Mjc Recycling Corp White Paper Project

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Team MJC Recycling Corp.

ENGL 421 Maximo Kopp Cody Ring-Rissler Jin Jang

7/24/2009

White Paper Project Recycling Efforts at Purdue University

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Table of Contents Executive Summary Introduction Recycling at University Villages Boiler Green Initiatives Inventions and Technology Recycling electronic storage devices Green Manufacturing Green Report Card Economy-Numbers and Purdue University Conclusion Annotated Bibliography Work Cited

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Executive Summary: In this paper, Team MJC Recycling Corp will discuss several topics related to recycling issues at Purdue University. Purdue has come a long way in becoming a sustainable green university, by developing many initiatives and imposing many changes. We will overview some of the current recycling programs and discuss future green options. The environmental, financial and social benefits of becoming a green university are also mentioned. There are many clubs and organization at Purdue that are recognized as being green, they will be stated and a brief mission statement about them is presented. The specific sections of this report are as follows; recycling at University Villages, Boiler Green Initiatives, inventions and technology, recycling electronic storage devices, Green Manufacturing, Green Report Card, and economy-numbers and Purdue University. One of the best programs created in campus is the recycling program at the University Villas; they stated the program with the purpose of reducing solid waste. But what they have now is a recycling program that serves as role model for other residence halls. They created a brochure that have all the guide lines for recycling and some educational sections for people that are new to the area. Boiler Green Initiatives is Purdue student organization that is growing rapidly in campus. Their main focus is in sustainability. They also have spent a lot of tie in the creation of new recycling programs and initiatives. The most recent one is the Ross-Ade Stadium recycling program. Inventions and Technology presents a great invention from Purdue University professor Edward Grant. He created a device that may help to save billions of pounds of plastic. The new device is able to identify and sort plastic automatically; revolutionizing the recycling process. Recycling storage devices is a section of the paper that talks about a new program called “recycling for the future.” The program offers an efficient and reliable process for the discarding of electronic storage devices containing University data. Green manufacturing is a system created by Purdue University’s Clean Manufacturing Technology Institute. The system is trying to help some Indiana companies to go green. By encouraging them to use more environment friendly machinery, trying to use energy more efficiently, conserving natural resources and putting more effort on recycling in manufacturing processes. The Green Report Card is an evaluation done trough extensive research about sustainability in many colleges in the United States. The recycling section of the report is explored in great details. Economy-numbers and Purdue University section approaches a variety of topics including a brief explanation of all green students organizations, explanation of recyling materials prices and how this relates to students in campus and lastly talks about how Purdue is becoming a sustainable campus.

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Introduction: “Today the typical American discards nearly a ton of trash per person per year” (Brower 2000). The question is: what to do with all this trash? Going through this paper you are going to find evidence why recycling is the best solution for this problem. We conducted a very specific research about the recycling program at Purdue University how simple initiatives and an organized system can save tons of money and the environment. Purdue University staff members and students are doing a great job in transforming this campus in a green campus with almost zero waste. The university came to the conclusion that work has be done now so we can live better in the future. Recycling at University Villages: One thing that Purdue University has to be very proud of is the creation of a program called PUC Recycling Program of the University Village community. This program started with the purpose of reducing solid waste by educating the Villages residents about recycling initiatives that are available. The program follows the guidelines of the Indiana 1990 General Assembly for Recycling and Waste Reduction. Leaders from green institutions formed a guide for colleges that wants to go green and reduce waste in campus. They have a series of rules and green initiatives that has to be followed, in order to meet their requirements. If the village’s web site is accessed it is easy to find information about the recycling program, contact information and a very interesting brochure that includes: Why to recycle? • For every ton of waste paper recycled 3.3 cubic yard of landfill space is saved. • Recycling helps extend the life of existing landfill sites and reduces the need to create new landfills. • Every ton of recycled office paper saves 380 gallons of oil. • The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle will light a 100 watt bulb for four hours. • The energy saved from one recycled • One aluminum can will operate a television set for 3 hours. • It takes 95% less energy to make • Aluminum from scrap than from virgin materials. • Recycling helps to keep collection cost down. • Reusing material reduces operational cost. List of recyclable items: Paper: • Cardboard (flattened) • Business Envelopes • Business Forms

5 • Cereal/Detergent/Shoe Boxes • Computer/Copy/Fax/Taping • File Folders • Junk Mail • Ledger/Scratch Paper • Magazine • Manila Envelopes • Newspaper • Sticky Notes Food Containers: • Aluminum/Steel/Tin Cans • Ketchup Bottles • Soda/Juice/ Pop Bottles • Narrow-neck Plastic Bottles Recycling Tips: • Make double-sided copies • Make scratch pad from used paper • Use e-mail or quick phone call • Return unneeded catalogs, brochures, etc. • Use spell check and print preview • Use rags rather than paper products Boiler Green Initiatives: It is a Purdue University student organization that focuses on sustainability. The organization was founded in 2006. At the beginning they had only a few students but after 4 years of hard they develop a team with 400 members and more than $100,000 in funding for projects and research. One of the most interesting projects that they have is related to recycling. They are developing a recycling system in the Ross Ade Stadium. With a $25,000 grant they are purchasing recycling bins and developing new ideas to implement in the stadium. They also started a recycling program in the 2008 Football season. Purdue University has the tradition of tail gating before game days, people all over campus, park their cars in the golf course just a few yards away from they football field and enjoy food and drinks until it is game time. But all this fun leaves lots of waste. Thinking about that Boiler Green Initiatives created a recycling program. With a grant receive from the athletic department they purchased recycling bins, bags, and A-frames. They also manage to find volunteers to participate in the program and keep the places clean with minimum waste.

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(http://www.boilergreen.com/page2/page10/Recycling.html) This graph shows the amount of work put into the recycling program in football game and how much they were able to recycle during the 2008 season. Most of the students in campus know the recycle bottle offered by dinning services and mini markets in campus. This initiative was also created by this student organization. Seeing tons of plastic glass being wasted daily in the food services in campus they saw a great opportunity for going green. They develop a bottle that is made of solid plastic and that can be re-used just by cleaning. They bottle is sold by the price of $10. But it is a good deal for students because they can get a lot more drink that bottle than the normal cup offered. So during a certain period of time students manage to get their money back by getting more drink per serving. Inventions and Technology: According to Science Blog a professor in the Chemistry Department at Purdue University called Edward Grant invented a device that will help to save billions of pounds of plastics. The new device was named Top 100 most technological and significant product or process by R&D Magazine. The device can help to identify and sort different types of plastic giving an enormous advantage for recyclers. Using a laser device, that hits the plastic and return to the device in less than a second being able to tell what kind of plastic is it. With this new technology the recycling process is going to be a lot more efficient and waste is going to be less and less. According to Science Blog the device can sort

7 plastic at incredible fast rates. “That means it could be used to screen commercial and post-consumer waste in factories, warehouses, recycling centers and scrap yards.” Grant says. This invention is something that Purdue University has to be proud of and thanks Edward Grant for helping the world recycle more and more. Companies such as Ford and Environment Protect Agency invested money in the development of the project. Bill Orr, manager of Ford worldwide vehicle recycle planning, says: "We at Ford have a strong commitment to developing products that support recycling." Recycling electronic storage devices: Purdue University has developed a new service to University departments for the safe and secure disposal of electronic storage devices. This new program called “Recycling for the Future” is a collaborative effort between Materials Management and Distribution, University Warehouse and Surplus, and ITaP’s Secure Purdue initiative. This program offers an efficient and reliable process for the discarding of electronic storage devices containing University data. A high-powered shredder at the University warehouse and the shredding byproducts will be used to shred these devices in an environmentally friendly manner. They will be handled by e-waste contractors after the shredding process. Followings are the items that can be destroyed using the new shredder. • • • • • •

Hard drives Disk arrays USB keys CDs DVDs Other electronic storage media

The University has provided the refuse/recycling confidential document destruction service for paper documents for a number of years, and the destruction of electronic documents now will be subject to the same security standards. All the hard drives and other electronic storage devices that have University data will no longer be offered for sale to the general public at the end of their useful lives. All such devices will be discarded through the “Recycling for the Future” program. Additionally, the University-owned shredder will cut down the cost for disposal of such devices. Purdue University has been paying contractors from outside through the Radiological and Environmental Management department. Now, such devices will be shredded routinely inside of the University and cost for those outside contractors will be saved. For the PCs that can be resold to the general public at the University warehouse, the original hard drives will be removed, shredded, and discarded. The computers that are being sold will be replaced with new 80GB hard drives along with the operating systems. This new system will not only ensure the security of University data, but also help the University go green by recycling such electronic devices in an environmentally friendly manner.

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Green Manufacturing: Purdue University’s Clean Manufacturing Technology Institute has developed a system that helps a number of Indiana companies to encourage pollution prevention by using materials and energy more efficiently, conserving natural resources, and putting more efforts on recycling in manufacturing processes. Followings are several Indiana companies who received the annual Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence by implementing outstanding environmental strategies in their manufacturing operations using this system • • •

Subaru (Lafayette) Rolls-Royce (Indianapolis) Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing(TIEM) (Columbus)

Subaru's Lafayette plant established a “green manufacturing” by reducing the waste and recycling materials up to 99.8 percent achieving zero-landfill status. Tom Easterday, senior vice president of Subaru manufacturing plant says, "The average household in America sends more to a landfill every day than our entire Subaru manufacturing plant.” In 2007, the plant recycled 13,142 tons of steel, 1,448 tons of cardboard and paper, 194 tons of plastics, 10 tons of solvent-soaked rags and 4 tons of light bulbs. Employee break areas at the plant added 20 tons of pop cans and bottles to its recycling total. Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing (TIEM) in Columbus is also a good example of environmentally friendly manufacturing plant in Indiana by implementing the system. In 2007, TIEM introduced a series of forklifts powered by gasoline and propane that produce 70 percent less smog-forming emissions than current federal standards. It also implemented recycling initiatives to make it a zero-landfill facility and has increased the amount of recycled items by 70 percent during the last 3 years. Another international company that is making an environmental effort to develop green manufacturing in Indiana is Rolls-Royce Corp., which has Operations in Indianapolis. Rolls-Royce implemented an environmental management plan in 2000 and then reduced electricity consumption by 13 percent, water usage by 44 percent, cold cleaning solvent usage by 54 percent, and the generation of hazardous waste by 73 percent. The company estimates those reductions have resulted in an annual savings of over $2 million. The company also has an aggressive recycling effort that captures more than 8,500 tons of a wide range of materials, including aluminum, coolants, batteries, copper, glass, paper, plastics, steel, tires, used oil and wood. Obsolete plastic vehicle parts are sent to another recycler, and poly-propylene wipes are made into plastic pellets so that they can use to make other vehicle parts, such as wheel well liners. Green Report Card:

9 The Green Report Card is an evaluation done trough extensive research about sustainability in many colleges in the United States. According to Green Report Card web site sustainability means: “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This report focus on many areas and one of the areas is recycling. Purdue University only got a B grade in this section. Meaning that we are doing a good job in the recycling process but we can still improve a lot. One of the positives mentioned in the report is the use of all yard waste as topsoil. Economy-Numbers and Purdue University: Purdue University has done much to become a green university. Between recycling programs, sustainability initiatives and waste reduction Purdue has greatly reduced its impact on the environment. This is in large part due to the students; they have answered the call and helped tremendously in the efforts of recycling. Following are some of the many Green student organizations that Purdue has to offer all of these clubs and organizations are recognized by Purdue University as being a green-focused organization. • •

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Boiler Green Initiative: a multi-disciplinary, campus-wide student organization that focuses on the evaluation and continued enhancement of the sustainability of Purdue University and its surrounding communities. Carbon Neutrality at Purdue Club: Dedicated to addressing environmental issues, but with a specific focus: reducing the amount of carbon emissions (carbon footprint) of Purdue University, both on the institutional and community level. Net Impact: Net Impact Purdue focuses its resources on exploring and advocating, the following areas; corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, environmental management, socially responsible investing, clean energy, community development, international development and labor issues. Purdue Energy Club: The Purdue Energy Club is a multi-disciplinary team, research-based club which seeks to solve the world's most complex energy challenges! Roots and Shoots: The Roots & Shoots program is about making positive change happen—for our communities, for animals and for the environment. With tens of thousands of young people in almost 100 countries, the Roots & Shoots network connects youth of all ages who share a desire to create a better world.

There are benefits to recycling for all student organizations and the university. Old materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, cardboard can be sold and recycled into new materials once again. The prices of recycled materials fluctuate daily but here are some recent samples from one of the largest markets in the world the London Metal Exchange.

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(http://www.metalprices.com)

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LTL- Less than truck load. This refers to over scale values of miscellaneous quantities of metals

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TL- Truck Load. Refers to sorted and prepared materials, packaged and ready for shipment

All of these are common materials found on a college campus, classrooms, dorm rooms, offices, and construction projects. Many of these items can be collected by students and staff just by making a short walk to one of the many recycling centers located in nearly every building on campus. Once these materials are collected and sold it provides a sizeable source of income for the university to fund more student programs.

Material Mixed Paper Mixed Office Paper Beer Carton Wasted Box Board

LTL 25.31 92.81

TL 33.75 123.75

Units Ton Ton

Funds USD USD

43.12

57.50

Ton

USD

53.44

71.25

Ton

USD

11 Baled Corrugated Cardboard Repacked News Print Carrier Stock

86.25

115.00

Ton

USD

57.00

76.00

Ton

USD

280.00 Ton (http://www.ScrapIndex.com)

USD

210.00

With the help of the students and staff Purdue is and will become a more sustainable institution. The United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainable development in its 1987 report, "Our Common Future," as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." For any effort to be sustainable, it must address environmental, social, and economic issues. The Sustainability Council was formed to identify issues, discuss options, educate the campus community and make recommendation on the future direction for sustainability initiatives. The council includes representatives from; • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Buildings and Grounds Center for the Environment at Discovery Park Clean Manufacturing Technology Institute Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering Ecology, Evolution and Population Biology Energy Center in Discovery Park Environmental Chemistry Environmental Health and Public Safety Materials Management and Distribution Services Office of the Executive Vice President and Treasurer Office of the University Architect Office of the Vice President for Research Physical Facilities Communications Procurement Operations and University Contracting Group Purdue Agriculture Centers Purdue Climate Change Research Center Radiological and Environmental Management University Residences

Some of the sustainability initiatives include; •

Energy conservation

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Responsible use of land

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Water and other environmental resources

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Pollution prevention and waste minimization

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Increasing awareness and acceptance of personal responsibility for Purdue and its surrounding communities

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"Buying Green"

Conclusion: In conclusion it has been shown the importance of recycling and its innumerous benefits at Purdue University campus. Green initiatives affected the community and how students are becoming more and more conscious about the recycling programs on campus. We also presented numbers and graphs providing information about cost of recycling products and process so students can have an idea of how much money they are saving by recycling. Proving examples of technological invention created on Purdue campuses that are helping to change the way recycling are done and helping large companies become green. Proving information about all green students organizations is a good way to be informed on what is available on campus. The main message is do the effort now so we can live better in the future.

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Annotated Bibliography Gaigos, Susan. “New Device Brightens Recycling Efforts” Science Blog at Purdue University. Web. 1998. 14 July 2009. A professor in the Chemistry Department at Purdue University invented a device that will help to save billions of pounds of plastics that are now being wasted. The device can help to identify and sort different types of plastic giving an enormous advantage for recyclers. Using a laser device, that hits the plastic and it is able to tell what kind of plastic is it, and this process takes less than a second to happen. With this new technology the recycling process is going to be a lot more efficient and waste is going to be less and less. “Green Report Card at Purdue University”, College Sustainability Report Card. Web. 2009. 10 July 2009. The Green Report Card is a evaluation done trough extensive research in many colleges in the United States. This report focus on many areas and one of the areas is recycling and Purdue University only got a B grade in this section. Meaning that we are doing a good job in the recycling process but we can still improve a lot. One of the positives mentioned in the report is the use of all yard waste as topsoil. Purdue University Calumet. Purdue University Villages. Web. 14 July 2009 This web page refers to the Purdue University Recycling Program at the University Villages. This program is doing great so far, they made the community aware of the importance of recycling. By educating residents trough this web site that offers recycling tips and a Village brochure with specific and useful information to residents. They are also following 1990 General Assembly for recycling and waste reduction a high standard Indiana guideline for recycling. Brower, Michael and Leon, Warren. The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices. 2000. Print. In a quote of Brower and Warren’s book: “The typical American discards nearly a ton of trash per person per year, two to three times as much as the typical Western European throws away.” As you can see Americans produce a lot of trash and this is a great opportunity for recycling and going green, so we can live better.

14 "Sustainability at Purdue University". Black, Gold and Green. 7/16/09 . This article is from the Black, Gold and Green initiative from Purdue’s webpage. It lists recycling statistics for Purdue University in the year 2008. There are also several programs listed such as the Boiler Green effort at athletic events which gives us an idea that we can expand on. It also provides a scale on which to judge future projects, and our ideas for this white paper project. Schenke, Jim. "Purdue University Residences expands recycling efforts ". Purdue News Service. 7/16/09 . Recycling can be fiscally beneficial as well. This article from 2007 lists prices for recycled cardboard and aluminum. These prices have risen in the last two years, and provide incentive for Purdue to expand on its recycling and reuse ideas. There are many other materials that can be recycled and sold as scrap again such as; all kinds of metals, items that are thrown away from dorm rooms like refrigerators and microwaves. These are only a few ideas of other sources of income for Purdue from recycling.

Work Cited: Gaigos, Susan. “New Device Brightens Recycling Efforts” Science Blog at Purdue University.Web. 1998. 14 July 2009. “Green Report Card at Purdue University”, College Sustainability Report Card. Web. 2009. 10 July 2009. Purdue University Calumet. Purdue University Villages. Web. 14 July 2009. Brower, Michael and Leon, Warren. The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices. 2000. Print. "Sustainability at Purdue University". Black, Gold and Green. Web. 16 July 2009

15 Schenke, Jim. "Purdue University Residences expands recycling efforts ". Purdue News Service. Web. 16 July2009. “Shredding/recycling program to enhance electronic data security". Purdue Today. Web.29 June 2009. 6 July 2009. < http://www.purdue.edu/UNS/insidepurdue/2009/090629_ shred.html> Hromadka, Erik. "Green manufacturing: innovative design, improved processes and recycling efforts in Indiana". Indiana Business Magazine. Web. 1 May 2008. 13 July 2009. “Shredding/recycling program to enhance electronic data security". Purdue Today. Web. 29 June 2009.6July “Recycling” Boiler Green Initiatives. 2006. 17 July 2009.