OU Receives Grant to Improve Recycling on Norman Campus
Recycling on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus recently became a bit more high-tech after its Facilities Management department received a one-time grant from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality Solid Waste Management Grant Program to purchase Bigbelly Smart Max Waste and Recycling stations.
The new stations, which are part of a pilot program on campus, are equipped with a compactor and sensors that monitor and report fullness level, collection activity, bin status and GPS location. And, with a capacity of 150 gallons, one bin holds five times more waste than a traditional bin.
Through the nearly $25,000 grant, OU Facilities Management was able to purchase three double stations along with initial supplies and software. The stations are located at the southeast corner of Asp Avenue and Felgar Street, the northeast side of the South Oval by Richards Hall, and the southwest side of the South Oval by Dale Hall. If the pilot program is successful, the department may expand the number of stations on campus.
“The top goal of any recycling program is to divert a greater portion of waste from reaching a landfill,” said Sarah Ballew, OU Energy and Sustainability director. “Reaching that goal starts with visibility and education. These new stations immediately increase the visibility of our program due to their size and customized wrap design. Being able to tailor the bin signage for OU’s program allows for point-of-disposal education about what can and cannot be recycled. We are optimistic that this will lead to higher collection volumes and lower rates of contamination. Another added benefit is that everything at the station is solar powered.”
By providing automated, real-time collection notifications to the recycling team, more labor hours can be redirected from collection to other recycling tasks, such as sorting the collected materials.
“The new stations, while attention-getting, are just one part of a larger project reviewing the locations and number of exterior waste and recycling bins,” Ballew said. “By strategically reducing total bins on campus to where only necessary, the department will reduce the number of plastic liners used, reduce fuel consumption to service the bins and reduce daily labor hours.
“This may not sound like a lot at first, but it adds up. When using 8,000 plastic liners annually, any reduction will make a needed impact, and the fuel reduction equates to approximately two metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.”
More information about recycling on OU’s Norman campus can be found on the Facilities Management department’s website.
By Amy Buchanan
