The Northwest Recycling Center opened in June after the University converted it from a pelletizing operation, 实现流程中的几个效率. The Recycling Center accepts 塑料, 铝, mixed paper, 纸板 and glass. (威尼斯人在线摄)

A 威尼斯人在线 decision this year to restructure the way it collects recyclable materials is helping the University educate local residents about its recycling efforts while gaining efficiencies within its sustainability operations.

Northwest 关闭d its waste-to-energy paper pelletizing operation in the spring when the University transitioned its courses to an online format and local shelter-in-place orders went into effect as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the campus reopened to the public in June, the pelletizing operation had been replaced with a full-service Recycling Center.

“We wanted to create a customer experience that is more than just the community dropping off items into a bin,——丹·哈斯拉格, Northwest’s assistant vice president of Facility Services, 说. “作为一个教育机构, it is a great opportunity to better inform and educate the community regarding recycling.”

By revamping what had been Northwest’s Pellet Plant into a more functional Recycling Center, Facility Services staff members cleared the pellet warehouse – delivering more than 60 tons of pellets to the University boiler plant in the process – and removed a loading dock.

The open warehouse bay now allows community members to drive inside the facility, which has been outfitted with LED lighting and directional signs. The University also moved away from providing a 24/7 recycling drop-off site and established business hours when staff can be at the Recycling Center to assist and educate patrons about the process and value of recyclable materials. The recycling team collects and processes paper, 纸板, 塑料, 铝, 钢铁和玻璃, in addition to conducting all waste hauling duties for the campus.

Haslag says Northwest’s recycling team took the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic and turned it into an opportunity to better serve the University and surrounding communities. The Northwest Recycling Center provides one of the few such operations in the region.

“It is a cleaner and safer environment for the employees,哈斯拉格说. “It’s transforming into a workplace where the employees can have an enhanced level of pride. We’re realizing a higher quality of recycled materials as well as landfill diversion as result of the changes.”

自2016年以来, Northwest’s recycling revenue has offset landfill costs with annual collection averages amounting to 1.600万磅硬纸板, 300,000磅纸, 208,500磅的有机物, 115,000磅的塑料和4,500磅铝. Northwest’s diversion rate of recycled materials away from local landfills has reached a level of 46 percent.

Last year, Northwest’s landfill diversion ranked the University No. 密苏里州排名第二，密苏里州排名第二. 每年全国有60个 校园零浪费竞赛. 今年，它的排名上升到第5位. 全国第一，全国第一. 57个国家.

The recycling operation started as a byproduct of the University’s biomass boiler plant in the early 1990s to reduce landfill waste by collecting and processing paper as a viable fuel source. Northwest began turning recycled paper into pellets that could be used as an alternative fuel source in its boilers. 当时, 以及西北航空公司对木屑的使用, it was one of the most innovative and cost-efficient methods for alternative fuel.

时代变了, 虽然, and Northwest determined the paper pellets – compounded by aging equipment – were no longer an efficiency for the University.

After closing the pelletizing operation last spring, Northwest’s collection of baled 纸板 increased revenue during the last two quarters of fiscal year 2020 to nearly $20,000. 在本财政年度结束前, 回收小组创造了25美元,000 recycling surplus that can be directed to new equipment, matching waste management grants and infrastructure.

“The burning of the wood chips is still the most economical source of heating on campus followed by natural gas,哈斯拉格说, adding that Northwest remains interested in innovative technology for its energy needs. “One of our department goals is to further enhance the presence of sustainability on campus, as sustainable practices are in the DNA of our institution.”

For more information about Northwest's recycling operations, 包括它接受的材料类型, 访问 www.schoener-einrichten.net/services/sustainability/recycle.htm.