Sustainability Initiatives
of the Department of Plant & Service Operations, SIUC
Recycling & Solid Waste
Awards
- Andilee Warner, Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator for SIUC, was named 2007 Recycler of the Year by the Illinois Recycling Association!
Vermicomposting Facility
- Three million red wiggler worms consume over 170,000 pounds annually of food waste from SIUC's three dining halls. The worm castings are used as fertilizer for campus plantings, University Farms, and research projects in the Department of Plant, Soil Science, and Agricultural Systems.
- The concrete foundation is made with a 50% substitution of coal ash for sand. The coal ash, which represents 18% of the total concrete mix by weight, would otherwise have been land-filled. Coal ash substitution can save up to 10% of conrete costs and saves hauling and landfill costs for the coal ash.
- The building is heated by a Clean Burn used oil furnace with used motor oil from Travel Service. Projected savings are greater than $65,000 over 10 years versus a natural gas furnace.
Solid Waste Diversion
- Annually, over 1000 tons of solid waste is diverted from the landfill to the recycling center.
- Total solid waste diversion rates fluctuate between 20% and 25%, monthly.
- Recycling service is available at all academic and housing facilities, at sporting and other outdoor events, and along outdoor pathways on Main Campus and at Touch of Nature.
- Recyclables are collected by a semi-automated recycling truck, which was purchased 100% by grant funds.
- In 2007 & 2008 SIUC competed against other colleges and universities nationwide in the 10-week recycling competition, RecycleMania.
- In 2007, SIUC recycled 347,579 pounds, ranking 33rd out of 178.
- In 2008, SIUC recycled 282,280 pounds, ranking 39th out of 200.
Recycled Items
- Mixed paper: white, color, computer, newspaper, magazines, junk mail, file folders, phone books, class catalogs, and books. All paper goes in one bin and is separated at the recycling plant.
- Aluminum, steel, and tin cans
- Scrap metal & wire
- Glass, clear & colored
- #1 & #2 plastic bottles (no caps)
- Cardboard (unwaxed cardboard and brown paper, no pizza boxes)
- Shredded paper (must be bagged)
- Transparencies (campus mail to MC 6727)
- Toner cartridges (campus mail to MC 6727)