Stanford has a long history of recycling and reuse. Students began the recycling program in 1976, and in 1993 Stanford partnered with its recycling and waste hauler, Peninsula Sanitary Service, to develop a more comprehensive program.
Today, the university’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Program is making a significant impact. In 2008, we recycled, reused or composted:
- 5,872 tons of organic material
- 902 tons of glass, metal and plastic
- 2,950 tons of paper
- 202 tons of electronic waste
- 4,758 tons of construction and demolition debris
Stanford paid $1,272,541 in 2008 for garbage and recycling services. While the cost of recycling was about $398,610, we saved $179,280 in landfill disposal fees and earned salvage revenue of $557,000
Recycling & Reuse Initiatives
Paper, cardboard, cans, glass and plastics:
These recyclables are gathered in more than 4,000 recycling bins across campus. Undergraduates have bins in their rooms, and we are providing recycling bins for use in graduate student campus apartments. We are outfitting all public trash cans with recycling receptacles. We recycle film plastics, such as bubble wrap and bags.
Food:
Campus dining facilities compost food waste, with services expanded to cafés, student-managed housing, graduate housing and special events. Composting services will soon expand to offices. Usable food is donated to community organizations through SPOON, the Stanford Project on Hunger.
Special events:
Stanford provides receptacles for recyclables and food waste at events, encourages the use of compostable serviceware and provides green event guidelines for student events and catered activities.
Landscaping:
We mulch brush and tree trimmings for use on campus, compost yard waste from residences and other buildings, "grasscycle" (leave mowing trimmings behind) and more.
Construction:
Building materials, dirt and other debris from construction and demolition are recycled or reused when possible. When Encina Gym was demolished in 2004, 96 percent of the building materials (by weight) were recycled.
Electronic equipment:
Stanford’s Surplus Property Sales operation collects and sells usable computers, displays and other electronic equipment. Equipment that can’t be resold is recycled off-site. In 2008, there were 3,163 resale transactions, and we recycled over 372,000 pounds of electronics.
Small electronics:
Cell phones, PDAs, chargers, CDs and other small electronics are collected in more than 150 drop-off bins in academic buildings and residences. Cell phones and PDAs go to Call to Project, which benefits the agencies leading the campaign against domestic violence.
Batteries:
Stanford’s battery collection system meets the campus’s unique needs through a combination of drop-off bins at over 100 locations and regular hazardous waste pickups. Batteries are recycled off-site with recovery of metals, including cadmium and mercury.
Property reuse:
Through Surplus Property Sales and the Property Management Office, the Reuse website helps university departments share and reuse equipment, furniture and supplies. In 2007, users posted over 700 notices for unneeded items, most of which were transferred to other departments.
