Georgia Institute of Technology
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion

The baseline year, 2007, was adopted because it was the first year there was a substantial collection of data for waste.

Styrofoam and plastic film are being piloted and collected through non-traditional recycling programs. Food scraps, compostable packaging and landscape material are composted.

Signage, manual sorting at the bin

The Zero Waste department supports Georgia Tech's recycling, waste diversion, and reuse programs. They promote efforts to decrease the amount of waste produced on campus to ultimately reduce the amount of waste that goes to the landfill. Zero Waste strives to make the Georgia Tech campus more sustainable by diverting waste through recycling and other recovery programs. Zero Waste is committed to improving and expanding opportunities for recycling, recovery, and reuse in order to divert the largest possible percentage of campus waste from the waste stream. This office makes every effort to raise awareness for the importance of reducing and diverting waste and to encourage the cooperation of the Georgia Tech community in our recycling and recovery programs.



The AWARE Program (Actively Working to Achieve Resource Efficiency) is an innovative waste minimization program. The program aims to make Georgia Tech students, faculty, and staff aware of the critical role they play in waste minimization and encourages members of the campus community to make environmentally responsible choices regarding the waste they generate. AWARE places the responsibility on employees to sort and empty their waste into larger bins located within the building. Custodial teams will not service desk-side containers. The entire campus has the capacity to participate in the program and is the campus standard for waste diversion.

https://facilities.gatech.edu/recycling

Georgia Tech’s 2022 Earth Day four-day schedule of celebrations included a waste audit of the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons.

This year, 2023, waste audits have been carried out by ECGO and Senior Design Project that delivered the 2023 Recycling Revamp report. Results from Georgia Tech’s participation in the ECGO America Recycles Day Challenge is attached as additional documentation.

The Tech Dining Franchise Food Services Agreement incorporates the following waste diversion stipulations:

● Packaging Recycling: The Permit Holder is obligated to recycle all eligible packaging from food preparation, including cardboard delivery boxes, aluminum cans, and food packaging.

● Compostable Products: Utilization of compostable products (e.g., plates, bowls, cups, to-go containers) in food service and catering, with collaboration on acceptable products with the Sustainability Specialist or the Office of Campus Sustainability.

● Prohibited Items: Styrofoam, containers made of two or more materials (e.g., cardboard with plastic film windows), and any materials that cannot be recycled or composted are strictly prohibited.

● Reduction of Single-Use Plastics: Implementation of policies to minimize the use of single-use plastics or other materials, prioritizing, for instance, the use of bulk condiments.

● Food Inventory Donation: Collaboration with local food pantries to donate surplus food inventory that would otherwise be discarded, promoting community engagement and minimizing food waste.

When a Georgia Tech department purchases new furniture or office equipment, the furniture and equipment that is no longer needed is collected by Surplus Property of Georgia Tech Logistics. Because these items are state property, they cannot be sold, surplussed, or transferred from Georgia Tech without the approval of Surplus Property. As a result, many items are held in the Surplus Property area of Procurement and Business Services, located at 711 Marietta Street, until they find a new home. Unwanted items are sent to a recycling vendor or made available to the public through internet auctions.

https://news.gatech.edu/archive/features/hidden-georgia-tech-surplus-property.shtml

The Revolving Closet is a Georgia Tech community resource developed in response to textile waste created by “fast fashion” and students needs for affordable clothing options; the closet allows anyone to take and/or donate clothes anytime during Kendeda Building hours. The Revolving Closet also has a textile recycling bin where old, damaged garments can be recycled.

https://sustain.gatech.edu/zero-waste/

In March 2010, double-sided printing became the default option for all computers in the library. This is the result of an initiative led by the library’s Student Advisory Board and the Student Government Association’s Sustainability Task Force and remains the current printing standard.

Being a Technological institution, Georgia Tech has the majority of their materials and publications online. From student registration, course catalogs, reservations, etc

Green Goodbyes is a program that makes it easier for students to donate reusable items and deter waste from landfills. As move-out approaches, residents should keep in mind that they can donate any items that are still useful to good causes that support fellow Yellow Jackets and keep those items out of landfill. The program combats needless landfilling to ensure that no reusable item – or the opportunity to find new life for it – goes to waste.

Accepted items:
● Unopened food - for Klemis Kitchen
● Clothing in good condition - for campus closet and Goodwill
● Bedding (no egg-crate foam) - for animal shelters
● Bikes - for Starter Bikes
● Household items (working lamps and small appliances, dishware, etc.)

https://housing.gatech.edu/resident-resources/sustainability-in-the-halls

Georgia Tech participates in the Green Labs Initiative to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability practices within laboratory settings.

The large difference in materials recycled between the baseline and performance years is reflective of improved data collection practices, growth in the campus community, and expansions of recycling program (e.g., greek recycling).