Master Plan October 2011 - Pacific Lutheran University

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
RECYCLING
Recycling Goals
The University has made a commitment
to increase overall campus
recycling rate to 80% by 2011.
PLU’s recycling program is very comprehensive. One of PLU’s main goals is to keep as much out
of the landfills as possible. In the fiscal year of 2009, PLU recycled 564 tons of material, at a 69%
rate of recycling. This includes cardboard, mixed paper, plastics, glass, aluminum and tin cans,
scrap metal, wood, grass clippings and other materials that do not have assigned weights such
as Tyvek envelopes, batteries, cell phones, light tubes, ink and laser cartridges. PLU also recycles
electronics. All food waste and pizza boxes are recycled through composting. The surPLUs
store sells, reuses on campus, or donates usable items to charitable organizations. These items
include desks, chairs, clothing, office supplies etc.
PLU recently received two awards for its recycling program from the Washington State Recycling
Association for Higher Institutions, one in 2005 and again 2007. The most recent one was
awarded for the “can the can” program, which involves academic offices trading in a large trash
can for a small trash can. Each office is then responsible for emptying the can in a central
location. This effort reduces labor, plastic liners and encourages recycling.
November 2011
48 Pacific Lutheran University MIMP