Proposal – Draft 10/07/02

Where are we now?  Current waste disposal practices costs Portland State University $190,500 a year (does not subcontractors construction and demolition drop boxes) $94,500 hauling costs $56,000 for 1.5 FTE employees (through PHC contract) to service paper recycling $23,000 at Auxiliary Buildings $17,000 for Smith Center  PSU sends approximately 162 tons a month to the region’s landfill  There are limited recycling outlets for staff and students: Current recycling stations for the campus community include: Cramer Hall Room 480 Neuberger Hall Room 470 Science Building 2 Room 144 Urban Center 2nd Floor Four bins in Smith Center Paper recycling in most offices  PSU is not in compliance with City of Portland standards that require businesses to recycle at least 50% of their overall waste stream.  PSU is recycling an estimated 18% of overall waste streams  Waste sort results highlight opportunity to significantly lower garbage-hauling bill through cost avoidance measures and a reduction in the amount of materials PSU sends to the landfill (see attached for detailed waste sort results)

Proposed Program Description The mission of PSU Recycles! is to change and manage the waste disposal habits on campus. PSU Recycles! priorities are to reduce PSU’s overall waste production, increase the availability and visibility of recycling options on campus, and educate all students and staff on the benefits of waste reduction and recycling. PSU Recycles! will meet their goals by building a strong campus identity that promotes recycling and waste prevention in a creative, meaningful manner. PSU Recycles! fundamental operating tenet is responsive, conscientious service that meets the needs of PSU’s community. This program will develop in three distinct phases. Before the completion of each phase, PSU Recycles! will re-evaluate the program, identify gaps, and implement new services as needed.

Phase 1 (April 2002 – March 2003)  Establish baseline data  Survey campus for recycling attitudes and perceptions  Design collection system  Author RFP for new waste hauler/recycling contracts  Begin to identify and develop awareness and educational opportunities  Increase effectiveness and service at existing recycling rooms  Run pilot projects to identify program needs Phase 2 (Spring 2003 – Summer 2004)  Hire Recycling Coordinator  Purchase recycling containers and equipment to service recycling program  Target commonly recyclable materials (paper, beverage containers, cardboard) by adding public depots and expanding office recycling  Engage campus participation  Implement tracking system  Evaluate program  Expand recycling services to reach 50% recycling rate

Phase 3  Expand recycling and waste prevention program to target: Construction and demolition waste Compostable materials (including food waste) Office supplies Surplus furniture Electronic equipment Styrofoam Batteries Toner/Printer Cartridges Plastic Film  Evaluate and expand services as needed

Program Components A comprehensive recycling program that maximizes cost avoidance strategies and revenue- producing activities require initial capital investments and administrative commitment to ensure program longevity.

Labor Key to a successful recycling program is consistent, conscientious, and courteous service. A full time Recycling Coordinator is essential to managing the overall program. Comparable positions at other universities coordinate all recycling activities on campus. General job requirements for a recycling coordinator are:  Scheduling trained employees and daily pick-up routes  Identifying and implementing cost savings practices  Locating recycling markets to maximize revenue  Developing continuing recycling and waste reduction educational materials for staff and students  Collecting and maintaining records for monitoring and on-going evaluation  Assisting in the development of campus wide recycling policies and procedures  Maintaining and inspecting recycling areas for cleanliness and usage  Covering for absent employees or emergency situations

Equally important are staff members who will be responsible for the day-to-day servicing of all containers, sorting material to maximize revenue, and performing educational outreach to staff and students. PSU Recycles! will initially require 36 labor hours a week. More hours will be added as scope of services increase. PSU Recycles! desires to utilize student employees to encourage participation, minimize program costs, and provide on-the- job training for environmental sector jobs.

Equipment To properly maintain safe and effective recycling activities on campus, PSU Recycles! requires equipment that is specialized and dedicated solely to the program. To start up service, PSU Recycles! needs:  Material handling equipment (hand trucks, pallet jack, forklift)  Vehicle that can tow containers and trailer  Trailer for servicing pick-up routes  Personal protection equipment  Pallet racking for storage of materials  Storage containers  Baling and compacting equipment (may be leased from hauler)

Recycling Depots A significant cost of the program will be the initial purchasing of recycling depots for public areas. To meet fire code restrictions, any containers placed in public areas will need to be approved by Portland’s Fire Marshall. For office spaces, the City of Portland offers several bins that will be suitable for office recycling areas. PSU Recycles! staff or volunteers will conduct departmental interviews and on-site evaluation to determine the quantity and location of. Departments will have the option of utilizing the City’s containers for free or can opt to purchase their own containers out of their operating budget.

Facility PSU Recycles! will need a permanent on-campus warehouse to serve as a central hub for all campus recycling activities. At the warehouse, staff will report for work duties, sort and stage materials before going to market, and store equipment safely each night. In addition, the warehouse may serve as an on-campus clearinghouse for staff and student groups to find reusable goods like office supplies and furniture. It is important that the warehouse be heated for year round use, have overhead door access, paved floors for equipment movement, have restroom facilities, and a small staff area for meetings and breaks. PSU Recycles! requests approximately 5-6000 square feet for operations.

Education and Outreach Working with the City of Portland’s Solid Waste and Recycling Division and PSU’s Community Environmental Services, PSU Recycles! will design and implement a series of educational tools that encourage recycling and waste reduction on campus. Potential distribution avenues include:  New staff orientation  Presentations to individual department staff  Student orientation  PSU Recycles! Website (will be heavily advertised as resource for all recycling inquiries)  Campus-wide email announcements  Earth day or other campus events  Information kiosks  Educational forums

PSU Recycles! will also develop promotional materials to raise program awareness. They may include:  Signage for recycling containers  T-shirts  Reusable beverage mugs  Reusable lunch containers

Cost Avoidance and Revenue Working on the details …

Partnerships PSU Recycles! will ensure programmatic success by utilizing resources from the public and private sectors. PSU Recycles! will continue to foster relationships with local government agencies like City of Portland and Metro, and will work to further alliances with private enterprises to maximize program effectiveness and potential revenue sources.

Scholarship Idea TBA

Alternatives I want to make a visual, one page matrix to be able to hand out at the proposal meeting.

Resources