Working together to make UNC Charlotte Greener Campaign How removing a trash can reduces trash and other step toward efficient and greener campus
UNC-Charlotte s Housekeeping and Office of Waste Reduction & Recycling UNC Charlotte is the fourth largest of the 17 institutions within the UNC system and the largest institution in the Charlotte region. Founded in 1968, UNC Charlotte is enjoying a period of profound growth and expansion. Seven new academic buildings were completed within the last six years. And a new student union opened in 2009. UNC-Charlotte has over 25,000 students supported by 4000 staff and faculty. Nearly ¾ of the student commute to campus. 5,000 live on campus, another 5,000 live immediately surrounding the campus.
Facilities Management HOUSEKEEPING The Housekeeping Department has 135 positions that are on campus 24/7 in three shifts. For efficiency, the majority of cleaning of the 30 administrative and academic buildings occurs during third shift (80 staff). Provides day to day feedback contact from their zone
Recycling Staff The Office of Waste Reduction & Recycling started in 1990, we have 14 full time staff positions. We collect over 40 items to be recycled and remanufactured from over 1300 bins daily. Over 1,500,000 pounds of recyclables were collected in 2009-2010. Service 47 buildings Immediate feedback Recycling Logo on shirts identify team
RECYCLING collection GET IT IN Everyone (students, staff and faculty) at UNC Charlotte is asked to get the recyclables into a bin at a central location
Residential Halls Each room, suite, or apartment is provided with an 18-gallon curbside bin to use for recycling within the room. Students are responsible for making sure that their bin is emptied in the proper location.
Residential students bring it to central location Outside to a Roll-Off Bin or inside to a common area to the recycling cabinet or RED AND YELLOW BINS
Staff and Faculty do their part by bringing it to central area Every faculty/staff member on campus has a desk-side blue recycling bin. They empty and correctly separate the contents of these blue bins into larger departmental bins labeled for news blend and office blend. Recycling Staff collects recyclable materials from 1300 centrally location bins inside the academic buildings using 90 gallon toters.
Everyone does their part by taking it to central indoor or outdoor recycling bins
Changes that lead to removing classroom trash cans Our constantly revised Budget On October 9, 2009, The University of North Carolina System sustainability policy was passed by the Board of Governors. With the policy in place, we are now charged to develop programs that work toward achieving zero waste. Removing the trash cans from all of the classrooms and requiring staff / students to bring the trash as well as their recyclables to a common area will increase recycling rates and decrease waste on campus. It will also engage the entire campus as we work together to green UNC Charlotte. On October 16, 2009, the UNC Charlotte Sustainability Committee met for the first time, tasked with creating a plan for a sustainable campus Our own pilot in Fretwell and Friday second summer session 2009 proved very successful with a 20% increase in collection of recyclables. January 2011 Dr Dubois signs the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment.
The Pilot July 2009 Utilizing the successful recycling program model that relied on everyone taking it to the bin, we hoped everyone would also take their trash out of the classroom to a central trash can NO BIN With the Senior Associate Provost support, we chose two highly used buildings for the summer pilot. In the week between semesters, housekeepers removed the trash bins and we placed posters up.
Education on where are the bins? Posters!
Student and staff take recyclables and trash to the bins in the hallway
25% increase in recycling & no additional trash left in classrooms Before the pilot started 3 rd shift housekeeping recorded the amount of trash they had to pick up in the classroom during the 1 st summer semester. After the trash cans were removed they only reported an increase in trash to pick up the first week, then trash collection decreased and recycling increased by 25%
Expanded program during spring term 2010 to the entire campus No trash cans are in the classrooms Recycling again increased 25% in each building and additional trash left in classrooms was not a problem
Tabling outside the buildings
Benefits 25% increase in recycling of bottles and cans Saved money by not purchasing trash can liners and additional replacement trash cans ~200 liners each day had been being replaced Everyone working together to save resources.
Some hurdles Over 90% participation from Faculty, Staff and Students with great support from Senior Associate Provost Still a few problems had to be creative in the older building to find a common area to place trash cans and trash bins Some resistance, some staff still wanted it the way it had been We personally went to talk with staff to address these issues Waste cans were moved from rest rooms and into classrooms We found out half way through the term that continuing education instructors had not been informed about the change, they assumed someone had moved their classroom containers
Working Together to create a GREENER UNC Charlotte Recycling and Housekeeping Staff in Facilities All staff in Facilities Management and throughout the campus E.A.R.T.H. Club Faculty Sustainability Committee Keep Charlotte Green Other student organization especially service clubs
Housekeeping Services: Overview Academic Buildings and Offices Sweep, vacuum, mop, dust, wipe black boards, and empty trash. Clean restrooms, common areas, window glass, and wash walls. Pick up exterior trash within 15 feet of entrances. Security: Lock/Unlock Buildings Housekeeping unlocks the academic buildings every morning. Campus police lock the buildings every night. Floor Maintenance Strip, scrub, wax, buff, and clean carpet. Clean upholstered furniture.
Services: Routine Daily Cleaning 1. Restroom Cleaning a) Dry Sweep Floor b) Empty Trash c) Disinfect Partitions, Fixtures, and Furniture d) Replenish Toilet Tissue, Paper Towels, and Soap 2. Dust Mop/Sweep Hard Surface Floors 3. Damp/Spot Mop Hard Surface Floors 4. Vacuum Carpets in Public Areas and Classrooms 5. Clean Door Frames, Kick Plates, Push Plates, and Light Switches 6. Spot Clean Carpet 7. Empty Trash Containers in Public Areas (3 times per week in offices) 8. Clean Walk-Off Mats 9. Clean Water Fountains 10. Clean Chalkboards, Erasers, and Trays 11. Clean Entrance Doors, Frames, and Window Glass 12. Clean Outside Entranceways within 15 feet of Building
Services: Monthly Maintenance 1. Clean Trash Containers 2. Dust HVAC Vents 3. Wax Touch-Up 4. High, Low, and Window Ledge Dusting 5. Scrub Restroom Floors and Walls
Services: Quarterly Maintenance 1. Clean Pipes where Visible 2. Clean Windows and Frames Inside 3. Dust Blinds
Services: Semi-Annual Maintenance 1. Clean Vinyl and Upholstered Furniture 2. Clean Upholstered Partitions 3. Clean Carpets in High Traffic Areas
Services: Annual Maintenance 1. Clean Wood Floors in Storrs and Rowe Buildings 2. Clean Outside Windows (Contracted) 3. Clean Carpet, Water Extraction Method 4. Strip and Refinish Resilient and Tile Floors
For more information: Contact UNC Charlotte Greg Kish - Housekeeping Administrator 704-687-2933 gkish@uncc.edu Kathy Boutin-Pasterz - Recycling Coordinator 704-687-2137 kboutin@uncc.edu