CU Recycling operates as a partnership on campus between Facilities Management, Housing, Dining, the Environmental Center, and many other departments on campus. The main focus is to consistently increase the campus diversion rate while educating the campus population around zero waste, all while providing meaningful student involvement.
Recycling Milestones at CU
1970
- Eco-Center forms, which later becomes the Environmental Center.
1976
- Student volunteers begin newspaper and aluminum can recycling.
- Student government (UCSU) establishes campus-wide newspaper and aluminum can recycling with funding for student staff and equipment.
1980
- Office paper program is incorporated into CU Recycling.
1983
- CU hosts the Second National Recycling Congress and conducts the first campus recycling workshop.
1985
- State personnel position is created by UCSU for a Recycling Director.
1986
- CU Recycling is awarded state "Recycler of the Year".
1987
- CU President Gordon Gee proclaims April Campus Recycling Month.
1989
- Chancellor James Corbridge appoints a campus solid waste management task force, later to become Solid Waste Advisory Board.
1990
- CU wins MTV's national campus recycling contest.
1991
- Student-Administrative Partnership between UCSU and Facilities Management is created.
1992
- A recycling intermediate processing facility (IPF) is built on campus.
1993
- Recycling within CU’s Folsom Stadium begins with the Paul McCartney concert.
1994
- CU Recycling begins collecting a new "office pak" grade and achieves long-sought annual goal by recycling 1000 tons for the first time.
1995
- CU wins National Recycling Coalition's first "Outstanding School Program" award.
1996
- CU Recycling interns assist City of Boulder with food waste composting project.
1997
- CU's Green Teams begin targeting the Hill and other student populated areas in Boulder to increase proper recycling.
1998
- CU incorporates recycling provisions into the Campus Master Plan.
- CU begins administering the Colorado materials exchange, COMEX.
1999
- Office of the Federal Environmental Executive selects CU Recycling as the nation's Model Campus Recycling Program.
2000
- EPA Climate Protection Award given to Environmental Center and CU Recycling. Student government funds a four-year, $200,000 capital improvement program.
2001
- Solid Waste Management Stations installed on campus; Residence Hall Automated Cardboard recycling begins; CU Recycling receives grants from EPA and Governer's Office of Energy Management and Conservation to advance research and make recommendations on computer and electronics reuse and recycling and food waste composting options.
2003
- A Business Review of the program substantiated net savings from recycling of over $215,000 annually.
2004
- Diversion Potential Assessment (DPA) conducted by Skumatz Economic Research Associates (SERA) concluded CU can almost double its current recycling effort while remaining cost-effective.
2005
- CU competes in the national RecycleMania contest, boosts recycling 15% and finishes in the top ten. Deskside recycling containers exceed 10,000 on campus. Regular collection of compostable food waste begins.
2006
- Zero Waste vision incorporated into CU’s Blueprint for a Green Campus. The President's office provides funding for Computers to Youth program.
2007
- CU's recycling collection exceeds 2,000 tons (four million pounds). Funding provided to begin the feasibility of relocating/expanding CU’s recycling facility.
2008
- Revenues from the sale of recyclables top $100,000. The Athletic Department commits to zero waste from football games.
2009
- Composting begins in the UMC as a pilot in the rest rooms to capture paper towels.
2011
- Compost Expansion begins to buildings beyond Dining Halls, utilizing rest rooms as the main compost collection point for paper towels and food scraps.
- All outdoor trash bins are paired with recycling bins, boosting recycling by 300% in outdoor spaces and starting the “Can Parity” efforts for other areas on campus.
2013
- Athletic Department expands the stadium and starts building new indoor practice facility, starting the relocating of the Intermediate Processing Facility.
2014
- Temporary campus recycling center is set up on parking lot 416 on the Kittridge Loop.
- 91% diversion rate achieved at the home football game in Folsom Stadium against UCLA on Oct. 25, 2014.
2015
- The Recycling Operations Center is completed as the new sorting facility for campus materials.
2018
- CU Boulder reaches its highest diversion rate of just over 51% for campus wide operations.