Waste

The WPI recycling program handles paper, cardboard, plastics #1-#7 (nearly all), glass, batteries, used electronics and components, lights, ballasts, books, and surplus (bulky items like furniture). For an easy reference guide to the  single stream program see this WPI Single Stream Recycling Guidelines (PDF) file. For off-campus waste information, see the Waste Management Recycling Guide and mythbusting fact sheet (PDF). E-waste bins for electronics are present in most academic buildings, ask where at the main office.

 Contact WPI Department of Facilities, +1-508-831-5500 If you have any questions or concerns about the disposal of any other materials.

If you see a place that needs recycling bins, please contact green@wpi.edu with your suggestion.

Single-Stream Recycling Guidelines

Measuring Waste at WPI

 

44.5%

TARGET RECYCLING RATE

Project Clean Plate
 

42%

OF STUDENTS WASTE FOOD

0.16 lbs

WASTED PER PERSON

Project Clean Plate is typically held in A Term, and is an event where people in MOrgan Hall POD with no food waste are given raffle tickets to try to win prizes. This data was collected in B term of 2018 by the Green Team and Waste Management at the POD during the Project Clean Plate events.

Recyclemania 2020 Results

Recyclemania is a nationwide recycling competition between colleges and universities.  Over 300 colleges across 43 states joined in the friendly competition this year, recycling over 48 million pounds of waste. WPI competed in three categories: Diversion, Per Capita Classic, and Food Waste.  Results after a COVID-forced five-week abbreviation of the competition which typically runs for eight weeks from February 1 through March 31, showed that WPI achieved a 45% diversion rate (ranking 40th among all institutions); a Per Capita Classic rate of 9.86 pounds of recycling per person (ranking 42 among all institutions), and earned an Honorable Mention in the Food Waste Category, following the first place ranking of Stanford University. 

Recyclemania 2019

Diversion: 41.493% recycling rate - ranked 57/159 

Per Capita Classic: 14.725 lb/person - ranked 52/214

Food Diversion: 35.51 points - ranked 3/148

Recyclemania 2020 Week 1

 

Diversion: 39.94% recycling rate - ranked 46/108 

Per Capita Classic: 2.68 lb/person - ranked 29/142

Food Diversion: 35.48 points - ranked 4/168

Recyclemania 2020 Week 2

 

Diversion: 40.15% recycling rate - ranked 51/124 

Per Capita Classic: 4.08 lb/person - ranked 42/166

Food Diversion: 35.48 points - ranked 4/168

Recyclemania 2020 Week 3

 

 

Diversion: 34.22% recycling rate - ranked 65/126 

Per Capita Classic: 4.10 lb/person - ranked 69/166

Food Diversion: 35.48 points - ranked 4/168

Recyclemania 2020 Week 4

 

Diversion: 46.70% recycling rate - ranked 32/120 

Per Capita Classic: 6.69 lb/person - ranked 33/156

Food Diversion: 35.51 points - ranked 3/143

Recyclemania 2020 Week 5

Diversion: 44.85% recycling rate - ranked 40/130 

Per Capita Classic: 9.86 lb/person - ranked 42/172

Food Diversion: 35.28 points - ranked 3/143

Recyclemania 2020 Week 6

 

Diversion: 35.66% recycling rate - ranked 69/136 

Per Capita Classic: 8.00 lb/person - ranked 73/187

Food Diversion: 35.51 points - ranked 4/149

Recyclemania 2020 Week 7

 

Diversion: 40.09% recycling rate - ranked 55/138 

Per Capita Classic: 12.20 lb/person - ranked 54/189

Food Diversion: 35.51 points - ranked 4/149

Recyclemania 2020 Week 8

 

Diversion: 39.71% recycling rate - ranked 51/132 

Per Capita Classic: 13.58 lb/person - ranked 56/184

Food Diversion: 35.51 points - ranked 4/149

Waste Disposal at WPI

WPI attempts to divert as much waste as possible, therefore most of our trash is used to generate energy through incineration, our collected food waste is sent to a local pig farmer, unserved food is collected by the Food Recovery Network and donated, and recyclables are sent to recycling plants.

 

The Green Team helps organize an E-Waste Drive every year with the Office of Sustainability to divert electronics from the landfill.