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UC IRVINE STYROFOAMRECYCLING PROGRAMBAILEY KINSOLVING & MEAGAN BROWNINGUCI FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY TEAM
ZERO WASTE AT UCIZero Waste:“Meet or exceed 95% diversion of municipalsolid waste.” UCOP Goal of Zero Waste by 2020UC Irvine: Highest diversion rate in UC system 83% (‘14-’15) Recognized as Sierra Magazine’s “#1 CoolSchool” for two years in a rowDiversion from landfills: Recycling Composting Reusing/donating
WHY STYROFOAM? Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is anideal material because it is convenient cheapo Packagingo Single-use serve ware However, due to its chemical makeup,cannot be easily recycled or safelyincinerated Development of EPS alternativesunderway (Myco Foam), but for nowStyrofoam remains material of choice
STYROFOAM USE AT UCIPrior to 2016:Now: Campus currently has no policiesagainst single-use Styrofoamproducts UCIBuy catalog defaulted searchto cheapest product Styrofoam No existing recycling program forStyrofoam material Currently working with variouscampus departments to eliminateuse of Styrofoam consumerproducts UCIBuy now sequences ‘ecofriendly’ (compostable) options firstrather than Styrofoam Large packaging Styrofoam is nowrecycled & repurposed intosurfboard foam cores
STYROFOAM RECYCLING PILOT PROGRAM1.Building users collect Styrofoam indesignated location within building2.Custodial staff brings baggedStyrofoam to loading dock3.Student workers collect baggedStyrofoam weekly and transport it to a40-yard collection bin4.UCI self hauls 40 yard bin to MarkoFoam around the corner bi-weekly In an effort to uphold the UCI“Coolest School” recognition: Styrofoam recycling UCI FM has partnered with localcompany, Marko Foam, torecycle/repurpose Styrofoam intofoam cores of surfboards
STYROFOAM DROP OFF LOCATIONS 10 drop off locations withhighest influx of Styrofoammaterial Research labs Medical campus In some instances, one bin fortwo locations
STYROFOAM COLLECTIONAfter 3 weeks of collection, we hadfilled an entire 40-yard bin (right)
MARKO FOAM & WASTE TO WAVES
TROUBLESHOOTING1. Cardboard heavy dutyplastic ULINE bins2. Education componenta. Sort & stripb. Signage3. Scheduled drop-offs toaccommodate high volume4. Capacity of student runprogram
STYROFOAM RECYCLING SIGNAGEYes: Clean, white #6 EPS foamNO:X Packing tapeX Packing peanutsX LabelsX Foam InsertsX Foam InsulationX Cups, platesX Cool packsX Cardboard
OUTCOME & BENEFITS Since start in Nov. 2015,over 280 cubic yards ofStyrofoam collected,equivalent to: 8 train cars 4,200 pounds On average, 40 cubicyards collected per monthfrom 10 locations Relatively closed loopsystem Creative repurposing of anotherwise undesirablematerial Less voluminous material inlandfill
REPLICATEON YOURCAMPUS:Several options:1. Find a hauler who will acceptyour material or investigatelocal companies comparableto Marko Foam2. Invest in a Styrofoamdensifiera. Sell back densified material topacking supply stores
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! Comments & questions? Learn more::UCI Facilities Management:UCI Recycles Contact us: ucirecycles@uci.edu
UCI FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY TEAM . ZERO WASTE AT UCI . UCI FM has partnered with local company, Marko Foam, to recycle/repurpose Styrofoam into foam cores of
