Waste & Materials Management
Campus waste generation amounts to approximately 70 pounds per person annually. Reduction of CSUN’s waste is necessary to conserve valuable natural resources, reduce environmental pollution and reduce negative social impacts.
Main Strategies
- Reduction of total waste generated by the campus (including landfill, recycling, and other disposal methods)
- Increase diversion of waste from landfills
- Increase awareness of waste, recycling and related issues
- Improve collection and access of waste related data and information
Objectives for 2023
- Reduction of total waste per capita by 20% over current values
- Diversion of 75% of waste from landfills by 2023
- Expand recycling capability to a wider range of plastics and other materials
2020-21 Priorities and Outcomes
- Expand outdoor zero waste bin retrofits.
- By the end of August 2021, all outdoor bins will have been stationed in clusters at strategic locations, and wrapped to match the aesthetic and messaging of other waste bins across campus.
- Continue education and promotion of proper waste handling practices, specifically around food waste.
- New signage for the organics stream was developed to target common contaminants. This signage will be deployed as the campus is repopulated.
- Promote and increase the reuse of durable goods.
- Associated Students plans to continue using the operations yard at the Sustainability Center as a reuse space for office supplies, clothing, and other reusable goods.
- Conduct a campus-wide waste audit of landfill, recycling, and food waste streams.
- This did not happen due to the greatly reduced on-campus population as a result of COVID-19 as well as the restrictions around social distancing.
Other Highlights
- A textile recycling program was launched beginning with the Theatre Department's costume shop, enabling the donation and recycling of wearable clothes and shoes as well as fabric scraps. Additional opportunities for textile recycling will be expanded as the campus is repopulated.
- Waste hauling costs were reduced by approximately 90% due to low on-campus waste generation and actively adapting service levels to meet the campus' needs.
- A new toner cartridge recycling program was launched through a partnership with a local company. All of CSUN's toner cartridges collected by this company are now being refilled or recycled.
- CSUN has concluded a three-year grant with CalRecycle which enabled the purchase of 434 new three-stream waste bins, and the retrofitting of 309 outdoor bins. The total value of the grant was $124,838.
2021-22 Priorities
- Expand education on sustainability practices related to waste through speakers, special events, classes, signage, videos, and field trips to landfills.
- Create an “In-residence sustainability coordinator” position in Housing who is also a Sustainability Champion.
- Conduct research on the amount and quality of student, faculty and staff awareness of waste management on campus.
Other
Comprehensive Assessment
Issue:
WR1.1
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Conduct a comprehensive assessment of waste management and resource recovery by all entities on campus to ensure that these are being managed in the most efficient manner and that functions are not duplicated. Streamline operations to maximize efficiencies.
Status:
The University has developed a new RFP that will require the waste hauler to collect data per bin pick up and to complete two waste audits annually. Potential to add TUC and USU to main contract.
Party Responsible:
PPM, AM, Housing, TUC, USU, AS, IS, PCA
Next/Action Items:
In-progress. TUC to determine if existing hauler can provide composting services.
Paper Towels v. Blow Dryers
Issue:
WR1.2
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Carry out cost-benefit analysis for replacing paper towels in restrooms with electric blow dryers, and replace where viable.
Status:
In progress: PPM has installed several and has identified a few restrooms with high traffic, access to electrical, and areas that would not be impacted by the noise. Largely held up by funding for the dryers.
Party Responsible:
PPM
Next/Action Items:
In-progress.
Electronic Processes
Issue:
WR1.3
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Reduce printing of documents and implement two-sided printing wherever possible.
Status:
The University has purchased 94 printers purchased for every lab and the library. The new features include: Limited free printing and then there is a charge for excess. Default system to duplex, must select single sided. Branding for printing. "Think before you print." USU has moved over to duplex printing in student printing labs.
Housing- getting rid of paper tickets, using hand held devices for electronic W/O's.
USU and SRC are using electronic W/O's.
PPM- in discussion, Paper MER will go away using Siemens Advantage database. CMMS potential to change. They are using computers in shops to view W/O's reducing printing.
AS- Annual budget process all paperless. All AS printers are duplex.
AM- working on rolling out electronic process.
Party Responsible:
IT, College IT Reps., Library
Next/Action Items:
In-progress. Continue electronic process implementation.
Office Surplus Program
Issue:
WR1.4
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Establish an office surplus reuse or donation program for office supplies that includes tracking.
Status:
AS and AM have begun to researching this and need to determine general logistics of this program. Potential to use Matador Exchange system for this program.
Party Responsible:
AS, IS, AM
Next/Action Items:
In-progress. Investigate potential to use Matador Exchange for this type of program.
Disposable Dinnerware
Issue:
WR1.5
Priority:
3
Strategy:
Reduce use of all disposable dinnerware, plates, utensils and cups on campus.
Status:
All plates, utensils, cups and containers (PUCC’s) are compostable including Pepsi cups except for hot soup containers. Franchises are excluded.
Party Responsible:
TUC
Next/Action Items:
On-going.
Recycling Center
Issue:
WR2.1
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Construct a new recycling facility to provide expanded recycling ability both in terms of quantity and type of materials
Status:
New AS Sustainability and Recycling Center is in design. Design should be completed end of semester.
Party Responsible:
AS, FPDC
Next/Action Items:
Construction will begin Fall 2015.
Expand Recycling Program
Issue:
WR2.2
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Expand recycling program to all buildings
Status:
In-Building recycling program was piloted this year. This program should be expanded, but staffing and funding are issues. A CQF grant for new bins was applied, awaiting results. The new RFP will allow for the purchase of additional bins.
Party Responsible:
AS, PPM
Next/Action Items:
In-progress. Continue to roll this program out throughout campus.
Bins in VPAC Lobby
Issue:
WR2.3
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Add recycling bins to the lobby of The Valley Performing Arts Center.
Status:
Recycling or compostable bins are being evaluated for VPAC.
Party Responsible:
AS, TUC, VPAC, PPM
Next/Action Items:
In-progress.
Recycling in Student Housing
Issue:
WR2.4
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Expand recycling and resource recovery to Residence Halls and provide recycling containers to all rooms or corridors in Student Housing
Status:
AS Recycling is servicing this location (18 bins). The new phase of housing will have recycling and landfill shoots to be collected by the hauler.
Party Responsible:
AS, Housing
Next/Action Items:
In-progress. Need to determine how to improve the program in student housing.
Vertical Baler
Issue:
WR2.5
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Purchase a baler to yield bales of cardboard, solid mixed paper and PET
Status:
This will be included in the new AS Sustainability and Recycling Center.
Party Responsible:
AS
Next/Action Items:
In-progress.
Recycle #3-7 Plastics
Issue:
WR2.6
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Investigate a market for recycled plastics #3-#7, and expand program accordingly
Status:
No progress on this, there needs to be a market for these items.
Party Responsible:
AS
Next/Action Items:
No action taken.
Item Reuse in Housing
Issue:
WR2.7
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Establish a space for storing students’ discarded items when students vacate housing
Status:
There has been no movement on this.
Party Responsible:
Housing, AS, PPM
Next/Action Items:
No action taken.
Website of Recycled Items
Issue:
WR3.1
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Create a detailed website showing what items can be recycled and where to take them
Status:
Matador Exchange could be used for all items except for state property. State property could go through asset management.
Party Responsible:
AS, IS
Next/Action Items:
In-progress. Investigate potential to use Matador Exchange for this type of program.
Signage for All Bins
Issue:
WR3.2
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Increase signage for all bins (plastic, cans, paper, compost, landfill signs)
Status:
Working with VISCOM on developing signage for bins as well as sustainability plan wide logos, etc.
Party Responsible:
AS, PPM, TUC, Housing, USU
Next/Action Items:
In-progress.
Signage in High Waste Locations
Issue:
WR3.3
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Increase signage in high waste generating locations (dining services, restrooms, computer labs, etc.)
Status:
Same strategy as above WR3.2.
Party Responsible:
AS, PPM, TUC, Housing, USU
Next/Action Items:
In-progress.
Housing Education Program
Issue:
WR3.4
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Create an education program for the Housing Resident Assistants and a mandatory orientation for housing students on waste and recycling
Status:
The MataSphere themed living community will ideally grow and expand their efforts on education in housing.
Party Responsible:
Housing, AS
Next/Action Items:
On-going. Housing to install sticker signage throughout their facilities during the summer of 2015.
Housing Coordinator
Issue:
WR3.5
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Create an “In-residence sustainability coordinator” position in Housing who is also a member of the Green Core Committee
Status:
Student taking the lead with education on recycling. MataSphere has potential to do this.
Party Responsible:
Housing
Next/Action Items:
In-progress.
Sustainability Education
Issue:
WR3.6
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Expand education on sustainability practices related to waste through speakers, special events, classes, signage, videos, and field trips to landfills
Status:
See Education section.
Party Responsible:
AS, IS
Next/Action Items:
In-progress.
Historical Data Assessment
Issue:
WR4.1
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Conduct comprehensive assessment of historical waste and recycling data. Report data.
Status:
Collection, analysis and report were completed but data from the current waste hauler is spotty and unreliable.
Party Responsible:
PPM, IS, AS, USU, Housing, TUC
Next/Action Items:
On-going.
Data Collection and Accessibility
Issue:
WR4.2
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Coordinate waste data collection, reporting and management across campus. Make waste
and recycle data accessible and publicly available
Status:
All data is now being collected in the waste and recycling tracking google sheet.
Party Responsible:
PPM, IS, AS, USU, Housing, TUC
Next/Action Items:
On-going.
Waste Audits
Issue:
WR4.3
Priority:
3
Strategy:
Conduct regular waste audits (food, trash, recycling, etc.)
Status:
This will be done through the new waste hauling contract 2 times annually. AS completed a visual audit of random bins throughout campus.
Party Responsible:
PPM, AS, Housing, TUC, USU, IS
Next/Action Items:
On-going.
Assess Waste Streams
Issue:
WR4.4
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Continuously assess campus waste streams
Status:
This will be done through the new waste hauling contract 2 times annually.
Party Responsible:
PPM, AM, Housing, TUC, USU, AS, IS, PCA
Next/Action Items:
On-going.
Waste Management Research
Issue:
WR4.5
Priority:
Strategy:
Conduct research on the amount and quality of student, faculty and staff awareness of waste management on campus
Status:
No action taken
Party Responsible:
IS
Next/Action Items:
Determine the level of education on the waste stream.
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