Did You Know CU Has an On-Campus Recycling Facility?

The University of Colorado proudly operates the Recycling Operations Center (ROC), an essential link between our campus buildings and the end markets for recycled materials. The ROC’s primary goal is to capture recyclable materials and ensure that they are sorted correctly so they can be sold to end markets and recycled to their best use—generating revenue that helps offset the operating costs of the recycling program.

A Unique Partnership for Student Success

The ROC is a collaborative effort between the E-Center and Facilities Management. While Facilities Management handles the collection and hauling side, students from the E-Center are responsible for the sorting process, ensuring material is recycled correctly and there are enough empty and clean bins to go back out on campus. This partnership not only provides valuable on-campus employment but also offers hands-on experience for students pursuing careers in environmental fields.

Recycling: More Jobs, Less Waste

, and the ROC is a shining example of this fact. Beyond generating revenue, the ROC is dedicated to reducing campus waste in multiple ways:

• Lab Materials: The center collaborates with various E-Center departments to coordinate the recycling and reuse of items such as pipette boxes and plastic film from campus laboratories.
• Move-Out Programs: During move-out periods, the ROC helps coordinate recycling and reuse efforts, diverting a significant amount of material to reuse each year.

These initiatives create numerous opportunities for students to engage with sustainability practices while learning about waste reduction.

Overcoming Compost Challenges and Maximizing Impact

Composting is another critical component of the ROC’s work. Although recent state regulations have limited our ability to compost paper and compostable plastics, the center continues to compost other organic materials wherever possible. For example, the ROC partners with campus coffee shops to collect and compost used coffee grounds. It’s important to remember that while something may be recyclable, it isn’t necessarily compostable. To learn more about industrial composting in Colorado, check out these resources:

Check out current compost information here! 

From Sorting to Shipping

Once contaminants are removed from the recycling line, paper and containers are collected from their respective lines into bins at the end and then transferred to the tipping floor. Here, the recyclable materials are weighed and recorded before being tipped into large bins. These bins are later sent to the , where the materials are baled and shipped to end markets.

Why Recycling Matters

Being sustainable starts with a commitment, and recycling requires effort—but the benefits are countless. Working at the ROC has shown me how crucial recycling is and how vital it is for everyone to participate in the process. Not only does recycling help protect our planet, but it also brings our community together. Understanding both how to recycle and the impact it has on the environment empowers us to build a more sustainable future.

If you are interested in learning more about the ROC and what we do  to schedule a tour. Tours are available for individuals, groups and classes.

If you are passionate about recycling and want to volunteer with Ralphes’s Green Stampede click here to volunteer

All pictures were sourced from Grounds & Recycling Operations Center (GROC) | Environmental Center | ��ɫ��Ƶ.

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Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to do something nice for anyone in your life you appreciate! As you celebrate, remember to keep sustainability in mind. 

Why leave the planet out? 

Valentine’s Day is heavily commercialized, with stores carrying a wide array of chocolates, cards, flowers and stuffed animals. While many people enjoy exchanging gifts, the environmental impacts are lofty. According to a eo by Waste 360, on Valentine’s Day, U.S. citizens buy: 

• 36 million heart-shaped boxes.
• 180 million cards.
• 198 million roses.
• 881 thousand bottles of sparkling wine.
• 58 million pounds of chocolate. 

The environmental impact adds up to more carbon emissions than would be created from driving around the world 3,993 times. That’s not a reason to swear off the holiday altogether. It’s just a big incentive to celebrate more sustainably. Here are ideas for zero-waste gifts this Valentine’s Day. 

Make your own card 

Sure, it’s easy to buy a card at the grocery store. But while those pre-made slogans and heartfelt messages look nice, they lack originality and thoughtfulness. You don’t have to be artistic to own card; colored pencils and paper are enough. And if you’re still doubting your abilities, websites like Canva have rs you can use to personalize and print out cards in five minutes or less. Making a card cuts down on the paper waste produced by card companies and hopefully will create less demand for premade cards in the future. 

Bake your own desserts 

Often, a hand-made dessert will be more appreciated than a box of chocolates from the store. There are a ton of cookie recipes online that use . Plus, baking can be therapeutic in and of itself, not to mention a bonding experience if done with others. 

Make your own candle 

Everyone likes getting candles. You can take a zero-waste spin on this classic gift by . The three primary materials you need are soy wax, a wick and a vessel for the candle. Soy wax is a great, 100% natural and biodegradable alternative to other candle wax, such as paraffin, . On top of that, you can reuse any container you want in the process. You can use mason jars, metal tins, fun glasses from a thrift store and even halved lemon peels. 

Make your own blanket 

It’s surprisingly simple to . You can learn to make the blanket in less than two hours using your own two hands and approximately five to seven skeins of chunky yarn. You can pick whatever color scheme you want for a cozy and cute homemade gift. 

Buy sustainable options 

If you don’t want to give homemade gifts, you can still choose a better present for the environment. Purchase fair trade chocolate. Look for the fair trade symbol on the packaging. Fair trade means that workers are paid fairly, have safer working conditions and have more rights. 

Give . Unethical gemstone mining can cause soil erosion and deforestation. By going the extra mile to uncover the history of the products you buy, you can stand up against these harmful practices. 

Skip the commercial flowers 

Flowers are one of the most visible and well-known Valentine's Day gifts. In the U.S., 80% of cut flowers are imported from foreign countries. estimates that flights importing flowers “burn approximately 114 million liters of fuel, emitting approximately 360,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.” Once the flowers make it to America, they are transported to stores using refrigerated trucks, which use 25% more fuel than non-refrigerated trucks. These trucks also use diesel fuel, which produces more emissions than gasoline-fueled trucks. 

Instead, buy local. Several local Boulder florists grow their flowers or are part of a local collective that allows them to source flowers from different florists or growers within the state. 

Zero-waste date ideas 

The best way to celebrate Valentine’s Day sustainably is to plan for unique experiences. There are many options for dates that are fun while still being environmentally friendly. 

• Spend time in nature. Go on a hike or a short walk at sunset to appreciate nature together. You can also have a fun photoshoot outdoors in pretty scenery, with the bonus of having a way to remember the day forever.
• Go ice skating. It’s a fun winter staple activity and an excuse to hold hands.
• Candlelit dinner at home. You will have more privacy and more options than in a restaurant when you do it yourself.
• Movie night. Stay in and watch a romantic movie for a relaxing and cozy holiday. 

Choose to celebrate sustainability 

Holidays don’t have to mean going over your budget or harming the environment. You can find creative ways to recognize the special people in your life.  

If you want to learn more about how to live sustainably, check out the Environmental Center website. 

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This year, the ��ɫ��Ƶ Zero Waste Program provided recycling and composting services for over 20 welcome events. The largest of these events includedand WelcomeFest, where we coordinated the donation of over 70 leftover meals. Over 9,500 students moved into the residence halls of CU this year. CU Recycling diverted 13 tons of cardboard, 12 tons of mixed recycling, and specialty items like film plastic and Styrofoam. Additionally, CU staff led threeand two tours of our Zero Waste football stadium for over 150 incoming students.

These results are due to the dedicated efforts of staff and students in the CU Environmental Center, Facilities Management, Housing Facilities, Residence Life, and  During move in week, facilities crews can empty cardboard dumpsters as many as seven times during a 12-hour day. Despite broken golf carts and erratic weather student staff diverted 50,000 pounds of recycling from the landfill in five days—equivalent to the , ��ɫ��Ƶ’s beloved 1,000-pound buffalo mascot! This is one example of what being a Sustainable Buff looks like. Every student, staff and faculty member on campus can join the herd as a Sustainable buff when they recycling right and reducing their waste. If you are not sure how to start your journey into sustainability, don’t worry- sign the and get all the information you need straight to your email.

Prioritizing reuse and focusing on waste reduction holds the greatest potential for advancing to the circular economy model and can create a zero waste society quicker than recycling alone. 

In May, CU Recycling donated over 42,000 pounds of clothing, furniture, food, textbooks and other usable items from students moving out of the residence halls during our annual Give and Go Donation Drive. Many of the items collected from this event go back to the local community, items like hangers, mirrors, and fans are stored by residence halls to be redistributed to those who arrive in the fall. 
Students living on campus can reduce their impact and be a Sustainable Buff by buying thrifted goods, using a summer storage program, taking items with them when they move and donating what they cannot take with them.

Ready to take action?!
To learn more about how you can participate in CU Recycling, check out these Boulder County resources:

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Living an eco-conscious lifestyle rather than one of consumerism is essential to lower your carbon footprint and demonstrate dedication to sustainability. You can consider how your actions impact the environment and your overall well-being and determine if you want to make changes. 

Break the convenience habit 

Convenience products, like takeout food, single-packaged items and plastic grocery bags, can make life easier but often have a harsh environmental impact. You can take a moment to evaluate purchasing decisions and weigh the pros and cons of convenience compared to a more sustainable option.  

While it might seem like more effort, sustainable options can save you money and avoid the need to dispose of waste. One example is using a reusable water bottle. When you carry a water bottle with you, you don’t need to pay for beverages like bottled water, and you can refill the reusable bottle for free. This simple act helps reduce waste and offers more convenience in the long run. 

Find value outside of material possessions 

With the constant barrage of marketing, it is easy to believe that buying the things you want can make you happier. It can feel good to buy new things. However, chasing the latest items to try and cultivate happiness can make you feel controlled by consumerism. It can actually lead to stress, anxiety and debt. 

Instead of trying to purchase things to enhance happiness, consider what brings true feelings of joy, like relationships and working toward your goals. Also, saving money and investing in financial security can help you feel more freedom and worry less, ultimately leading to more happiness.  

Understand planned obsolescence 

Planned obsolescence produces products that will fail or become less desirable over time, leading consumers to discard their old products and buy something new. With mass production, companies can produce goods quickly and need to drive demand for their products. Planned obsolescence saves companies from spending money to make higher-quality products. 

This is not a sustainable practice and has contributed to a throw-away society. For example, technology and car companies produce new products yearly with only slight changes, encouraging consumers to repurchase the latest products. 

By resisting the urge to purchase a new product just to get the latest features, you can help reduce waste and save money. You can also invest in products from companies that make better quality products. Before throwing an item away and purchasing something new, find out if what you already have can be fixed or repurposed. Many clothing companies, such as Dr. Martens, Patagonia and REI, will repair their products for free. Find more companies that offer lifetime warranties and will repair their products . 

Avoid cradle-to-grave production 

Cradle-to-grave is a cycle of production where companies extract resources to produce products without consideration for the end of the product’s life cycle. The cradle phase is the creation of materials using resources, while the product ending up in a landfill is the grave stage.  

A cradle-to-cradle mentality offers a better way for production. With this method, companies make products intentionally to allow for recycling, upcycling or other sustainable disposal options. You can explore products with to help drive demand for sustainably produced products. 

Actions to help cultivate an eco-conscious mentality 

You can be more sustainable in your daily life with minor changes.  

• Upcycle. Upcycling reuses existing products in a new way instead so they can stay out of the landfill. You can get creative by upcycling yourself or buying upcycled products.   

• Buy local. Reduce the use of resources and energy that goes into transporting and manufacturing items by purchasing locally. For example, buying food from the farmer’s market reduces packaging and transportation costs.  

• Buy less. Before you buy something, consider whether it is a need or a want. Limit your purchases to items you need to avoid overconsumption of goods. For example, if you already have five pairs of jeans, do you need to purchase new ones?  

• Buy used. If you need to make a purchase, consider buying the item used. You can buy used for most products, including clothing and household goods or a used car instead of a new one. 

• Recycle. Divert your waste from landfills by learning how to recycle correctly. It will help decrease your carbon footprint and help mitigate climate change. 

• Go electronic. Sign up for electronic bills and other notifications rather than printed and mailed communications. Not only does this help the environment, but it also makes it easier to sort through and dispose of your mail. 

• Avoid single-use items. Invest in reusable products, like water bottles, coffee mugs, food storage containers, metal straws and more. You can save money over time and avoid contributing to landfill waste. 

• Compost. Learning how to compost can drastically change how much we discard into landfills and help rejuvenate crops and nutrient-deprived lands. 

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Recycling is a tricky process that takes practice and vigilance since guidelines are often changing. According to , Boulder’s recycling company, there are some items that regularly contaminate their recycling machines. On campus, the Grounds and Recycling Operations Center (GROC) sorts through recycling to process them and ensure their longest and best use. Here are some common contaminants and why these items need to stay out of our recycling bins. 

Plastic bags 

Recycling facilities cannot handle plastic bags because they jam the processing equipment and can cause the entire recycling facility to shut down. Some recycling facilities have scheduled time daily to clear out plastic bags from the machinery since this contaminant is so common and damaging.  

What you can do with plastic bags: 

• Reuse them. 
• Recycle them at  
• Drop them off at participating grocery stores that accept used bags. 
• Throw them into the landfill. Although these bags will sit in this landfill for years, it is a better option than clogging recycling equipment.  
• The best option is to avoid plastic bags altogether. Plus, Colorado state law mandates that stores charge customers for plastic bags. 

Shredded paper 

This type of paper is too small to sort, and the pieces fall between the cracks of sorting machines, stick to the belts and make a mess on the floor. Follow these guidelines for disposing of shredded paper on campus. 

Scrap metal 

Pieces of scrap metal of any size can cause significant damage to recycling equipment. Similar to plastic bags, you can take pieces of scrap metal to . 

Hazardous waste 

You can take paint, automotive fluids, car batteries and pesticides to the . Hazardous waste includes anything that can poison, corrode, explode or burst into flame when mishandled. Do not dispose of hazardous waste in the trash, down the drain or onto the ground since these disposal methods could lead to health and environmental problems. 

Did you know vapes and other nicotine products are also considered hazardous waste? Stop by drop boxes on campus at the University Memorial Center on the first floor across from Starbucks or at the West Boulder Recycling Center on 63rd Street to properly dispose of vapes and other nicotine products. 

Non-recyclable plastics 

Determining which plastics to recycle can be tricky. Plastic lids, chip bags, Styrofoam and other plastics not listed in le’s recycling guidelines are not recyclable in your curbside bin or on campus because facilities aren’t able to implement systems to recycle them. These types of products must go to landfills, which means you can throw them away. 

Flattened containers 

Single-stream equipment separates “flats” (like paper) from “round” objects (like containers). With flattened containers, the equipment may mistakenly send them to the wrong side of the facility and contaminate the process. You can help recycling facilities’ sorting process by avoiding flattening materials like cans, plastics and other non-paper or non-cardboard goods. 

Caps and lids 

Previously, recycling facilities could not recycle lids and caps. Updated guidelines now allow for plastic cap recycling. Here are some things to know if you want to recycle caps and lids. 

For plastic bottles or jars, follow these guidelines: 

• Empty all liquids and rinse the containers. 
• Screw the cap back on and put it all in the bin. 
• Large yogurt lids can go in the bin with their container or by themselves. 
• Loose plastic lids should be put in the trash. 

For glass bottles or jars, follow these guidelines: 

• Empty all liquids and rinse the containers. 
• Remove all metal and plastic lids from glass bottles and jars before recycling. 
• Put metal lids into bin by themselves. 
•  Loose plastic lids should be put in the trash. 

Liquids 

When recycling bottles and jars, empty and rinse all containers before throwing them in the recycling bin. Removing the liquid helps recycling facilities work more efficiently since they don’t have to stop and clean up sticky, smelly messes. 

Frozen food boxes 

Frozen food boxes are made from paper that uses plastic resin to protect the food from freezer burn. Recycling facilities cannot separate this plastic from the paper before it enters the pulping process. If you have these types of boxes, opt to throw them in the trash instead of the recycling bin. 

Wrappers and packets 

Wrappers are made of a mix of materials, including cellophane, plastics and aluminum. Therefore, recycling facilities cannot effectively recycle these items. However, some companies use candy and chip wrappers to create new products such as bags and home decor. 

Ceramics, Pyrex and mirrors 

Most waste facilities cannot melt ceramics, Pyrex or mirrors. You should throw broken plates, other broken ceramics, Pyrex and mirrors in the trash since they can contaminate the glass stream in recycling facilities. If your ceramic dishes, Pyrex and mirrors are reusable, donate them to a local charity or donation center. 

Compost 

Items that you can compost cannot be recycled. Keep compostable items out of recycling bins, including compostable cutlery, cups, etc. ��ɫ��Ƶ Facilities Management and Dining Services composts food scraps and yard waste. People living in Boulder can also compost food scraps and yard waste in curbside bins. However, due to , items like paper and compostable plastics are not accepted in Boulder.  

Learn more about recycling contamination 

• E-center’s Unacceptable Materials page 
•  
• Common Contaminants: Keeping Our Recyclables Recyclable | Environmental Center 

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When considering climate change mitigation and reducing your carbon footprint, you probably think of driving less and turning out the lights. But did you know that organic and inorganic waste is also a massive contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions? A zero-waste lifestyle keeps material out of landfills and reduces your carbon footprint. 

The benefits of recycling 

As climate change and waste are ever-growing problems worldwide, it is essential to understand how these two significant issues affect each other. Recycling helps combat the climate crisis by limiting the use of raw materials and reducing waste going into landfills.  

estimates that recycling between 2020 and 2050 will reduce emissions by 5.5 to 6.02 gigatons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to taking over one billion cars off the streets for one year. Recycling is a practical yet easy change to help curb greenhouse gas emissions and limit the climate crisis. 

• When an item is recycled, it is processed and turned into something new rather than created out of virgin material or disposed of and treated as waste in a landfill.  
• Recycling to create something new generally uses less energy than creating a product from raw materials. 
• Recycling aluminum is incredibly energy efficient. Using aluminum scraps to make aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy used to create an aluminum can from raw materials. Producing 40 aluminum cans requires the amount of energy in one gallon of gasoline and can be significantly decreased by using recycled aluminum scraps.  
• The less energy used to produce a good, the fewer greenhouse gases are emitted in the process. This benefits climate change, as greenhouse gas emissions drive the current climate crisis. 

How to positively impact climate change through recycling 

You can make a difference in reducing climate change by making recycling an integral part of your lifestyle and routine. 

• Buy products made from recycled materials. This will support the market for recycled items and encourage the continued recycling of materials and the production of items made from recycled materials.  
• Recycle everything that you can. Learn what is recyclable. 
• Limit the number of disposable items you purchase in the first place to reduce the production of disposable items. 
• Swap out disposable items for reusable items. Switch to reusable water bottles, shopping bags, food storage containers and other reusable products. 

Upcycled vs. downcycled materials 

There are many pathways for recycled products. Turning an item into a new version of the same product is ideal when possible. Other options include turning the recycled material into new products. 

Upcycling turns a recycled material into something of equal or greater value or quality than the original product. Sometimes, the term upcycling refers to the reuse of an item instead of throwing it away. Upcycling lengthens the life of a given material. Industrial upcycling depends on the materials. Here are some easy-to-upcycle materials. 

• Paper: Recycled office paper is upcycled as new office paper. Paper is also downcycled and turned into toilet paper, paper towels and notebook paper, generally because of contamination and lack of adequate sorting. 
• Cardboard: Recycled cardboard may become new cardboard. When downcycled, it becomes paper bags, packaging or paperboard. 
• Metals: Recycled aluminum cans can become new aluminum cans, and recycled steel cans will turn into steel cans. When downcycled, metal can become bike or car parts, appliances, rebar and other metal products. 

Downcycling turns a product into a different product, but the cycle is not infinitely repeatable. An example of downcycling is when a plastic bottle gets turned into a fleece jacket. PET plastics, like soda bottles, are hard to recycle infinitely because when they become a new product, the plastic gets weaker each time. Virgin materials also often have to be added to the new product to account for the weakening that the recycling process causes.  

Some materials are challenging to upcycle or downcycle and often end up in landfills. However, you can repurpose some items to keep them out of landfills. Here are examples of materials that are hard to recycle. 

• Plastic bags: Plastic bags cannot be put in a regular recycling bin, making collection more complex. Also, the material used for plastic bags is generally hard to recycle. 
• Electronics: Electronics contain toxins such as lead and mercury, which can make them more dangerous to recycle. Collection is often an issue as curbside recycling companies don’t accept electronics. You must take electronics to a special facility for recycling.  
• Styrofoam (or polystyrene): Products made from Styrofoam are typically contaminated with food and have an incredibly low density. Because of this incredibly low density, it is not cost-effective to transport polystyrene because it takes up a lot of space and offers very little recyclable material. 

The climate impact of waste disposal 

Different types of waste impact the environment differently. However, all items placed in a landfill negatively impact the environment. 

• Organic waste decomposes and creates carbon dioxide and methane gas. Methane is produced when no air is present, while carbon dioxide is the natural product when anything rots in the air. 
• Inorganic waste includes products made from natural resources such as water, fuel, metal and timber, which causes greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide and other pollutants.  
• Plastic waste produces greenhouse gas emissions during every stage of its lifecycle. Plastic extraction and transportation depend on oil, gas and coal. The production and disposal of plastics release tons of carbon emissions.  

The waste management process, including transportation and incineration, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. 

Start recycling  

Recycling is easy in Boulder, both on campus and in the community. With plentiful recycling bins and curbside pickup, you can choose to live sustainably by recycling. You can learn more about ways to incorporate sustainable habits through the Environmental Center.  

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Putting compostable items in the compost bin instead of the trash can is one of the easiest and most effective first steps you can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—specifically methane, which is generated when our food and yard waste is landfilled.

Composting also produces a nutrient-rich soil amendment that restores farmland and promotes sustainable agriculture. However, when we put items into our compost bin, we must make sure that what we put in is actually compostable in order to create compost that can be used by farmers and gardeners.

The company limited compostable materials to food scraps and yard waste only, a change that impacts communities including Denver, Boulder, Lafayette, Louisville, Longmont and Arvada.

What you can compost

As of April 1, 2023, A1 Organics no longer accepts previously compostable materials such as napkins, paper towels or serviceware labeled as “compostable.” ��ɫ��Ƶ’s Infrastructure & Sustainability, Environmental Center, Housing Facilities, Campus Dining Services and Athletics departments are exploring ways to minimize impacts to campus’s progress toward zero waste goals, but we are still operating under county conditions

Where you can compost

��ɫ��Ƶ continues to compost food waste through Campus Dining Services and plant material through Facilities Management and Housing Facilities. A1 Organics still accepts our back-of-house compost from dining and facilities, which make up 80% of our compost load. The majority of our compost has continued to be composted despite A1 Organics’s guideline changes.

However, since consumer-facing compost bins were removed from campus buildings when this change was established, we are now working to reintroduce options for campus community members who would like to collect food scraps for composting in their building or residence hall. If you live or work on campus, and would like to participate in a campus composting pilot,  today! We have a limited number of food waste collection bins available in various locations across campus for people who sign up to participate in the pilot!

For campus community members who live off campus or frequent off-campus locations, Boulder County published a  explaining how A1 Organics’ changes will impact trash collection in the surrounding Boulder community. For campus community members who live outside of Boulder County,  for the Front Range region.

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It takes more than 1,000 years for plastic to decompose. Every plastic bottle, straw and container ever thrown away is still intact and somewhere on earth. The plastic problem affects every part of the planet, from the top of Mount Everest to the bottom of the Marianas Trench.   

What is single-use plastic? 

Single-use plastics are types of plastic designed for one-time use with the expectation that the user will throw them away. These plastics prioritize convenience over durability and repeated use, making them a prime culprit behind our throw-away society. 

Worldwide, more than 300 million tons of plastic is produced every year, and half of this is single-use plastics. Single-use plastic includes water and soda bottles, plastic grocery bags, product packaging, straws, coffee cups and single-use plastic baggies. 

What is plastic made of? 

Plastic is derived from fossil fuels, including natural gas and crude oil, and also contains chemicals that are known endocrine disruptors and threaten human health. Plastic does not decompose. Instead, it breaks up into smaller pieces called microplastics. These microplastics are practically everywhere on earth and pose a deadly problem for wildlife. If too much microplastic accumulates in an animal, it can cause punctured organs or intestinal blockages. Human exposure to plastics with these chemicals may cause hormonal imbalances, reproductive problems and even cancer. 

How single-use plastic production contributes to climate change 

Because single-use plastic is produced from fossil fuels, extracting and creating these plastics emits vast amounts of greenhouse gases.  

• It is estimated that just the extraction of these fossil fuels and their transportation to plastic factories emits 1.5 to 12.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gases. 
• Removing forested land for oil extraction and pipeline construction has also released more than 1.6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This land clearing also limits the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere. 
• The refinement of plastics emits an additional 184 to 213 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year.  
• Landfills, where single-use plastics are sent, account for more than 15% of methane emissions. The disposal of more plastics in landfills leads to increases in landfill size and these emissions. 
• There is an enormous floating mass of plastic in the Pacific Ocean, twice the size of Texas, that continues to grow. 
• Plastic pollution affects the most vulnerable communities first. Developed countries, such as the United States, send plastic to developing countries for processing. Eventually, the amount of plastic can become so overwhelming that these communities run out of ways to dispose of it and become covered in plastic trash.   

Easy ways to help reduce plastic use 

The best way to reduce the impact of single-use plastics on climate change is to stop using this type of plastic. This task can seem quite tricky in a world full of plastic packaging. However, even small changes can have a significant impact. Here are some things to do to limit your single-use plastic waste. 

• Use a reusable water bottle. 
• Bring a reusable bag to the store. 
• Avoid overly packaged items at the grocery store, such as pre-cut fruits and vegetables. 
• Grocery shop at a bulk foods store. 
• Repurpose old bottles or containers. 
• Cook at home instead of ordering takeout, which often includes extra plastic packaging. 
• Get a travel cutlery set. 
• Use bar soaps and shampoos instead of liquids in plastic bottles. 

Make a larger impact 

• Participate in a local cleanup day or pick up trash when walking, running or hiking. 
• Support legislation that reduces plastic use. 
• Buy products from companies committed to reducing plastic use. 
• Support organizations addressing plastic pollution. 
• Download the AWorld app to track your sustainable actions. 

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I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, but a passion for sustainability drew me halfway across the country to ��ɫ��Ƶ. When I arrived here, I thought I had it all figured out. I recycled all my papers and plastics, used reusable containers and thrifted most of my clothes. However, shortly into my time on campus, I realized there was much more to being zero waste than I had ever expected. Composting was the sharpest learning curve. 

Prior to moving to Boulder, I thought composting was just something that could be done on an individual scale to make soil using food scraps and yard waste.   

There were a lot of things I didn’t realize about compost: 

• Composting creates a nutrient-rich soil to be used instead of toxic fertilizers. 
•  
• Compostables in landfills will create methane, a much stronger greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. 
• Landfills are often located in someone’s backyard, and that someone is often part of a low-income community that can’t escape from the smells, noise and runoff from landfill operations. 
• Keeping material out of landfills will reduce the need to build landfills. 

In spring 2023, Colorado’s composting guidelines changed. Previously, ��ɫ��Ƶ offered compost bins all over campus and accepted compostable paper towels and plastics along with food scraps and yard waste. With the changes, ��ɫ��Ƶ continues to compost food scraps and yard waste from campus operations. These were the majority of the items composted from our campus before the change. In 2022, ��ɫ��Ƶ composted approximately 23 tons per month of yard waste and 40 tons per month of food scraps. 

 If you live off-campus in Boulder, you can talk to your landlord about providing landfill, recycling and compost bins to help you manage your household waste sustainably. It is essential to know that compostable plastic and paper are not recyclable. If you have a number seven plastic and composting is unavailable, throw it in the landfill bin. Compostable plastics are common contaminants in recycling, and too many can make recycling unusable. 

We are lucky to attend a school that prioritizes composting to dispose of waste. I hope this article helps build your understanding of composting and kickstarts your journey to being a compost lover!    

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The week before classes start is always a busy and exciting time for campus, over 7000 students move into the residence hall during this time. This year the Zero Waste program provided recycling services for over a dozen welcome events, recycled 20 tons of cardboard and film plastic, and sponsored an on-campus reuse sale.

Every year when students move in on campus over a dozen staff and  work to make sure as much of their incidental waste, including cardboard boxes and plastic grocery bags, is recycled. Meanwhile, staff from Facilities Management run extra shifts to keep up with overflowing cardboard recycling dumpsters and recycling carts. During move in week facilities crews will sometimes dump cardboard dumpsters at some residence halls as many as 7 times during a 12 hour day. This year volunteers and staff worked through heat advisories, flood watches, and broken trucks to divert 40,000 pounds of cardboard from the landfill in five days. This is over twice as much as we recycled in 2019. 

The mountains of cardboard boxes are where they are bailed and sent to paper mills to be recycled back into new boxes. CU earns recycling rebates when waste is cleanly sorted by staff and volunteers. These efforts help to offset the costs of running the Zero Waste program at ��ɫ��Ƶ. When disposing of waste, use the proper bin. If you are unsure, check out the . “Recycling and composting properly is the easiest way for Buffs to get involved in climate action on campus. When the 35,000 members of the campus community do their part every day, it makes a big difference.” Angie Gilbert, E-Center Recycling Program Manager.

Prioritizing reuse and waste reduction holds greater potential for advancing towards a circular economy and achieving zero waste goals than recycling alone. This year the Environmental Center  to pilot a sale of reused home good items from last semester’s move out donation drive. CU students were able to pick up gently used storage units, mirrors, chairs and other furniture items for an average price of $4, without even having to leave campus. Students interested in furnishing their own living spaces sustainability are encouraged to  or .

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