Waste Reduction & Recycling

HBS Student Sustainability Associate Program

Waste Reduction & Recycling CampaignCampaign Kick-off & Waste Awareness Presentation – today!

• Introduce HBS’ sustainability program and your section’s Student Sustainability Associate (SSA)

• Kick off the Green Cup challenge and the Waste Reduction & Recycling Campaign

• Review what goes in the trash, recycling, and compost bins

Garbage Games (Green Cup Challenge) – November 3 @ 3PM

• Seeking 6 tributes from each section to compete

• Teams will enjoy an adventure-packed competition, snacks, and a shot at winning Green Cup points

• Sponsor tip: pay attention to the content in this presentation!

Sustainability at HBSResults (2014)• 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions• 21% reduction in energy consumption• 67% campus-wide recycling rate

Initiatives

• 100+ energy conservation measures

• 11 LEED Certified Buildings

• 277.5 kilowatts of on-campus installed solar (Tata, Shad, Batten, Morgan buildings)

Annual Green Cup Challenge

• Competition among the sections through a series of sustainability-themed events

• Sections compete for points that go towards the Green Cup grand prize ($1000) and contribute to SA Cup totals

• Sections that attend today’s session will receive their first Green Cup point!

Student Sustainability Associates (SSAs)

• The SSAs are HBS students that have a personal and/or professional interest in environmental sustainability

• There are 10 SSAs, one per section

• SSA initiatives:

– Promote sustainable living and working on campus through a variety of educational events and communications (see 2014-2015 campaigns)

– Suggest and pursue infrastructure and policy modifications to improve resource conservation on campus

– Serve as a resource for each section to address questions and provide information on sustainable living

Class of 2016 SSAsA Aparna Singh F Jim Ross

B Sameer Manek G Bhargavi Chevva

C Colin Fraser H Ritika Tawani

D Polina Dekhtyar I Lauren Rodriguez

E Nib Paratheeptham J Wendy Lin

2014-2015 Campaigns

Oct-Nov Waste Reduction & Recycling

Nov-Dec Energy Conservation

Feb-Mar Water Awareness

April Earth Month

May Move-Out

The Facts• We produce a lot of waste

– The average person generates over 4 pounds of trash per day (about 1.5 tons per year)

– In 2009, Americans produced enough trash to circle the earth 24 times

– Americans throw away (not recycle) 25 million plastic bottles every hour

• We’ve gotten better about recycling our waste, but have a long way to go– Over 75% of waste is recyclable, but only about 35% is recycled (up from 10% in 1990)

• Recycling waste can generate some serious value– On average, it costs $30 per ton to recycle trash compared to $50 per ton to send it to

the landfill, and $65-$75 per ton to incinerate it

– The 36 billion aluminum cans in landfills last year had a scrap value of more than $600 million. Over the past twenty years we've thrown away aluminum cans worth over $12 billion on today's market

– Every pound of recycled PET (plastic) used in place of virgin material reduces energy use in plastic production by 84% and greenhouse gas emissions by 71%

Sources: www.epa.gov, dosomething.org

The Problem

• It is nearly impossible to avoid generating waste and still be a functional, happy, and healthy person

• The average person is aware of the reduce, reuse, recycle concept, but this awareness often doesn’t translate to action

• Some common challenges include:– Convenience – Who has time to do dishes or wash towels when there

are disposable ones? Why would I go searching for a recycling bin when there’s a trash bin right here?

– Uncertainty about what to throw away vs. recycle vs. compost– Not a top priority

What has been a challenge for you?

Waste Reduction & Recycling at HBSHBS is working to make waste reduction & recycling easier for you

• HBS has single stream recycling, which means that everything that can be recycled goes into one bin

• Waste bins everywhere, including trash and recycling bins inside and outside of every classroom in Aldrich

• Composting available at Spangler Grill and performed by Spangler dining staff (waste on conveyor)

• Disposable containers and napkins that are recyclable or compostable

• Other waste reduction & recycling initiatives:– Used item drives for donation (gently used cosmetics, clothing, office supplies,

housewares)– Discount on coffee when you bring your own mug – November 6: Receive $0.67 off food & drink purchases in celebration of HBS’ 67%

recycling rate!

What Goes Where?

Plant-based plastics (labeled #7) can’t be recycled!

What Goes Where?

Greenware

What Goes Where?

Additional Resources

• Your section’s SSA• www.green.harvard.edu