Recycling In The Dorms:Recycling In The Dorms:SUNY Brockport, McFarlane HallSUNY Brockport, McFarlane Hall

Victoria FoosVictoria Foos

Rozetta SmithRozetta Smith

RecyclingRecycling The reprocessing of materials into new The reprocessing of materials into new

productsproducts Prevents useful material resources being Prevents useful material resources being

wastedwasted Reduces the consumption of raw materials Reduces the consumption of raw materials

and reduces energy usage, and greenhouse and reduces energy usage, and greenhouse gas emissions gas emissions

Three R’sThree R’s ReduceReduce the amount and toxicity of trash the amount and toxicity of trash ReuseReuse containers and products containers and products RecycleRecycle as much as possible as much as possible

ReduceReduce

Waste prevention, or "source reduction," Waste prevention, or "source reduction," consuming and throwing away lessconsuming and throwing away less

seeking products and packaging that are as free of toxics as seeking products and packaging that are as free of toxics as possiblepossible

purchasing durable, long-lasting goodspurchasing durable, long-lasting goods redesigning products to use less raw material in production, or redesigning products to use less raw material in production, or

be used again after its original use be used again after its original use Prevents the generation of waste in the first placePrevents the generation of waste in the first placemost preferred method of waste management most preferred method of waste management goes a long way toward protecting the environmentgoes a long way toward protecting the environment

ReuseReuse

Repairing items Repairing items Donating to charity and community Donating to charity and community

groups groups Selling itemsSelling itemsalso reduces wastealso reduces wasteReusing products is better than recycling Reusing products is better than recycling

because the item does not need to be because the item does not need to be reprocessed before it can be used againreprocessed before it can be used again

Recycle Recycle

Turns materials that would otherwise become Turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resourceswaste into valuable resources

Generates a host of environmental, financial, Generates a host of environmental, financial, and social benefitsand social benefits

Materials like glass, metal, plastics, and paper Materials like glass, metal, plastics, and paper are collected, separated and sent to facilities are collected, separated and sent to facilities that can process them into new materials or that can process them into new materials or productsproducts

(“Reduce…”)(“Reduce…”)

ResearchingResearching

Questioned Maintenance about recycling Questioned Maintenance about recycling in the dormsin the dorms Most years recycling is a major problemMost years recycling is a major problem Residents uneducated on what to recycleResidents uneducated on what to recycle Males recycle less than femalesMales recycle less than females

Conducted surveyConducted survey

Survey Survey

1.1. Do you know what materials can be Do you know what materials can be recycled in the dorms?recycled in the dorms?

2.2. Do you use the recycling bin provided for Do you use the recycling bin provided for you?you?

3.3. Did your Resident Assistant inform you Did your Resident Assistant inform you about recycling at the beginning of the yearabout recycling at the beginning of the year

4.4. Do you leave your bin out for collection Do you leave your bin out for collection every weekevery week

5.5. Do you feel that the lack of recycling in the Do you feel that the lack of recycling in the dorms is a problemdorms is a problem

6.6. Do you feel that recycling tends to be a Do you feel that recycling tends to be a hasslehassle

Floors vs. floorsFloors vs. floors

  Floor 1 Floor 2 Floor 3  

Question yes no yes no yes no

1 13 3 16 1 20 3

2 7 9 17 0 18 5

3 13 3 11 6 14 9

4 4 12 17 0 12 11

5 4 12 8 9 6 17

6 3 13 4 13 4 19

Males vs. femalesMales vs. females

  Males Females  

Question yes no yes no

1 23 5 26 2

2 16 12 26 2

3 22 6 16 12

4 9 19 24 4

5 8 20 10 18

6 6 22 5 23

HypothesisHypothesis

If we get the residents in McFarlane If we get the residents in McFarlane involved in a contest, the amount of involved in a contest, the amount of recycling will increase within the dormsrecycling will increase within the dorms

ObjectivesObjectives

Determine how educated people are on recycling Determine how educated people are on recycling overall by surveyoverall by survey

Make residents start thinking about recycling/problems Make residents start thinking about recycling/problems involvedinvolved

Get students active in recyclingGet students active in recycling Get RA’s more involved depending on response from Get RA’s more involved depending on response from

residents at conclusion of surveyresidents at conclusion of survey Win a pizza party because Victoria lives on the second Win a pizza party because Victoria lives on the second

floor of McFarlanefloor of McFarlane Determine whether gender has anything to do with Determine whether gender has anything to do with

recycling trendsrecycling trends

MethodologyMethodology

McFarlane Hall, SUNY College at McFarlane Hall, SUNY College at Brockport, Brockport, NYBrockport, Brockport, NY

Conducted Wednesday 25 April 2007 – Conducted Wednesday 25 April 2007 – Wednesday 2 May 2007Wednesday 2 May 2007

Materials Materials FlyersFlyers Fish hook scaleFish hook scale Large garbage bagsLarge garbage bags

Contest between all floors!!Contest between all floors!! Starting Wednesday April 25th, collect all of your Starting Wednesday April 25th, collect all of your

plastic and glass bottles and your cartons and plastic and glass bottles and your cartons and put them outside your door the night of put them outside your door the night of

Tuesday May 1st. The floor with the greatest Tuesday May 1st. The floor with the greatest weight of recyclables collected on Wednesday weight of recyclables collected on Wednesday May 2nd, will win a free pizza party…So start May 2nd, will win a free pizza party…So start

COLLECTING!!!!!COLLECTING!!!!!

Methodology Cont….Methodology Cont….

Talk to maintenance Talk to maintenance 2 May 2007, Collect recyclables in plastic 2 May 2007, Collect recyclables in plastic

bags (separate by floors)bags (separate by floors) Weigh bags Weigh bags Determine winners of contestDetermine winners of contest Receive FundingReceive Funding Give pizza prize to winnerGive pizza prize to winner

Before vs. AfterBefore vs. After

  Floor 1 Floor 2 Floor 3

Before 4 17 12

After 4 19 21

Weight of Recyclables

Floor 1

Floor 2

Floor 3

LimitationsLimitations

On Floor 2, 11 dorms did not answer and On Floor 2, 11 dorms did not answer and may have been unaware of the contestmay have been unaware of the contest

We heard reports of the 3We heard reports of the 3rdrd floor stealing floor stealing recyclables from the 2recyclables from the 2ndnd floor floor

Students probably forgot and possibly Students probably forgot and possibly should have been remindedshould have been reminded

ConclusionsConclusions

Floors 3 is the WinnerFloors 3 is the Winner Success in objectivesSuccess in objectives Our results related to the hypothesis, in that Our results related to the hypothesis, in that

there was an increase in participation in there was an increase in participation in recycling when a prize was involved recycling when a prize was involved

More contests in the future = greater results in More contests in the future = greater results in recyclingrecycling

Spread contest to other dorms and buildingsSpread contest to other dorms and buildings Give contest to custodiansGive contest to custodians

Literature CitedLiterature Cited

““Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.” Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.” Municipal Municipal Solid WasteSolid Waste. U.S. Environmental . U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2006 Protection Agency. 2006 <http://www.epa.gov/msw/reduce.htm>. <http://www.epa.gov/msw/reduce.htm>.

RECYCLERECYCLE