The University of Arkansas' Facilities Management recycling program
began in February, 1991 as a result of an un-funded mandate from the State. An
incremental approach was adopted to help defray implementation costs. Initially,
only white paper and aluminum cans were collected in four key buildings. Custodial
Services was assigned the task of collecting the material and hauling it to a local waste
paper broker. One housekeeping coordinator and one custodial worker were designated
to work a few hours daily collecting recyclable material in the Custodial delivery
van. However, within two years the collection crew had grown
to two custodial workers and a coordinator. In place of the van, a box truck with
a hydraulic lift-gate was checked out from the rental fleet when it was available,
which was a problem at times. By 1993, it became necessary
to purchase a dedicated recycling truck.
In 1995,
we began collecting cardboard. At first, the material was hauled loose to the
broker which was very labor intensive. Within a year, we had the back-up trash truck
collecting cardboard from designated cardboard dumpsters. About
that same time, we began collecting low grade mixed paper. The recycling market
was unusually strong that year, so we were able to make a long-term agreement
with our broker to handle the mixed paper. There is very little money in the low
grade mixed, but white ledger was up to around $200/ton. Our large volume of valuable
white paper was just the economic "big stick" that we needed to convince
the broker to accept our low grade paper. We were paid $10/ton for low grade mixed
paper.
Also in 1995, work began on the Recycling Center.
A 50'x 60' storage building was remodeled to house a new horizontal baler and
weight scale. A used forklift from Central Supply was acquired, and beginning in
1996, the waste paper broker began picking up bales of paper from our location.
The amount of revenues paid to us for baled paper was nearly double the value
previously paid for the loose paper.At that time,
the two person trash collection crew from the Labor Shop was combined with the
recycling crew to form the Solid Waste Management/Recycling Shop.
Our primary
mission is to help reduce the flow of trash to the landfill. The
program has grown to include over 70 buildings that are collecting white paper,
mixed paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles. Seven drop-station recycling trailers
provide recycling opportunities to the local community. The University of Arkansas
Facilities Management Recycling program has collected over 2800 tons of material to
date and is expected to continue growing incrementally into the future.
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In
August of 1998, Razorback Recycling was awarded the Arkansas Recycling Coalition's
(ARC) first annual College/University Recycler of the Year award. This award is presented
to an outstanding public or private college or university recycling program that
demonstrates a long-term campus commitment to recycling. The program must be funded
by the University and a significant component of the school's waste management
strategy.
Here's what the ARC had to say about us in '98:
"A university
with more than 15,000 students generates a lot of recyclables. So, in 1991, the
U of A Facilities Management began to develop what today is known as 'Razorback Recycling.'
This is an outstanding program that is an exemplary model for any college or university
that produces a large volume of waste paper, cardboard and aluminum cans. Growing
incrementally, Razorback Recycling has diverted over 1,700 tons of recyclables
from the University's waste stream, with a 30 percent increase just last year." |
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| "Razorback
Recycling uses a 'Quad system' for collection; that is, four containers of different
colors are specifically marked for collection of four different source-separated
materials (white paper, mixed paper, aluminum, and trash). Dumpsters are used
to collect cardboard... With a proven track record of recycling, Razorback Recycling at the University
of Arkansas is due the first College/University Recycler of the Year award." |
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Did
you know that recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees? Since 1991, the University of
Arkansas has recycled nearly 5,500 tons of paper. At this rate, your
recycling program has helped to save around 93,500 trees. A nice size forest!
...And still growing. Posted: 07-28-06 |
