Post on 14-Jan-2017
Smithsonian’s Newest Museum Goes GREEN
Nancy J. BechtolDirector, Smithsonian Facilities
Smithsonian Astrophysical ObservatoryAZ & HI
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, MA
Ft. Pierce Marine, FL
Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, NYNational Museum of the American Indian, NY
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, MDNMAI – Cultural Research Center, MD
Storage Facility, NJ
Museums & Zoo DCSmithsonian Conservation and Biology Institute, VAStorage Facility, VA
Smithsonian Tropical Research Center, Panama
Storage Facility, PA
Our reach is far & wide
The Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Rooftop solar panels
Porch green roof
History Gallery green roof & lawn irrigation system
Grey water treatment holding tank
Clerestory lighting
Energy efficient exhibit lighting
State of the art restaurant
Eric Hollinger Ph.D.Archaeologist, National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution Recycling Program
“In view of the great & increasing cost of paper, and of the large quantity of the article required in the operations of the Institution, I request that a basket be kept in each room of the building, into which all pieces of waste paper may be thrown during the day and afterwards emptied into a common receptacle to be preserved for sale.” Secretary Joseph Henry, 1862.
Smithsonian Recycling Since 1862
Interior exit
Paper Recycling
Cardboard Recycling
Paper and Cardboard Recycling Facility
Georgetown Paper Stock
Bottle & Can RecyclingCommingled containers Plastics resin codes 1 through 5 Glass AluminumBi-metal cans
Still better bins
2007- <1 ton2008- 6 tons2009- 15.3 tons2010- 26.7 tons2011- 30.9 tons2012- 42.9 tons2013- 49 tons2014- 51 tons2015- 40.1 tons
Commingle increase at the National History Museum
Montgomery Co. Recycling Facility
Recycling commingle (bottles and cans)
Wood pallets
Electronics make up a growing portion of the Smithsonian’s recycling efforts.
05/01/2023
Scrap Metal Recycling
Joseph Smith and Sons
The Natural History Museum partners with Whole Foods to send #5 plastic laboratory
waste to Preserve for recycling
The NMNH molecular lab,Laboratories of Analytical Biology,generates tons of clean #5 plastic waste
Preserve is a company that recycles #5 plastic into consumer products. www.preserveproducts.com
Acrylic from shop and exhibit displays
Bulky Debris Recycling
Recycle One Facility
Smithsonian Banner Bags
Banner tote bags sold to buy LED bulbs
Broken fossils from gift shop used as garden decoration
Elephant Manure >600 tons per yr
National Zoo
Composting food waste in 3 museum restaurants
Equipment at Western Branch Composting Facility
Contaminated Organics
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Staff Picnic Pilot 2012
The Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival Composted or Recycled 74% of its Waste in 2013
The Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival Composted or Recycled 93% of its Waste in both 2014 and 2015
The Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival Composted or Recycled 96% in 2016
Percentage of SI’s Solid Waste Diverted from Landfills