Sustainability at ESF
Zero Waste Infrastructure

The Office of Sustainability, Student Affairs and student volunteers conducted a bin audit of the Syracuse campus during the summer of 2019 to better understand why campus recycling rates were falling below the national average. The results were telling! Interior bins were unlabeled and mismatched. In one building alone, there were 28 different types of trash and recycling bins being used. Even with the best of intentions, it was difficult to properly sort material on campus.

The Office of Sustainability received approval from College Leadership to purchase new, matching office, hallway and exterior bins. A formal compost program was added as part of the refresh. Now, anywhere you see trash and recycling bins in a hallway or event space, you will see compost bins too!

Each trash, recycling and compost bin on campus features educational signage explaining proper sorting techniques. Traditional office trash bins were replaced with 1.15 gallon linerless mini bins and custodial service to office trash and recycling collection was reduced from five days a week to one day a week. This practice not only encourages office occupants to compost (mini bins are not washed by custodial staff), but it also challenges them to pay close attention to the type and quantity of material they bring to campus. The reduced pickup schedule also allows custodial staff to spend more time cleaning on campus and less time collecting bins!

Visit Recycling and Compost for more information about those programs and Zero Waste & Circularity for detail about our zero waste and circularity programs and their impact.