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Projects Updates for Achieve Zero Waste

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  1. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Pete and Shawn—

    Zero waste activities this past week were to 

    • Read the SSC grant application related to getting a new baler to support expanded plastic recycling
    • Update the glove recycling page of the iCAP portal
    • Contact several local farms to see if they would like to receive used coffee grounds from the campus Starbuck’s 

    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  2. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Pete and Shawn—

    My intentions to make progress on zero waste this weekend were scuttled by illness. In the coming week, my focus will be to find community gardens that would like used coffee grounds from Starbucks, update the glove recycling page on the iCAP portal, and work on the SSC report. 

    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  3. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Pete and Shawn—

    With the short week this past week and being on the road, I don’t have anything significant to report on zero waste activities for the past week. 

    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  4. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Pete and Shawn—

    This past week, activities were as follows: 

    • At Morgan’s request, I contacted Interstate All Battery Center today and learned that they charge $2/pound for alkaline, cordless tool, cell phone, and laptop batteries (nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, lithium ion). They take any lead acid batteries at no charge (most are purchased by the U of I from them). They accept drop offs, but there is no difference in price between drop off and pick up. Some of the battery types they accept are rechargeable. There is no price difference between single-use and rechargeables. I provided an update to Morgan on this and offered to share it with the PWR SWATeam and other interested parties, as appropriate. 
    • Also at Morgan’s request, I contacted Division of Research Safety to find out what they offer by way of battery recycling. They told me that will pick up batteries from those who submit a request for disposal. They will take any battery type, and it must be University property. Rechargeables are recycled through Call2Recycle; alkaline batteries are not recycled. There is no charge to the unit requesting disposal. DRS gets reimbursed by the Office of the Provost through a chemical waste disposal account. Again, I updated Morgan and offered to share the information as appropriate. 
    • I contacted Call2Recycle to see whether we might be eligible for their free battery recycling program, but they told me it is available only to municipalities, not to universities. I followed up with a resident of Ashton Woods on her efforts with Housing to have the City of Champaign provide recycling at Ashton Woods so that they can include glass, tin, and more plastics in the collection there. She had already been in touch with Nichole Millage at the city and received confirmation that the City is willing to provide service. I let her know that if it’s just Ashton Woods that switches away from F&S service, there wouldn’t be any substantive issues on our part but that if the whole Housing operation switched over, we would need to talk with them about a transition plan because of the revenue that supports a couple of staff positions.

    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  5. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Tracy—

    I am behind on a few follow-ups Morgan asked of me regarding the battery recycling program. I will make inquiries at Call2Recycle and Interstate this coming week. 

    I responded to a request from Krannert Center for information on how to participate in the glove recycling program and sent them instructions on it. 

    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  6. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Tracy—

    Here are my updates on zero-waste activities from the past week: 

    • I updated the information on glass recycling on the iCAP Portal page.
    • I drafted instructions for units that would like glass recycling pick-up from Housing; they are with Morgan and Housing for review.
    • Although no new changes have been made to the battery recycling program, there was quite a bit of correspondence about it during the past week.
    • I participated in some correspondence about the best way to wind down the Styrecycle program and transition to decentralized EPS recycling.
    • Anna Barnes notified me the previous week that she has time available to work on glove recycling materials, so I re-sent drafts of content I had developed. 

    While I’m on this email, I have a question for you that came up in my work on glass recycling. You told me a while back that campus units can purchase blue desk-side recycling bins through Central Stores. I’ve been trying to reach Marcy Wright at Purchasing to see if the larger indoor bins and outdoor toters/bins should be purchased through iBuy. Do you have information on that question? I tried to get in and look through iBuy catalogs on my own, but I wasn’t able to find a way to do so; I think it may require an iBuy login, which I wouldn’t be eligible for, given that I don’t have any purchasing responsibilities of my own. 

    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  7. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Tracy—

    I had a little bit of email correspondence regarding Styrecycle and tried reaching Housing again about glass recycling. I heard from Anna, who is now ready to start in on the glove recycling signage and instructions we’ve been working on.

    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  8. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Tracy—

    Morgan is reviewing a Styrecycle change-of- program message for our participants that I wrote week before last; she will also give me feedback on the updates I made to the iCAP Portal regarding EPS recycling. There were no new activities for me this past week.

    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  9. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Tracy—

    Here are my zero-waste updates from this past week: 

    • Morgan, Micah, Colin Tirakian, Joe Pickowitz, and I met to discuss EPS recycling. For now, we’ll direct interested departments to take materials to the Dart Container drop-off location in Urbana, which they can do free of charge. They will need to arrange their own transport of materials. With the densifier now at ISTC, we’ll investigate whether ISTC can become the drop-off location. 
    • I updated the iCAP page on EPS recycling.
    • I drafted an email to send to Styrecycle participants. It is now with Morgan for review. She is obtaining a list of participants to whom we’ll send it.

    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  10. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Tracy—
    Here are the zero-waste activities from the past week: 

    • I updated the battery recycling location information on the iCAP portal and sent updated content to Steve Breitweiser for the F&S page.
    • I moved content for glove recycling promotional materials forward for Anna to work on.
    • I contacted Morgan about a request from a vendor of biodegradable gloves to discuss his product. The VWR representative I spoke with a couple of weeks ago had put him in touch with me. 

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  11. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Tracy—
    This past week was a slow one, with various emails to follow up on ac3vi3es from previous weeks. I will press harder on the loose ends this coming week so that we can move forward on the glove and glass recycling efforts and get website informa3on about battery recycling fully up to date. 

    I will also con3nue efforts with regard to Styrecylce. The densifier has been moved from Midwest Fiber to ISTC. Micah is working on seting up a mee3ng to figure out the next steps. 

    I put Amanda Soskin, a volunteer from the community, in touch with Morgan. Amanda is interested in reducing waste at tailgates. Morgan put her and Gopal Pareek in touch with each other so that they can lay out plans. 

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  12. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Tracy—
    This past week, my zero-waste coordination activities were 

    • Finalizing updated instructions for participating in the battery recycling program
    • Updating battery and glove recycling locations in the iCAP portal
    • Coordinating with ISTC on relocating the styrofoam densifier from Midwest Fiber to ISTC
    • Communicating with a VWR representative on their participation in the Kimberly Clark glove recycling program 

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  13. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Tracy—

    Here are my zero-waste activities from the past week: 

    • Contacted battery recycling locations for updated permissions to post drop-off locations on the iCAP portal and F&S website. Updated the iCAP portal in line with the responses I have received thus far.
    • Sent drafts of glove recycling program materials to Morgan, Anna, KC representatives, and Fisher representatives to review for accuracy and feedback. 
    • Followed up on leads for resources to transport gloves to the trailer at the Physical Plant. 

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  14. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Tracy—

    This past week, my zero-waste activities were as follows: 

    • I completed mapping where all the outdoor waste bins are. I scanned in the maps, uploaded them to Box.net, and shared the folder with you and Morgan. I also created a spreadsheet with the counts of how many bins are mapped on each sheet and what the totals are.
    • I sent updated battery recycling instructions to Steve Breitweiser to post on the F&S page about battery recycling and posted related updates to the project history on the iCAP portal. 
    • I had a phone call with Shantanu Pai at ISTC regarding glass recycling and glove recycling.
      • For glass recycling, I told him that for now, Housing is willing to provide pickup service to buildings on campus. He mentioned a couple of alternatives, but they would involve the Waste Transfer Station sorting and storing glass. My understanding is that you don’t have any current plans to have the Waste Transfer Station take on that activity.
      • With regard to glove recycling, Joe Pickowitz could pick up gloves at collection sites and transport them to the trailer at the Physical Plant. However, ISTC would need to charge for his time. I will follow up with you and Morgan about whether that is a possibility and if so, how it would be paid for. 

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

     

  15. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Tracy—

    Here’s what I was up to this past week: 

    • I’ve come very close to finishing the maps of the trash bins, with just 3 of the 14 sheets left to wrap up next weekend when I’m back in town again.
    • I talked to Michael Olinger at Housing. They are willing to pick up glass for recycling from the Wounded Vets Center and other buildings when we are ready. I introduced Michael to Nick Osborne at Wounded Vets via email so that Michael can arrange a site visit. Midwest Fiber is charging $80/ton for glass drop-offs. Michael will consult with Dawn Aubrey about what the expectations would be for cost sharing on the part of buildings that Housing picks up glass from. As we work through setting up Wounded Vets, I am writing up a process for setting up buildings with glass recycling so that it can be replicated as we add more buildings.
    • I learned that it’s best if we don’t ask units to use the Call2Recycle site ID when they order battery collection boxes. It could muddy the waters with regard to who is responsible for payment and where the boxes would be shipped. Therefore, the instructions in the iCAP portal are fine as they are. This coming week I will send them to Steve Breitweiser so he can update the F&S page on battery recycling.
    • The potential volunteer for transporting gloves from labs to the trailer referred me to Shantanu Pai. Shantanu had to postpone our call this week, so hopefully, I will learn more from him this coming week about who may be willing to help with transportation. I learned that over the summer, Michael Olinger had sent a trailer load of gloves to Kimberly Clark. 

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

     

  16. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hello Tracy, 

    Here are my zero-waste coordination activities from the past week: 

    • Continued my efforts to find out who in the area can provide glass recycling service. See the attached document for what I’ve learned so far. It looks like we are on track for the time being, as Midwest Fiber has agreed to continue to accept drop-offs from Housing. I have a phone call coming up this week with Michael Olinger at Housing; they may be willing to pick up glass from the Wounded Vets Center and possibly other buildings. I will confirm this when I speak with Michael. 
    • I collated a list of LEED buildings on campuses in Urbana, Champaign, Bloomington, Normal, Springfield, and Decatur. If need be, I will find contacts at the buildings to inquire about how they handle glass recycling. Given that Midwest Fiber is willing to continue the arrangement with Housing, it is unlikely that I will need to follow up. I identified a vendor who carries rectangular recycling bins for glass collection and will continue to look for others who do. I’ve inquired with you and Morgan about whether to coordinate my efforts with iBuy and will do so if appropriate.
    • Updated battery recycling information on the iCAP Portal and uploaded the attached file to the pages for rechargeable and single-use recycling. Contacted Call2Recycle for information about what the U of I parent ID number is used for. Once I find out, I will update the iCAP pages if necessary and will follow up with Steve Breitweiser with updated instructions for the F&S website.
    • Continued developing program materials for the glove recycling program on campus. I had a phone call with Kimberly Clark representatives, who are working on a list of chemicals that gloves may have been used with prior to recycling. Once I have that list and instructions from you regarding the trailer at the Physical Plant, I will forward materials to Anna Barnes so she can create web pages and PDFs to support program implementation.
    • I have contacted a potential volunteer at ISTC who had expressed willingness to help transport gloves from labs and other sites to the trailer. He volunteered over a year ago, when Bart Bartels was still here, so I have reached out to see if he is still willing and able to assist.

    This afternoon, I will continue my work on mapping trash bins around campus and will send you and Morgan as much as I complete today. I plan to fully complete the task over the Labor Day weekend. 

    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

     

  17. Weekly update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hello all,

    Here are my updates from last week:

    • Battery recycling information in the iCAP portal has been updated to reflect the change from the dual rechargeable/single-use recycling program to the unified program offered through Call2Recycle. I have a note out to Morgan and Joy to double-check accuracy.
    • I’m continuing work on the glove recycling program materials. I got answers to questions I sent to Fisher and now await answers from Kimberly Clark.
    • As you know, CRI’s new owner (Midwest Fiber) does not offer glass-only recycling pickup service. I have to call and/or email them to see if they will continue to accept drop-offs. I have also started calling local waste haulers and recyclers to see if any of them offer glass recycling pickup or drop-off. I have contacted 4 so far; 2 do not offer service, and 2 are seeking more information and will call me back. I have 8 more on my list to call. I will also look into what other campuses in Central Illinois are doing to manage that part of the waste stream.
    • I referred the Ashton Woods resident who is wanting expanded recycling service to Joe Glass at Housing, per your recommendation.

    Sincerely,

    Marya Ryan

    Zero Waste Coordinator

  18. Weekly update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hello all,

    This past week, I

    • Attended a CURC webinar on how to engage more participation in campus recycling programs.
    • Drafted material to promote the glove recycling program, which is with Morgan and Anna. There is a lot of missing information, so this coming week, I will contact Kimberly-Clark and Fisher representatives to start filling it in.

    Sincerely,

    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

     

  19. Weekly update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hello all,

    Here are my updates from last week:

    • Contacted Midwest Fiber, which recently acquired CRI. CRI had quoted a price to provide glass recycling service to the Wounded Vets Center of $36-$48/month, depending on whether one or two 96-gallon toters would be needed. Midwest Fiber wants to do a site visit before giving a revised estimate. I will work this coming week to arrange it. The goal is to have service in place in a couple of weeks so that it is available when the majority of residents move in in August. I will also clarify with Nick that Wounded Vets will need to pay for the service.
    • Continued mapping the outdoor trash bins on campus as part of the project to replace them with dual recycling/trash bins.

    Sincerely,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

     

  20. Weekly update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hello all,

    Here are my updates from last week:

    • Contacted Morgan for invoicing/account information to set up glass recycling for the Wounded Vets Center, which is planned to start in mid-August.
    • Started work on mapping where trash bins are on campus. I anticipate completing the task over the next couple of weekends when I am in town.

    Best regards,


    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

     

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