2011-2012

America Recycles Day: Campus Waste Audit

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
On November 15th, 2011, the WPI Student Green Team will be conducting a Waste Audit in honor of America Recycles Day. Students will pick through one day’s worth of waste for 4 buildings on campus and sort it by category:  paper, cardboard, plastic/glass/cans, organics, liquids, alternative recyclables (e.g. ink cartridges, batteries and plastic bags) and trash. The weights, volumes and percentages for items sorted will be recorded and used to make calculations for campus such as total recycling percentage and amount of space saved in landfill from collected recyclables.  The results from the waste audit will be a crucial first step in improving the overall recycling rate of campus and improving campus sustainability. For more information about WPI sustainability efforts or for information about volunteering, please contact studentgreenteam@wpi.edu.