Recycling at CSU

Updated September 2009

Recycling and waste minimization are key components to making Colorado State a more sustainable campus.

RecycleMania

RecycleMania is a national collegiate recycling competition. Universities compete to collect the highest amount of recyclables, the least amount of trash, and achieve the highest recycling rate. Universities report their results each week in pounds per student. In 2009, more than 500 schools competed for the grand prize. In 2009, CSU finished 10th in the country and achieved a recycling rate of 54.08%. In 2008, CSU placed 2nd in the nation with a cumulative recycling rate of 51 percent! Once again, CSU finished before CU, BYU, and Ivy League colleges.

• Learn more about RecycleMania.
• Single Stream Recycling - What's Accepted on Campus?

History of Recycling at CSU

Before 1990, CSU landfilled nearly all of its trash. A small student club (that was formed in the 70s) "Campus Recycle," collected recyclable material, but diverted less than 50 cubic yards of material each year. In 1990, Facilities Management began a pilot recycling project with a $26,000 grant from the Colorado Office of Energy Conservation. Recycle Colorado State, or RCS, was established with this grant. Initial success was slow because of collection challenges. In fiscal year 1995, the number of dumpsters was reduced by half and curbside collection of trash began, the first automated recycle truck was purchased, and larger recycle containers were distributed throughout campus. In 2007, recycling collection also changed from multi-stream to single-stream collection. With all of these recycling improvements, CSU's recycling rate climbed from 26% to 56%.

Recycling efforts at CSU have garnered annual awards in the university recycling competition, RecycleMania (sponsored by The National Recycling Coalition and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). In May 2008, the Colorado Association For Recycling, or CAFR, awarded CSU the Outstanding Government Recycling/Waste Diversion Program Award. The award was presented to Sheela Backen, manager of the CSU's Integrated Solid Waste Program. CSU's recycling rate climbed from 26% to 56% under Sheela Backen's leadership.

Quick Facts at CSU

• Colorado State donates thousands of pounds a year of un-served food left over from dining halls to the Larimer County Food Bank.
• When trees are trimmed on campus, the grounds department makes mulch from waste to use on campus grounds. This diverts more than 2,000 cubic yards from landfills.
• More than 40 pounds of food waste a day are sent to off-campus sites where worms make compost, also called vermicomposting. Learn more.

Under Sheela Backen's leadership, CSU's recycling rate climbed from 26% to 56%.

Interested in cutting down your junk mail? See "Reducing Junk Mail" on the facilities site.

Leave-It-Behind Program

In an effort to divert solid waste from our landfills, the CSU Recycling Committee (now called The Live Green Team) began working with the Facilities Management Integrated Solid Waste Department (ISW) to collect unwanted items. Items can include food, clothing, shoes, towels, dishes, lamps, desks, couches, coffee pots, and plants, among many other items. These items are collected daily by the Integrated Solid Waste Department. The Live Green Team partners with community agencies to redistribute these items to help meet the needs of the Fort Collins community.

Surplus Property

Surplus Property handles, disposes, and redistributes all property that the University no longer needs. The main objective is to provide an opportunity for the reallocation of still-usable items from one area of the University to others areas that have a need for them. In addition, items no longer needed by the University, are offered to the public through weekly walk-in sales, quarterly public auctions, or recycling of items that no longer have a market value. Learn more.