Zero Waste Strategic Plan

天涯海角社区 began working towards the ambitious goal of being a Zero Waste college in February 2023 by developing a Zero Waste Strategic Plan. The impetus for developing the Zero Waste plan began over a year prior when the college senate and career services passed a motion supporting Zero Waste initiatives.

Achieving Zero Waste is possible through system change, which involves new guidelines, processes, and diversion options. 天涯海角社区鈥檚 Zero Waste Plan outlines what the college needs to create the system change.

Staff, Data, and Assessments

These initiatives include adding staff to lead the Zero Waste initiatives and establishing baseline data. The baseline data will allow the college to benchmark progress.

Redesign Systems

These initiatives work to create a new Zero Waste system at the college through new guidelines for procurement, events, bin standards, education, and technical assistance.

Reduce and Reuse

These initiatives encourage reducing material use and material reuse, such as food rescue, reducing paper use, reducing materials from vendors, and more reusables.

Recycle and Compost

These initiatives establish systems to get materials to recycling and composting systems by initiating requirements, and construction and demolition material management.

Zero Waste Stations

To be implemented gradually in the coming years, visible, easily accessible and clearly marked signage will be on the backboard of every bin of the corresponding waste streams.

• Compost: foods and liquids, such as, apple cores, banana peels, bread crust, egg shells, tea bags and coffee grounds.
• Landfill: mixed materials and plastic film products, such as, styrofoam containers, drink pouches, candy wrappers plastic zip bags, disposable gloves and fast food wrappers.
• Recycle:
  1. metals, glass, hard plastics, such as, plastic cups and bottles, old glass food jars and aluminum soda cans, and
  2. mixed paper, such as cereal boxes, milk cartons, cardboard boxes, notebooks and newspaper. (Empty food and liquid contents into compost bin.)

Waste Audit Reports

The college conducted a waste with support from Alachua County in 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2015. Starting in 2024, in accordance with 天涯海角社区鈥檚 Zero Waste Plan, waste audits will be performed every five years to understand waste diversion performance and continue to make data-driven decisions in achieving zero waste.

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