Elon University
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Elon has a comprehensive recycling program as well as food composting and yard waste composting programs. Throughout campus there are recycling containers located within buildings and outdoors, as well as at athletic events. Recycling containers are identified by shape, size and color and in many indoor locations lids and bags are color coordinated. Blue bags and lids typically identify paper recycling. Green bags and lids are used for plastic, aluminum and glass recyclables (bottles and cans). Each residential building has a designated recycling area. Residents are responsible for transporting their recyclables to these locations. Food waste is composted by a third-party off campus, while yard waste composting is managed by University personnel at a facility located on the edge of campus. In 14-15, yard waste was collected but not ground to create compost.

Campus Kitchen at Elon University (CKEU) provides meals to local community partners. CKEU is a service opportunity through the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement for students, faculty and staff. CKEU collects food from Elon Dining Services, Loy Farm and other community partners. The program has a staff coordinator as well as a student leadership team. In FY 14-15, CKEU resourced or donated about 10,185 pounds of food, produced over 9124 meals and provided 1364 hours of service. Elon Dining Services also donates food items that would otherwise go to waste over breaks to local community partners.

All three dining halls have a pre-consumer food waste composting program. The program started in the 2008-2009 academic year. Dining Services staff members are responsible for separating the compostables in the kitchen.

In January 2011, post-consumer composting began in one retail location and has now been expanded to two retail locations (Fountain Market & Winter Garden Café). The customers are responsible for separating the compostables in retail settings. There are designated bins with signage on the bin and above the bin (including photos). In the dining halls, dining services staff members put all food waste that comes into the dish room into compost bins.

electronics and writing instruments

This information is based on FY 14-15. The weight provided for materials diverted includes composted material (food waste) and recycled materials (paper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum and glass). It does not include the weight of materials collected and donated as part of the 'Don't Trash It!' campaign held at the end of each school year. It also does not include other recycled items, such as batteries, printer cartridges and electronics. For materials disposed in a solid waste landfill, the University does not receive weight information for all of the containers located on campus. The weight for the containers not weighed was conservatively estimated based on the containers that are weighed.