Muhlenberg college

Waste Reduction and Recycling

Beginning with the fall semester of 2008, Muhlenberg will change to a single stream recycling contract. This means that all recyclables can go into the same bin. Please be sure that recyclables are clean, particularly that they are rinsed of food residue and are grease-free (sorry, but the pizza box needs to go in the trash if the grease soaked into the cardboard).

The Muhlenberg community currently recycles approximately 49% of our total waste stream. A recent dorm waste audit showed that 10% of Muhlenberg's trash consists of material that could have been recycled. While this demonstrates that the majority of students are recycling, we can do better--Let's get that down to 0%!!! Thanks to Dr. Rich Niesenbaum's Spring 2008 Environmental and Cultural Conservation in Latin America class for completing the audit for us!

 

Click here to learn what can be recycled on campus or to request a bin for your dorm room.

If you are interested in learning more about the process of single stream recycling, view this video.

To recycle personal electronics and other items, check out these additional resources.

Muhlenberg College strives to reduce overall waste as well as to maximize recycling. Some steps the College has taken:

• Academic buildings and offices have recycling representatives.
• The College's green purchasing policy emphasizes waste reduction in purchasing decisions.
• Green Seal cleaning products are purchased in concentrated form and mixed with water at time of use. This reduces waste volume and waste toxicity.
• Landscaping waste is mulched.
• When possible, construction wastes are recycled. For example, the steel and aluminum waste from the window replacements in Prosser Hall are being recycled.
• The two underground fuel tanks on campus are double walled and have leak monitoring systems installed.
• The college purchases recycled content and/or unbleached paper products--office paper, toilet paper, hand towels, napkins, etc.
• China and flatware are used in the main dining room to avoid the use of disposables.
• Micro-scaling, inventory control, and chemical substitution strategies are used to reduce the amount of hazardous substances used in research laboratories.
• Automated chemical treatment systems have been installed for both the central chilled water plant and the main campus boilers to more precisely control the amount of chemicals used.