A Campus Wide Waste Analysis at California State University, Chico

Abstract

ABSTRACT A CAMPUS WIDE WASTE ANALYSIS AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHICO by Eli L. Gilmore Goodsell Master of Arts in Geography Environmental Policy and Planning California State University, Chico Fall 2011 Many waste analyses completed at institutions of higher education focus on material sampling to determine the characterization of their waste. Very few (if any) campuses have collected and sorted all waste generated on campus throughout an average day. Because of the unique waste coming from multiple locations on a campus setting, a more comprehensive analysis is needed to determine waste trends. The waste analysis and characterization done at California State University, Chico (CSU, Chico) used quantitative methods to compare specific materials found in the waste to the waste stream on campus as a whole. Materials were analyzed from a sample of waste generated over twenty-four hours in buildings and outdoor waste receptacles on campus. All material collected was sorted by location into twenty three separate material categories. Each waste category was analyzed as well as the top five locations with the most divertible material in their waste stream. Results of the analysis found that the most prevalent divertible materials in the waste stream were compostable paper, food scraps, paper, and cans and bottles, respectively. These four materials represented sixty-one percent of the weight of waste coming from buildings and outdoor bins on campus. It is recommended that the composting program at CSU, Chico be expanded in order to capture more compostable paper and food scraps being disposed of on campus. Paper and cans and bottle recycling efforts should also be increased. Education and operations on campus must be improved and expanded to meet these recommendations.