Saint Louis University
OP-23: Waste Diversion

Saint Louis University is devoted to diverting waste from landfills. SLU introduced single-stream recycling in the Fall of 2009, and since then has seen a steady increase in recycling on campus. However, as Saint Louis University progresses in the pursuit of creating a more sustainable campus environment, the need to develop a fresh comprehensive recycling plan became evident. To help make access to recycling easier and universal, Facilities obtained recycling receptacles for exterior use and placed them in strategic locations throughout campus during the fall of 2012. In addition, Facilities developed numerous educational tools for single-stream recycling such as brochures, presentations, signage, and magnets. The division is currently working on updating the signage and placement of bins inside campus buildings to help enhance the program and provide consistency in signage. Ultimately, these improvements should help SLU to achieve a recycling rate of 30%. By the end of 2012, both SLU campuses received an upgrade through the installation of blue exterior single-stream recycling bins. These new blue exterior recycling bins have been paired with the existing black "landfill" cans along walkways and near buildings all over campus. This infrastructure upgrade offers many more opportunities to the campus community to increase their recycling efforts. Additionally, presentations covering SLU's refreshed recycling program has reached over 2,000 staff, faculty and student groups in order to increase awareness. Not to mention, annual training is performed to reeducated custodial staff and grounds workers on SLU's recycling program. Custodial staff now use blue recycling liners to differentiate recycling from trash, demonstrating visibly their actions to the campus community wile instilling confidence in the program and reducing confusion and contamination rates.

The Campus Kitchens Project is a student-run service organization that turns unused food from campus cafeterias into nourishing meals for underserved members of the community. Each year Saint Louis University delivers thousands of meals and snacks to organizations such as the Salvation Army Family Haven, Blumeyer Community Center, the Ronald McDonald House, Council Tower, and other organizations identified by the St. Louis Food Bank and other referring agencies. Saint Louis University is listed as a member school on the Campus Kitchens Project website with the following description: "SLU takes excess food from campus dining facilities (e.g. Fresh Gatherings), grocery stores, catering companies, and other organizations and turns it into healthy meals for hungry individuals in the community immediately surrounding the University campus. SLU creates and delivers over 500 meals a week for 300 clients. In addition to providing food, Campus Kitchen volunteers use the food deliveries as an opportunity to offer fellowship to our clients, many of whom are homebound and do not have much contact with the outside world. The kitchen also runs several educational programs, including nutritional education and employment training classes for those hoping to break into the culinary field."

Food waste at Fresh Gatherings is collected pre- and post- consumer which is used and composted on site. The compost is used in the garden ran by the Nutrition & Dietetics program on the Medical Center.

All food at Fresh Gatherings is served on fully compostable plates, cups, bowls, etc. Beverage cups are compostable (both hot and cold). The garden program utilizes seven compost tumblers, one large industrial sized tumbler, and a vermiculture system for management of both pre- and post-consumer food waste.

Books, Shoes

The beginning of 2015 marked the 5th year of participation in RecycleMania for Saint Louis University. Increased efforts were made to communicate recycling initiatives to the campus community. Usage of banners, digital media, internal contests, etc were employed. http://www.slu.edu/facilities-services-home/sustainability/campus-operations/recycling-and-waste-reduction/recyclemania Saint Louis University has developed a comprehensive website portal to educate the SLU community on recycling programs. Visit recycling.slu.edu