LEARNING TOLOVE THE SOLID WASTE ACT

E. Gifford StackSolid Waste BureauOutreach Section ManagerNew Mexico Environment Department827-2653e.gifford.stack@state.nm.us

www.nmenv.state.nm.us/swb

In a June 29, 2006 letter sent to you:

“The New Mexico Solid Waste Act … includes provisions … calling for post-secondary institutions in New Mexico to join with all other citizens and sectors in efforts to recycle valuable materials and reduce the waste stream….”

New Mexico Solid Waste Act(NMSA 1978 74-9-1)

Overall goal:

“…to divert twenty-five percent of all solid waste from solid waste disposal facilities by July 1, 1995, and fifty percent of all solid waste by July 1, 2000….”

Each post-secondary educational institution

shall (NMSA 74-9-16):

• Plan for waste reduction and recycling• Appoint a recycling coordinator • Implement waste reduction and recycling

programs• Target high grade paper, corrugated

cardboard, and glass• Compost organic waste• Educate students, faculty, and staff

Plan details

• Submit for approval to Secretary of General Services

• Update biennially

• Updates must be approved prior to adoption

Each central purchasing office shall:

(NMSA 74-9-19)

• Establish specifications, policies and practices to buy recycled products

• Offer a 5% price preference

Did you know?

• Over 75% of the nation’s colleges and universities recycle

• The average campus recycles 22% of its waste

• Many recycle over 40% of their waste

How to Develop a Recycling Program

Step 1: Seek Support For RecyclingStep 2: Research Campus ConditionsStep 3: Develop Scope and ScaleStep 4: Identify MarketsStep 5: Identify Program GoalsStep 6: Determine Funding Source

*Outdoor Campus Containers

*Outdoor Campus Containers

*Outdoor Campus Containers

*Indoor Campus Containers

For Beverage Containers

*Indoor Campus Containers

Desk side

*Indoor Campus Containers

For Paper

*Indoor Campus Containers

Campus Housing

How to Implement a Recycling Program

Task 1: Create a Program Name and Logo

Task 2: Develop Support Network Task 3: Establish Tasks and TimelineTask 4: Set Up Recycling Collection PointsTask 5: Record ProgressTask 6: Encourage Waste Reduction

*Recycling Program Logos

*Signage

for OfficePaper

*Signagefor

Dormitories

*Signagein

Spanish

*Map

Model Recycling Programs

• University of New Mexico (UNM)

• Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)

University of New Mexico Recycling

Program• Managed by Safety, Health &

Environmental Affairs

• 1 full-time recycling coordinator

• 7 recycling technicians

• Collaborates with Physical Plant and Housing Departments

UNM Recycling

• Started with paper

*UNM Recycling in 2005

Tons

Corrugated cardboard 195.5

Mixed paper 165.0

White ledger 89.0

Steel cans 43.0

Compost 42.5

Newspaper 37.0

Wood chips 28.8

Cooking oil/grease 7.6

Pallets 7.0

Lead acid batteries 6.7

Motor oil 3.0

Tires 2.5

Fluorescent lamps 2.5

Used photographic fixer 2.3

Printer cartridges 1.3

Tons

PET plastic 1.0

Aluminum 1.0

Other non-ferrous metals 1.0

Anti-freeze 0.7

Non-PCB light ballasts 0.7

Mixed glass 0.5

Styrofoam 0.5

Empty steel drums 0.4

Mercury 0.2

Oil filters 0.2

Ni Cad batteries 0.2

Lithium batteries 0.1

Empty poly drums 0.1

Circuit boards 0.1

TOTAL 638.6

UNM RecyclingLessons Learned:

• Advertise to campus community• Prove you are reliable• Communicating with customers is key

to forgiveness• Best price for materials• Improving equipment and safety• Improving employee pride in work

Central New Mexico Community CollegeRecycling Program

• Advisory committee oversight

• 1 full-time recycling coordinator

• 6 recycling staff members

• 3 collection vehicles

CNM Recycling

• Surplus property for sale • Recycles

white papercorrugated cardboardpalletsaluminumother metals (iron/copper/steel)toner cartridgesmiscellaneous (vehicle motors)

CNM Recycling

Annual Averages—1998 - 2005• Materials revenue of $23,000 per year

• Recycled 30 tons of paper per year

• 25% of white ledger purchased was recycled

CNM RecyclingLessons Learned:

• Establish centralized pick up locations• Set regular pick up schedules• Create recycling awareness• Get management support and sponsorship• Financially self-sufficient, not profitable• Portrays ‘green image’ to the community

Additional ResourcesCollege and University Recycling Councilwww.nrc-recycle.org/councils/CURC

New Mexico Recycling Coalitionwww.recyclenewmexico.com

What to do next?• Schedule campus one-on-one with SWB• Visit recycling campuses• Attend Recycling Facility Operator Certification

course, December 5 - 7 in Santa Fe• Attend NMED College and University Recycling

workshop in 2007• Attend the Rocky Mountain Sustainability

Summit: Forging Solutions at Colleges and Universities, February 22-23, 2007 at University of Colorado at Boulder

• Join the New Mexico Recycling Coalition