Developed with the support of student fellows in the Office of Sustainability over nearly two years, the plan outlines a roadmap for reducing landfill waste through innovative strategies, such as expanding composting systems, creating a campus thrift store, and introducing an environmental surcharge. The plan, projected to save the University $400,000 annually, represents a collaborative effort to make sustainability a core part of campus operations while generating significant financial and environmental benefits.
The action plan, released this fall, outlines steps needed for the University to reach its zero waste goals. Zero waste, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is a set of principles that aims to keep products out of landfills, incinerators, and the environment.
The University currently ranks fourth on the Top 10 Zero Waste Campuses of 2024, receiving a Zero Waste Certification through the Post-Landfill Action Network’s Atlas Zero Waste program. Following certification, the University continued with the Atlas program to develop an action plan to further reduce its solid waste generation.
The plan includes 10 proposals, each with recommended timelines, implementation plans, and financial analysis.
“The action plan is a guide to direct us toward reducing the greatest amount of landfill waste as possible through a variety of strategies, from purchasing, to redistribution of surplus, to replacing single use items with durable, sustainable items, and engaging the campus community in being active partners in waste reduction,” says Morgan King, Cal Poly Humboldt’s Climate Action Analyst.
Implementing these strategies may require some departments across campus to invest in additional staffing and resources; to support this, the plan recommends the University consider funding mechanisms such as an environmental surcharge.
The surcharge, one of the plan’s 10 proposals, would apply a 1% fee to items—from food to furniture—that would become part of waste streams. That revenue would be put into a general fund and allocated towards, “sustainably managing material waste streams on campus, covering the costs of infrastructure, staffing and logistics needs for programs like compost collection, food recovery, surplus property management, and hard-to-recycle material collection and disposal,” according to the plan.
The surcharge model, which has been used by the University of Kentucky since 1990, could generate $1.2 million annually.
Another of the plan’s proposals that could offset costs, reduce waste, and generate revenue is to introduce a permanent, centrally-located on-campus thrift store.
A third pillar of the plan is to improve and expand on the redistribution of surplus items such as furniture, custodial supplies and building materials. This could include the introduction of a digital asset management—or online inventory—system, which would digitalize the University's existing inventory of hard-to-recycle items including desks and chairs, and allow the campus and the public to shop the surplus. The model is currently used by campuses such as Sacramento State. The potential annual revenue is projected at $99,500.
To further increase diversion of hard to recycle materials, the plan also outlines a bin centralization process. This includes upgrading bins and signs with uniform colors and graphics; removing unnecessary bins; centralizing bins; introducing 1 gallon side saddle waste bin to recycle bins; and reducing use of plastic liners. Cost savings are projected to be more than $144,000.
Implementation has already begun, according to King, and the campus community may start to see progress such as new bins soon.
Students, staff and faculty are invited to learn more about the Zero Waste Action Plan at the Zero Waste Action Plan Public Forum on Wednesday Dec. 4 from 12-1 p.m. in the Banquet room. The forum is part of the 9th Annual Zero Waste Conference, which lasts from Wednesday Dec. 4 to Friday Dec. 6. Put on by the Waste Reduction & Resource Awareness Program and the Office of Sustainability, this free and public conference includes a series of events, workshops, keynote speakers, a zero waste banquet and a field trip to the Recology Recycling Center.
For a full schedule of events, visit www.humboldt.edu/wrrap/events. To learn more about waste reduction at Cal Poly Humboldt, visit www.humboldt.edu/sustainable-campus/campus-operations/waste-reduction.