Funded in early 2023, this project aims to develop an automated waste characterization system that uses recent advances in computer vision to detect and classify waste more efficiently for recycling. It will also create a dashboard with live data on the nature and extent of waste generated at the U of I to motivate the campus community to follow best practices for waste disposal and recycling and to help meet zero-waste goals in the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP).

The Prairie Research (PRI), Student Sustainability Committee (SSC), Facilities & Services (F&S), Illinois Water Resources Center (IWRC), Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), and the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES), and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) gathered on Feb. 27, 2023, to break ground on installing an underground thermal battery (UTB) at the  Energy Farm in Urbana, IL.

The inception of this project began with ZW006 Water Filter System Tracking:

Dr. Ehab Kamarah, interim Executive Director of F&S, responded to Dr. Jennifer Fraterrigo, iSEE Associate Director of Campus Sustainability on 5/8/22:

The iCAP 2020 objective 3.4.2 is to "Continue to implement the 2014 Campus Bike Plan." The responsible campus unit for championing this objective is F&S.

2014 Campus Bike Plan needs to be updated every ten years. The 2024 Campus Bike Plan is expected to be finalized by the end of FY24 and approved by November 2024 by the Sustainability Council.

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In coordination with the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics; the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment; Facilities & Services; and Coca-Cola, the university is pursuing a concerted effort to increase recycling and reduce waste at athletic events. Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste is a high-visibility, evergreen campaign concept formed at the university's weekly sustainability calls with Coca-Cola.

The Illini Union is in the early stages of implementing a pre-consumer waste composting pilot program. Several businesses already participate in a composting program with the City of Urbana Landscape Recycling Center. More information to follow!

Coca-Cola is partnering with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on a "Don't Waste" campaign to bring recycling and waste awareness to campus. The company is partnering with the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, University Housing, the Illini Union, the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, F&S, and others to keep plastic and metal drink containers out of the campus waste stream.