3. *************** Industry News ***************

Current landfill regulations are the Achilles Heel of the recycling movement. Low landfill tipping fees often make landfilling cheaper in the short run than recycling (a disincentive to recycle). Additionally, with low fees, landfill owners typically do not maintain sufficient funds for proper closure, post-closure and future corrective actions that will inevitably be necessary. As a result, today’s landfills charge much less than they should, and future generations will pay the price.

The National Recycling Coalition’s Policy Work Group (PWG), has been reviewing landfill regulations for the past year, and is drafting recommendations for testimony to the Environmental Protection Agency. The PWG is asking citizens to send their comments about landfill regulations to the EPA. Consider writing a letter that includes the following points:

1. Current landfill financial responsibility is inadequate. Right now, the regulated FR is only for a 30 year period (and does not require that cash be set aside to cover this), while it is known that potential environmental damage from landfills can be much, much longer than 30 years.

2. The dry-tomb landfill design currently required doesn’t protect the environment per se, but instead entombs and preserves solid waste. Many believe that such landfills ought to be prohibited and that all waste be treated to the point of being of no potential threat to the environment before being applied to the land.

3. The current exemption for household hazardous wastes that end up going to landfills should be eliminated. These wastes are an environmental concern regardless of where they come from. Households generate more of some types of materials than businesses (lead from CRTs, for example).

Deadline for comments is February 29th. By snail mail, your letter and two copies should to be sent to:
RCRA Information Center (RIC)
Office of Solid Waste (5305G)
U.S. EPA Headquarters (EPA, HQ)
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Reference docket #F-1999-MLFN-FFFFF

Comments can also be sent via email to rcra-docket@epa.gov

4. *************** Frightening Fact ***************

COLORADO NEWSPAPER IMPACT REPORT

Have you noticed the unprecedented number of unread newspapers litering the Hill area, Residence Halls, and other student-populated areas of Boulder? The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News have increased subscrition sales on and off the campus of the University of Colorado in the past two semesters, offering low rates which have dramatically increased the number of papers delivered to student housing on and off campus.

This increase in sales has resulted in both newspapers recently announcing record daily circulation numbers. While this may be good news for advertisers, the amount of waste generated may be surprising. According to figures compiled by CU Recycling staff last semester, more than 134 TONS of paper are required to print the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News each year.

If ALL of those papers were recycled, it would equal saving 4.6 million 40-ft. Douglas fir trees, conserving 1.1 billion gallons of water, preventing 16.2 million pounds of air pollution, saving 1.1 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, and saving 807,000 cubic yards of landfill space.

Where does the paper come from to print all those newspapers? According to Don Sullivan of the Boreal Forest Network (a grassroots network of environmentalists and First Nations) the Rocky Mountain News purchases paper from a pulp and paper mill in Manitoba (the newspaper is reportedly the pulp mill’s single largest paper purchaser). The mill is about to double its logging area and expand its logging into a wilderness/First Nations area to provide more pulp.

Before you subscribe to a week’s worth of newspapers because it only costs you 50 cents more, think about where the paper comes from and where it will end up!

5. *************** Glimmer of Hope ***************

CU STUDENTS FAVOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS ON CAMPUS:
RECYCLING IS A TOP ISSUE

A new survey released by the CU Environmental Center shows that students at CU Boulder believe in strong action by the university to protect the environment -- and are willing to pay, if necessary, to have a "green" campus. In the survey, conducted in November by Aspen Research Associates, 92 percent of the students surveyed believed that it is either very important or somewhat important that CU Boulder is a leader in campus environmental management.

One way that CU has already taken a major environmental leadership role is recycling. Almost 40 percent of students surveyed said that recycling on campus is very convenient, while slightly over half of the students surveyed said that recycling is somewhat convenient, and a mere 7 percent of students rated CU’s recycling facilities not convenient. From the November survey, it is also estimated that 57 percent of students would be willing to pay $2.00 or more per semester in student fees to improve campus recycling programs. Remarkably, of all the students surveyed, 43 percent said they’d be willing to pay $5.00 or more in fees to advance the CU recycling program further.

When asked about campus paper use, nearly half of the respondents believe it is very important that CU uses 100 percent recycled or tree-free paper. Another 45 percent of students responded that it was somewhat important, and only 6 percent said that it was not important for the university to use recycled or tree-free paper. When asked about using paper in campus computing labs, students were almost evenly divided as to whether or not they support paying for printouts. The survey shows that 34 percent of students strongly support a pay-as-you-print system instead of paying for the copies as part of student fees, 35 percent of students would somewhat supposrt such a system and 29 percent of those surveyed said that they wouldn’t support it at all. If such a system were enacted, it may encourage students to use less paper in computing labs.

More survey results:
- 46% of students surveyed throw away materials when outside that they would normally recycle if they were inside
- 80 percent of students surveyed said they would be very likely to recycle if there were recycling bins next to outdoor trashcans
- 87 percent of those who lived in the residence halls said they would recycle more if recycling containers were located on their floors, rather than on the loading docks

The survey sample was a random sample generated by the University of Colorado Registrar’s Office. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 8.7 percent.

6. *************** Get Involved / Upcoming Events***************

- ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS: Who is Making a World of Difference at CU?
Have you observed environmental action on campus in the past year that is making a difference? The CU Environmental Center wishes to recognize outstanding individuals and departments who demonstrate a sincere commitment to reducing the burden that the CU-Boulder campus places on the local and global environments. Please give some thought to whom may be deserving of such an award and log onto the Environmental Center web page http://www.colorado.edu/cuenvironmentalcenter to submit a nomination. Individuals and departments may be nominated in the following categories: Recycling, Recycled Product Purchasing, Waste Reduction, Alternative Transportation, Energy Conservation, Green Faculty, Hazardous Materials Use / Hazardous Waste Reduction, Individual Achievement, Outstanding Alumni, Water Conservation, and a special Earth Day 2000 category for who or what has made significant contributions since the first Earth Day in 1970.

Nominations are due by March 1, 2000. Contact 492-8308 for more information.

- Is your campus group planning a CHARITABLE COLLECTION DRIVE?
CU Recycling invites campus groups to take advantage of collection space in our newest recycling station at the UMC. The station includes one cubic yard of convenient, lockable space for the public to drop off items during charitable collection drives. Located near the outdoor ATMs at the east entrance to the UMC fountain area, the station can be reserved for your group’s next collection drive. Made possible in part by the Boulder County Recycling and Composting Authority and UCSU. For more information, contact Kate Callander at 492-4330.

- The SOLID WASTE ADVISORY BOARD (SWAB) meets March 16
The Solid Waste Advisory Board oversees solid waste and recycling management on the CU Boulder campus and meets quarterly. The next meeting of SWAB will take place Thursday, March 16 from 10 am - noon in UMC 230. Discussion items include proposed new recycling initiatives for the campus and review of the Environmental Center’s "Blueprint for a Green Campus" for endorsement. For more information or to become involved, contact Dana at 492-8307.

- BECOME A MASTER COMPOSTER!
Reduce trash volume, turn kitchen and yard wastes into a valuable soil amendment, and teach others about composting. Recieve in-depth training in composting techniques through a master composter training course. The course will be held Thursdays, April 6 - May 4 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm and Saturday, May 13 from 9 am to noon. The cost is $30 plus 20 hours of public service before Dec. 31st, 2000. For an application, call the Boulder Energy Conservation Center, 303-441-3278, or the CSU Extension Office, 303-776-4865. The program is a partnership of the Boulder Energy Conservation Center, the CSU Cooperative Extension-Boulder County and the Boulder County Recycling and Composting Authority.

Subscribe to the CU Recycling Bulletin

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subscribe recycling-infolist <your full name>

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unsubscribe recycling-infolist

The Recycling Bulletin is circulated via a closed list;  only CU Recycling has access to the rest of the subscriber list.  Subscribers' names and e-mail addresses are not available to any other group or used for any other purpose.

About University of Colorado at Boulder Recycling

The University of Colorado's recycling program is a non-profit, campus-based organization whose mission is to instill awareness of the benefits of waste reduction and recycling.  CU Recycling is widely regarded as one of the nation's leading campus programs. Awards have been given by such groups as the EPA, National Recycling Coalition, and the Office of Federal Environmental Executive, who in 2000, announced CU Recycling the model campus program in the United States.

The university community is encouraged to get involved in CU Recycling's many activities.  For more information, call (303)492-8307 or visit http://www.colorado.edu/recycle

Please recycle this information: talk about it, pass it on, or post it!