BEST PRACTICES

The amount of waste that is generated at the residential life facilities on your campus can be reduced significantly through the implementation of waste reduction approaches, such as conservation and recycling. Consider the following waste reduction approaches can be incorporated into the waste management systems at your campus:

• Waste Prevention - Also known as source reduction, waste prevention emphasizes designing, manufacturing, purchasing and using materials and products with the intention of reducing the volume of discarded waste.
• Recycling - Recycling is the collection of materials that would otherwise be discarded, so that they may be used as raw materials in manufacturing operations for new products. A best management practice is to reuse items several times and then send them to a recycling center for processing.
• Composting - Composting is a natural process by which food scraps, yard trimmings and other organic materials are collected and allowed to decompose under controlled conditions into a rich, soil-like substance called compost.

There are many environmental and economical benefits to conservation and recycling; strategies for both include:

• Encourage suppliers to minimize the amount of packaging they use to protect their products or investigate alternate suppliers who might use less packaging. Work with suppliers to make arrangements for returning shipping materials such as crates, cartons and pallets for reuse.
• Use durable, reusable products rather than single-use materials. For example, encourage staff and students to use ceramic mugs in place of disposable cups, and reuse common items such as file folders, binders and storage boxes.
• Reduce the use of hazardous constituents in your waste streams by using substitute products that are free of hazardous materials. There are substitutes available for standard cleaning solvents, inks, paints, glues and other materials that might be used in your residential life facilities. Ask your suppliers to direct you toward reformulated products, such as toners with no heavy metals, water-based paints and cleaning solutions.
• Be cautious about over-ordering products with a limited shelf life.
• Design a system of collection that sorts the waste generated on your campus, such as bottles, cans, paper and corrugated cardboard, for recycling.
• Promote recycling efforts on your campus to students, faculty and staff, and periodically report the status of the recycling program and the progress that has been made.
• Establish a campus-wide double-sided photocopying policy.
• Reuse envelopes for intra-campus use or use two-way (“send-n-return”) envelopes.
• Send bulletins via electronic mail or set up a central bulletin board for posted information to reduce the use of flyers.
• Install reusable furnace and air conditioner filters in the residential life buildings on your campus.

To minimize the consumption of fresh water associated with your campus’ residential buildings, adhere to or, if appropriate, encourage dormitory and off-campus housing residents to adhere to the following best practices:

• Take short showers: turn water on to get wet, turn off water to lather up, and back on to rinse.
• Don’t let water run while shaving or washing your face. Brush teeth first while waiting for the water to get hot, then wash or shave after filling the basin.
• Verify that the dormitories are "leak free." Read a building’s water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used and if the meter does not read exactly the same, then there is a leak.
• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
• Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes dryers only when they are fully loaded.
• When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water and quickly rinse under a slow moving stream from the faucet.
• Store drinking water in the refrigerator to avoid letting the tap run while waiting for cool water to flow.
• Avoid using running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on the microwave.
• Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste, instead of using a garbage disposal - they require lots of water to operate properly.
• Wash vegetables and fruit in a basin. Use a vegetable brush to remove dirt. Use the remaining water to water houseplants and hanging baskets.

To minimize the consumption of fresh water associated with your campus’ residential buildings, adhere to or, if appropriate, encourage residents to adhere to the following best practices:

• Verify that buildings are "leak free." Many buildings have hidden water leaks. Read the water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, then there is a leak.
• Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. A faucet dripping at a rate of one drop per second can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year - which adds to the cost of your school’s water bill.
• Replace or adjust toilet handles stuck in the flush position to prevent water running constantly.
• When purchasing new or replacement toilets, consider low-volume units, which use less than half the water of older models.