Swarthmore College
OP-18: Waste Diversion

Swarthmore’s MSW is collected by Jack Clark & Sons Inc. and combined with trash from local residents and businesses before it is sent to the Westinghouse Incinerator in Chester. As a result, the College was not able to obtain an exact measurement of the weight of trash from Swarthmore. An estimate of 80 tons per month when classes are in session was obtained based on the hauler’s experience. Assuming that in the months of May and August, the trash production is half the regular amount, and during the months of June and July, trash production is a quarter of the regular amount, we arrived at an estimate of 740 tons per year.
The Grounds and Maintenance Department has allotted a portion of its 2012 budget to have Swarthmore College’s waste collected separately one week each month for a year in order to obtain a baseline measurement.

In 2010 Swarthmore composted 183 tons of organic waste. Of that amount 160 tons was yard waste such as branches, leaves, and grass clippings. Composted food waste comprised 19 tons and cooking oil comprised 3.7 tons. The quantity of composted material was derived from estimates based on volume. Food waste included preconsumer vegetable and fruit scraps, post consumer fruit scraps, and compostable plates, cups, and napkins. The student run Green Advisors program also collects food waste from student dorms for composting. Used cooking oil is collected from Sharples Dining Hall and sent to a facility that uses it to produce biodiesel. Most of the post consumer food waste is scraped into the sink garbage disposal and disposed with wastewater, which is a large unaccounted stream of waste. Yard waste and food waste are collected from various locations on campus and processed in a college owned composting facility shared with the local municipalities. The finished compost is used on campus lawns and landscaping.

In 2010 Swarthmore recycled 92.7 tons of waste. Materials that were recycled from offices and student dorms include paper, cardboard, aluminum and bimetallic cans, all color glass bottles, plastics #1, 2, 5. Other materials collected for recycling include batteries, toner cartridges, computers, consumer electronics, appliances, oil filters, antifreeze, used oil, textiles, and rubber tires. About 50% of the weight of recycled materials was paper (including cardboard). Single stream recycling bins are available in all office buildings and student residences as well as several outdoor locations. Recycling is picked up daily by Environmental Services staff.

At the end of each academic year, the student run Trash 2 Treasure sale collects items donated from student dorms and sells them to the local community. Now in its fifth year, Trash 2 Treasure earns $18,000-$20,000 a year and the profits go entirely to local charities. Items sold each year includes many small refrigerators, couches, chairs, shelves, lamps, books, waste baskets, etc. If all of the materials were weighed, the amount diverted from the landfill would be substantial.

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