| Background | | | | Previously, Deans had objected to recycling |
| Michigan State University | | | | containers being in so many public spaces because |
| - Founded in 1855 | | | | they were unattractive. The sleek appearance of |
| - The top research institution and leader in | | | | the ‘Waste Watcher' meant that more |
| international engagement | | | | recyclables could be collected in more places at |
| - Currently has 533 buildings and over 40,000 | | | | MSU. |
| students enrolled in the more than 200 programs | | | | The containers were used to form a recycling |
| - First recycling program was launched in 1991 | | | | station: |
| - Thousands of recycling containers have been | | | | - The ‘Waste Watchers' are designed to link |
| scattered across the campus | | | | together to form a sleek recycling station |
| Busch Systems International | | | | - Each container collects a different material |
| - North American leader of waste, compost and | | | | without occupying a great deal of space |
| recycling containers for the past 25 years | | | | - The station collects paper, mixed, boxboard, |
| - Set the industry standard for the yearly | | | | plastics and household metal |
| production of new molded bins | | | | The recycling stations are emptied by the |
| - Each container is 100% recyclable and North | | | | custodial staff who: |
| America made with a minimum of 35% recycled | | | | - Transfers the material into larger containers |
| content | | | | - The recycling crew picks up and transports the |
| Waste Watcher | | | | containers to an on campus recycling center |
| - Space efficient, high density, attractive and | | | | - The school then sorts it, bales it and sells it |
| functional | | | | - This fosters sustainability and produces a profit |
| - Ideal for high traffic areas | | | | to fund the program by |
| - Holds upward of 23 gallons of recyclables or | | | | The ‘Waste Watchers' features are designed |
| waste | | | | to help the schools collection process including: |
| - Has custom lids, labels and openings for easy | | | | - Removable lids and easy-grip handles which save |
| sorting | | | | time and resources |
| - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | | | | - Custom lid openings |
| also uses these containers | | | | - MSU selected a circular opening for plastics and |
| AnalysisThe new containers marked the beginning | | | | a thin slot shaped opening for paper collection |
| of Phase II of the MSU recycling program. In | | | | MSU found the custom openings on the |
| Phase I a mix of old and new containers were | | | | containers to work well with their program. The |
| used in various building across the school. The mix | | | | openings feature a simple, clean sorting system |
| of containers was confusing for students and | | | | which is easy to identify and use. This diverts |
| looked poorly on the campus. Phase II was rolled | | | | more materials into the correct container and |
| out in late December of 2009 with Busch | | | | reduces the resources spent sorting them. |
| ‘Waste Watchers'. Staff spent four, fourteen | | | | Conclusion |
| hour days over winter break to setup the | | | | Overall, Busch recycling containers have increased |
| program effectively. | | | | MSU's recycling participation. They have also |
| Phase II consisted of three thousand dark green | | | | improved the quality of sort from the collected |
| ‘Waste Watchers' which were placed in over | | | | materials. What remains to be seen is how the |
| 200 buildings at MSU including: | | | | program will take shape in the coming months and |
| - Classrooms | | | | how this will impact future initiatives. Nevertheless, |
| - Research labs | | | | the new containers allow for more recyclables to |
| - Athletic centers | | | | be collected in more areas. This increases the |
| - Administration buildings | | | | profit made by the recycling center and reduces |
| - Residential houses | | | | the schools carbon footprint. |
| - Bus terminals | | | | |