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

Trash, single stream recycling, and food compost are source segregated on campus, and each stream is kept separate by the hauling trucks. MIT collects single stream recycling and transports these materials to a "Zero Sort" facility, where material is sorted through a combination of automated machinery and labor. This materials recovery facility bales the sorted material and sells it to mills to be transformed into new products. MIT's food waste is transported from campus to several facilities, where it is processed, often pulped, and then composted by farmers.

A waste generation baseline of fiscal year 2014 is used to ensure consistency with other credits, with MIT's greenhouse gas commitment, and with MIT's previous STARS reporting.

Film plastic, such as plastic bags, are collected around campus and bailed on campus and hauled for recycling. We recycle styrofoam with a vendor that densifies the styrofoam to be used in other products. MIT also has a pilot program to recycle laboratory gloves. The small number of mattresses that are handled by MIT directly (as opposed to a construction contractor) are sent to construction and demolition waste for recycling. In addition, MIT collects clothing for reuse via Planet Aid and collects used books through the "Got Books?" program, which are sold to raise money for local causes.

Notes about the streams above:

White Goods - MIT does recycle/reuse/donate white goods, but only a portion of what is salvaged is tracked. For example, some lab equipment is not tracked through the same mechanism as office appliances. There is an opportunity to improve the data collection for white goods moving forward.

Furniture - MIT does recycle/reuse/donate furniture, but only a portion of what is salvaged is measured. MIT handles unwanted furniture through a combination of the Property Office/surplus furniture warehouse, the MIT Furniture Exchange, and the Reuse email list. Furniture that is unusable is recycled either as metal recycling or C&D recycling. There is an opportunity to improve the data collection for furniture moving forward.

Pallets - MIT does recycle/reuse/donate pellets, but only a portion of salvaged pallets are tracked. The tracked pallets go through wood recycling processes and are counted in the recycling figures. However, some pallets are reused and donated to student groups or staff for projects, which is not captured in the recycling figure. There is an opportunity to improve the data collection for pallets moving forward. MIT recently started an arrangement where Staples takes back some of the pallets initially delivered by the company for reuse.

MIT periodically conducts waste audits, which help indicate the level of contamination at different bin locations. The Office of Recycling and Materials Management trains new custodians on the material sorting rules and the use of consistently colored bins and bags. MIT also provides education and signage to increase proper sorting. Facilities staff frequently monitor bins and discuss best practices with building staff. Facilities staff also have a close relationship with vendors to stay informed about industry standards and innovations.

MIT installed new waste containers with updated signage and consistent colors (green = food waste, blue = recycling, black = trash). Students with a personal or academic interest in waste formed a group called the MIT Waste Alliance. The MIT Waste Alliance creates a forum where students, researchers, entrepreneurs, industrial practitioners, and policy makers convene to discuss waste-sector issues and innovations. The Recycling and Materials Management Office presents to students at orientation and encourages waste reduction and recycling.
MIT Waste Forums (Nov 2019; March 2020); Trash2Treasure has successfully made possible the reuse of goods including electronics, books, office supplies, storage units, and small appliances for 6 years at MIT and has recently been on hiatus because of the Coronavirus pandemic. The most recent event, held in 2019, allowed for the collection of 390 boxes of unwanted goods that were either donated or reused, and led to the sale of over $4500 worth of reuse goods. The sales are open to the entire MIT community and help many students find items they need for dorm and academic life at MIT.
MIT also offers an online recycling course, which is promoted at orientation and available to everyone. The course provides general information about sorting, but also discusses specific items that are often improperly sorted on campus, such as pizza boxes. In addition, the course educates students about the availability of specialty recycling services.

The Working Green Committee also acts to promote a culture of waste reduction on campus. The mission of the Working Green Committee is to develop and deliver programs that educate administrative and support staff at MIT about recycling, reducing, and reusing goods. Efforts include identifying gaps in staff understanding about recycling and the services available.

The Undergraduate Association Sustain Committee on Sustainability also promotes waste reduction and recycling education. For example, the group manages an email list, is-this-recyclable@mit.edu, to service general waste sorting questions. The culture of reuse is also encouraged at on-campus cafes, which offer a discount on drinks for individuals that bring their own mug or thermos.

The MIT Office of Sustainability, in partnership with the Department of Facilities, the MIT Waste Watchers student group, and other Institute departments, labs, and centers, has worked to pilot a number of studies focused on waste disposal practices. These studies have provided valuable insight into waste stream contamination across a range of on-campus contexts, including dining, housing, office, lab, and event spaces. In 2020, two studies helped to identify in more detail the specific contaminants appearing most frequently in recycling and trash streams. Additional studies are being planned, and findings continue to inform policies and practices for sustainable procurement and waste management. For more information, see: https://sustainability.mit.edu/mit-campus-waste-audits.

No formal MIT policies are currently in place to prevent waste from packaging or procurement. However, some of MIT's highly used vendors offer programs to reduce packaging via bulk ordering and consolidated orders.

The institution's surplus is handled by the Property Office, which is MIT’s master inventory department. The Property Office has an Equipment Exchange program that holds surplus lab, computer, and office furniture for reuse within the Institute. Departments can utilize the warehouse to acquire surplus items. Items not claimed on campus are sold to the general public at affordable prices. There are informal office supply exchanges held throughout the year, organized at the building level.

Reuse is an important keystone in MIT’s waste reduction efforts. The Institute has a number of programs in place to help the community find a second home for unneeded or unwanted items. Programs designed for peer-to-peer exchange and reuse of goods include: Choose to Reuse, Trash2Treasure, the ReUse email list, and an annual book donation drive.

Choose to Reuse is an initiative sponsored by the Working Green Committee and the MIT Recycling Program. Every month community members can drop off goods for swapping. Attendees can browse and take up to five items free of charge, and all unclaimed items are either recycled or donated to charity.

Trash2Treasure is an annual program that collects room accessories, clothes, and shoes that are no longer needed at the end of the spring semester. The program stores the usable items and sells them at the beginning of the next school year.

MIT ReUse is a service that allows MIT students, staff, faculty, and alumni to sell or exchange items. Anyone in this community can post items to the ReUse email list. Interested parties can respond to claim posted items (similar to Craigslist).

Finally, the Office of Community Services holds a yearly book and clothing drive. The proceeds go to local community centers.

Students have a print quota of 3000 pages per year through the MIT printers in libraries and computer clusters. There is no policy mandating double-sided printing. However, double-sided printing is generally encouraged and many computers across campus default to this setting.

Most institutional materials (e.g. course catalogs, course schedules, registration, directories) are available in digital form, with only occasional materials being physically printed. Many course readings are also provided digitally, with students given the option to print them on their own.

Boxes are placed in dorms for students to drop off unwanted materials that will then go to the Trash2Treasure program for redistribution or a discount sale. Clothes are donated while hard goods are sold at a campus fair. The Undergraduate Association Sustainability Committee administers this program.

See description of the programs described previously in this section.