University of Nevada Las Vegas
IN-4: Innovation 4

UNLV Rebel Recycling - Closed loop recycling system for white ledger paper

The UNLV Rebel Recycling Program utilizes a diverse labor pool to sort paper into various grades. The end result of this effort is a high-impact, combined community outreach/waste paper recycling strategy that creates a closed loop system for the white ledger grade.

The diversified labor pool includes court ordered community service workers, UNLV Office of Student Conduct volunteers, and participants in the Nevada Department of Welfare's Work Program to sort paper and other materials on-site at the recycling facility. Commingled materials are sorted into clean white ledger, office pack, newspaper, chipboard, books, cardboard, beverage containers, scrap metal/tin, toner/ink cartridges, reusable items, compostable items and trash. The Rebel Recycling Program has been sorting paper since March 1997 and started the closed loop system with Boise Paper in May 2010.

Because of this thorough sorting operation, Rebel Recycling bales the white ledger and sends the clean, uncontaminated material to the Boise Paper-Jackson Alabama Operation. The material is processed into new white ledger paper. UNLV's office supplies vendor is Office Max, which carries Boise's paper products.

By purchasing paper from Boise through Office Max and then diverting white ledger paper back to them for recycling, the UNLV Rebel Recycling Program proudly creates a closed loop system. The careful sorting procedures employed by the community service and work program volunteers encourage a slow sorting process in which all recyclable, reusable and compostable items are diverted from the landfill.