Results of the 2015 University of Rochester River Campus Recycling Survey

This summer, student sustainability intern Jacob Post, worked closely with recycling coordinator Amy Kadrie, in addressing the feasibility of a single stream system for the residential areas on the River Campus. As part of the project, Jacob created a survey which was sent out to collect data on how students, staff, and faculty felt about the University of Rochester’s recycling efforts and what they would like to see changed. In collecting the data that this survey generated, analysis was performed on what areas of the recycling program could be improved, as well as validation on potential improvements that were already being discussed. The collected information was consolidated and used in determining where signage should be placed around River Campus, how the single stream project would be moving forward, and actions to be taken in enhancing the recycling program for the 2015-2016 academic school year.

Below are the full results of this survey:

Question 1 – Are you currently an employee and/or a student of the University of Rochester River Campus? RIVER CAMPUS DOES NOT INCLUDE: Medical Center, Memorial Art Gallery, Eastman School of Music, or any off-site locations

Yes	247	86.4%
No	37	12.9%

Question 2 – What is your association with the University of Rochester?

Student	119	48.2%
Staff Member	111	44.9%
Faculty Member	11	4.5%
Other	6	2.4%

STAFF/FACULTY/OTHER (Question 3-17):

Question 3 – How often do you recycle on campus?


All the time	60	46.2%
Most of the time	52	40%
Sometimes	15	11.5%
Rarely	2	1.5%
None of the time	1	0.8%

Question 4 – How understandable do you find the rules of recycling on campus to be?

Extremely Straightforward	24	18.6%
Fairly Straightforward	73	56.6%
Neutral	17	13.2%
Somewhat Confusing	10	7.8%
Extremely Confusing	5	3.9%

Question 5 – Which of the following do you consider your level of knowledge to be on what can and can’t be recycled on campus?

Extremely Knowledgeable	26	20.2%
Fairly Knowledgeable	78	60.5%
Neutral	13	10.1%
Somewhat Unknowledgeable	12	9.3%
Extremely Unknowledgeable	0	0%

Question 6 – Where do you get your information on how to properly recycle on campus? Please rank the following sources of information with 1 being the source that you use the MOST and 6 being the source you use the LEAST.

1^st Choice [Question 6]

Labels on Containers	56	45.2%
Posters Framed above Containers	34	27.4%
Recycling Webpage at www.rochester.edu/sustainability/recycling	11	8.9%
Green Dandelion Blog	2	1.6%
Recycling Installment Found in Restrooms	2	1.6%
I Use My Best Judgment/Guess	19	15.3%

2^nd Choice [Question 6]

Labels on Containers	30	28.8%
Posters Framed above Containers	42	40.4%
Recycling Webpage at www.rochester.edu/sustainability/recycling	6	5.8%
Green Dandelion Blog	3	2.9%
Recycling Installment Found in Restrooms	2	1.9%
I Use My Best Judgment/Guess	21	20.2%

3^rd Choice [Question 6]

Labels on Containers	13	14%
Posters Framed above Containers	22	23.7%
Recycling Webpage at www.rochester.edu/sustainability/recycling	12	12.9%
Green Dandelion Blog	4	4.3%
Recycling Installment Found in Restrooms	10	10.8%
I Use My Best Judgment/Guess	31	33.3%

4^th Choice [Question 6]

Labels on Containers	4	4.9%
Posters Framed above Containers	5	6.2%
Recycling Webpage at www.rochester.edu/sustainability/recycling	17	21%
Green Dandelion Blog	7	8.6%
Recycling Installment Found in Restrooms	34	42%
I Use My Best Judgment/Guess	13	16%

5^th Choice [Question 6]

Labels on Containers	3	3.5%
Posters Framed above Containers	4	4.7%
Recycling Webpage at www.rochester.edu/sustainability/recycling	27	31.4%
Green Dandelion Blog	24	27.9%
Recycling Installment Found in Restrooms	21	24.4%
I Use My Best Judgment/Guess	7	8.1%

6^th Choice [Question 6]

Labels on Containers	2	2.1%
Posters Framed above Containers	2	2.1%
Recycling Webpage at www.rochester.edu/sustainability/recycling	24	25.3%
Green Dandelion Blog	46	48.4%
Recycling Installment Found in Restrooms	16	16.8%
I Use My Best Judgment/Guess	5	5.3%

Question 7 – Are recycling containers available in the area where you live or work on campus?

Yes	125	96.9%
No	4	3.1%

Question 8 – In general, are there areas on campus where you think more recycling containers are needed? (Select all that apply)

Residential Buildings (Susan B. Anthony, Gilbert Hall, Wilder Tower, etc.)	10	8.2%
Supportive Buildings (Wallis Hall, Rush Rhees, Wilson Commons, etc.)	27	22.1%
Classroom Buildings (Hutchinson Hall, Meliora Hall, etc.)	39	32%
No; Recycling Containers are Abundant	51	41.8%
Other	26	21.3%

A typical arrangement of recycling and waste containers on University campuses with framed signage above and labels on lids.

Question 9 – Please refer to the picture above. Do you think that the University of Rochester currently has enough recycling signage and labeling for its recycling programs?

Yes, both signage and labeling are adequate.	75	58.1%
Signage is adequate, but more labeling is needed.	15	11.6%
Labeling is adequate, but more signage is needed.	20	15.5%
More signage and labeling are needed.	19	14.7%

Question 10 – Please refer to the picture above. Do you think that the University’s recycling signage and labels offer enough information to communicate what should/should not be placed in recycling containers on campus?

Yes, both signage and labeling are adequate.	81 62.3%
Signage is adequate, but labels need more information.	18 13.8%
Labeling is adequate, but signage needs more information.	10 7.7%
More information on signage and labeling is needed.	21 16.2%

Question 11 – Please refer to the picture above. Select all of the following items that can be currently recycled in the green topped bin. Assume all materials are clean and empty.

Bottles and cans	122	96.8%
Broken Buckets/Bins	21	16.7%
Paper	5	4%
Worn-out Shoes	0	0%
Candy Wrappers	2	1.6%
Milk and Juice Cartons	44	34.9%
Packing Peanuts	5	4%
Lightbulbs	7	5.6%
Plastic Bags	34	27%
Plastic Clear Starbucks Cold Cups	87	69%
Paper Plates	2	1.6%
Styrofoam	7	5.6%
Glass Bottles/Jars	119	94.4%
Corrugated Cardboard Boxes	0	0%
Aluminum Cans	116	92.1%

Question 12 – Please refer to the picture above. Select all of the following items that can be currently recycled in the blue topped bin. Assume all materials are clean and empty.

Bottles and cans	3	2.4%
Pizza Boxes	69	55.2%
Paper	119	95.2%
Worn-out Shoes	1	0.8%
Candy Wrappers	21	16.8%
Gift Wrap	73	58.4%
Packing Peanuts	2	1.6%
Lightbulbs	1	0.8%
Plastic Bags	1	0.8%
Paperboard Materials (cereal boxes, tissue boxes, etc.)	117	93.6%
Plastic Clear Starbucks Cold Cups	2	1.6%
Paper Plates	79	63.2%
Glass Bottles/Jars	4	3.2%
Corrugated Cardboard Boxes	99	79.2%
Aluminum Cans	3	2.4%

Question 13 – Please refer to the picture above. Select all of the following items that should be thrown out in the open top trash bin when given the choice of the 3 bin system. Assume all materials are clean and empty.

Styrofoam	92	73.6%
Bottles and cans	1	0.8%
Paper	1	0.8%
Worn-out Shoes	98	78.4%
Food Waste	121	96.8%
Candy Wrappers	92	73.6%
Packing Peanuts	87	69.6%
Alkaline Batteries	57	45.6%
Plastic Bags	46	36.8%
Pizza Boxes	35	28%
Plastic Clear Starbucks Cold Cups	17	13.6%
Paper Plates	31	24.8%
Glass Bottles/Jars	2	1.6%
Corrugated Cardboard Boxes	7	5.6%
Aluminum Cans	0	0%

Question 14 – Are you aware that programs exist on campus to recycle the following items? (Please select all that apply)

Worn-Out Shoes	36	34.3%
Packaging Materials	19	18.1%
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs	40	38.1%
Ink and Toner Cartridges	94	89.5%
Batteries	66	62.9%

Question 15 – What can you put in your desk-side blue bin to be recycled? (Please select all that apply):

Paper	124	98.4%
Broken Coffee Mug	1	0.8%
Paper Towels	30	23.8%
Cardboard	105	83.3%
Batteries	1	0.8%
Plastic Bottles	33	26.2%
Bubblewrap	6	4.8%
Aluminum Cans	29	23%

Please review the following information and pictures:

Trio Container Arrangement (dual stream recycling system where paper is separate from plastic, metal and glass)

Toter Containers

Toters

Blue Bin

Question 16 – Refer to the above definition of “single stream recycling” and pictures. Would switching to a “single stream recycling” system in common space collection containers (see Trio and Toter Containers above) encourage you to recycle more?

Yes	63	48.5%
No	22	16.9%
Neutral	45	34.6%

Question 17 – Refer to the above definition of “single stream recycling” and pictures. Would switching to a “single stream recycling” system in offices and classrooms (see Blue Bin above) encourage you to recycle more?

Yes	64	49.2%
No	25	19.2%
Neutral	41	31.5%

STUDENTS (Question 3-17):

Question 3 – How often do you recycle on campus?

All the time	45	37.8%
Most of the time	51	42.9%
Sometimes	21	17.6%
Rarely	1	0.8%
None of the time	1	0.8%

Question 4 – How understandable do you find the rules of recycling on campus to be?

Extremely Straightforward	26	22%
Fairly Straightforward	77	65.3%
Neutral	9	7.6%
Somewhat Confusing	4	3.4%
Extremely Confusing	2	1.7%

Question 5 – Which of the following do you consider your level of knowledge to be on what can and can’t be recycled on campus?

Extremely Knowledgeable	23	19.3%
Fairly Knowledgeable	76	63.9%
Neutral	14	11.8%
Somewhat Unknowledgeable	5	4.2%
Extremely Unknowledgeable	1	0.8%

1^st Choice [Question 6]

Labels on Containers	31	26.5%
Posters Framed above Containers	39	33.3%
Recycling Webpage at www.rochester.edu/sustainability/recycling	3	2.6%
Green Dandelion Blog	4	3.4%
Recycling Installment Found in Restrooms	17	14.5%
I Use My Best Judgment/Guess	23	19.7%

2^nd Choice [Question 6]

Labels on Containers	32	27.8%
Posters Framed above Containers	45	39.1%
Recycling Webpage at www.rochester.edu/sustainability/recycling	4	3.5%
Green Dandelion Blog	4	3.5%
Recycling Installment Found in Restrooms	17	14.8%
I Use My Best Judgment/Guess	13	11.3%

3^rd Choice [Question 6]

Labels on Containers	29	26.1%
Posters Framed above Containers	15	13.5%
Recycling Webpage at www.rochester.edu/sustainability/recycling	7	6.3%
Green Dandelion Blog	2	1.8%
Recycling Installment Found in Restrooms	23	20.7%
I Use My Best Judgment/Guess	35	31.5%

4^th Choice [Question 6]

Labels on Containers	13	11.8%
Posters Framed above Containers	12	10.9%
Recycling Webpage at www.rochester.edu/sustainability/recycling	12	10.9%
Green Dandelion Blog	6	5.5%
Recycling Installment Found in Restrooms	37	33.6%
I Use My Best Judgment/Guess	30	27.3%

5^th Choice [Question 6]

Labels on Containers	5	4.4%
Posters Framed above Containers	3	2.7%
Recycling Webpage at www.rochester.edu/sustainability/recycling	49	43.4%
Green Dandelion Blog	36	31.9%
Recycling Installment Found in Restrooms	12	10.6%
I Use My Best Judgment/Guess	8	7.1%

6^th Choice [Question 6]

Labels on Containers	6	5.3%
Posters Framed above Containers	1	0.9%
Recycling Webpage at www.rochester.edu/sustainability/recycling	36	31.6%
Green Dandelion Blog	60	52.6%
Recycling Installment Found in Restrooms	5	4.4%
I Use My Best Judgment/Guess	6	5.3%

Question 7 – Are recycling containers available in the area where you live or work on campus?

Yes	114	95.8%
No	5	4.2%

Question 8 – In general, are there areas on campus where you think more recycling containers are needed? (Select all that apply)

Residential Buildings (Susan B. Anthony, Gilbert Hall, Wilder Tower, etc.)	45	38.5%
Supportive Buildings (Wallis Hall, Rush Rhees, Wilson Commons, etc.)	28	23.9%
Classroom Buildings (Hutchinson Hall, Meliora Hall, etc.)	49	41.9%
None; Recycling Containers are Abundant	29	24.8%
Other	12	10.3%

A typical arrangement of recycling and waste containers on University campuses with framed signage above and labels on lids.

Question 9 – Please refer to the picture above. Do you think that the University of Rochester currently has enough recycling signage and labeling for its recycling programs?

Yes, both signage and labeling are adequate.	68	57.6%
Signage is adequate, but more labeling is needed.	13	11%
Labeling is adequate, but more signage is needed.	23	19.5%
More signage and labeling are needed.	14	11.9%

Yes, both signage and labeling are adequate.	65	55.6%
Signage is adequate, but labels need more information.	19	16.2%
Labeling is adequate, but signage needs more information.	17	14.5%
More information on signage and labeling is needed.	16	13.7%

Question 11 – Please refer to the picture above. Select all of the following items that can be currently recycled in the green topped bin. Assume all materials are clean and empty.

Bottles and cans	109	95.6%
Broken Buckets/Bins	34	29.8%
Paper	5	4.4%
Worn-out Shoes	0	0%
Candy Wrappers	1	0.9%
Milk and Juice Cartons	52	45.6%
Packing Peanuts	2	1.8%
Lightbulbs	6	5.3%
Plastic Bags	14	12.3%
Plastic Clear Starbucks Cold Cups	100	87.7%
Paper Plates	1	0.9%
Styrofoam	2	1.8%
Glass Bottles/Jars	102	89.5%
Corrugated Cardboard Boxes	1	0.9%
Aluminum Cans	101	88.6%

Question 12 – Please refer to the picture above. Select all of the following items that can be currently recycled in the blue topped bin. Assume all materials are clean and empty.

Bottles and cans	1	0.9%
Pizza Boxes	74	67.9%
Paper	103	94.5%
Worn-out Shoes	0	0%
Candy Wrappers	5	4.6%
Gift Wrap	59	54.1%
Packing Peanuts	0	0%
Lightbulbs	0	0%
Plastic Bags	3	2.8%
Paperboard Materials (cereal boxes, tissue boxes, etc.)	101	92.7%
Plastic Clear Starbucks Cold Cups	1	0.9%
Paper Plates	58	53.2%
Glass Bottles/Jars	1	0.9%
Corrugated Cardboard Boxes	86	78.9%
Aluminum Cans	1	0.9%

Styrofoam	97	85.8%
Bottles and cans	2	1.8%
Paper	4	3.5%
Worn-out Shoes	73	64.6%
Food Waste	103	91.2%
Candy Wrappers	99	87.6%
Packing Peanuts	73	64.6%
Lightbulbs	50	44.2%
Plastic Bags	53	46.9%
Pizza Boxes	26	23%
Plastic Clear Starbucks Cold Cups	5	4.4%
Paper Plates	39	34.5%
Glass Bottles/Jars	4	3.5%
Corrugated Cardboard Boxes	14	12.4%
Aluminum Cans	3	2.7%

Question 14 – Are you aware that programs exist on campus to recycle the following items? (Please select all that apply)

Worn-Out Shoes	80	76.2%
Packaging Materials	75	71.4%
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs	64	61%
Ink and Toner Cartridges	79	75.2%
Batteries	68	64.8%

Please review the following information and pictures:

Trio Container Arrangement (dual stream recycling system where paper is separate from plastic, metal and glass)

Toter Containers

Blue Bin

Question 15 – Refer to the above definition of “single stream recycling” and pictures. Would switching to a “single stream recycling” system in common space collection containers (see Trio and Toter Containers above) encourage you to recycle more?

Yes	40	34.8%
No	28	24.3%
Neutral	47	40.9%

Question 16 – Refer to the above definition of “single stream recycling” and pictures. Would switching to a “single stream recycling” system in offices and classrooms (see Blue Bin above) encourage you to recycle more? ***NOTE: THE USE OF BLUE BINS IN RESIDENTIAL DORMS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS QUESTION (This is because students currently separate their recyclables from blue bins when putting them in common collection areas).

Yes	48	41.7%
No	25	21.7%
Neutral	42	36.5%

Question 17 – If the toter containers (see picture above) in residential buildings were painted in school colors, would you be more likely to recycle?

Yes	16	13.8%
Neutral	41	35.3%
No	59	50.9%

ALL(Question 18-22):

Signage Examples (Please review the following.)

Choice 1

Jenelle 1

Choice 2

Choice 3

Choice 4

Question 18 – Please rank the signage choices above according to which you find the most visually appealing. Choose 1 for the signage that you find the MOST visually appealing and 4 for the signage you find the LEAST appealing.

1^st Choice [Question 18]

Choice 1	45	18.9%
Choice 2	61	25.6%
Choice 3	23	9.7%
Choice 4	109	45.8%

2^nd Choice [Question 18]

Choice 1	73	31.7%
Choice 2	52	22.6%
Choice 3	39	17%
Choice 4	66	28.7%

3^rd Choice [Question 18]

Choice 1	59	25.9%
Choice 2	54	23.7%
Choice 3	77	33.8%
Choice 4	38	16.7%

4^th Choice [Question 18]

Choice 1	55	23.6%
Choice 2	68	29.2%
Choice 3	91	39.1%
Choice 4	19	8.2%

Question 19 – Please rank the signage choices above according to which you find the most easy to understand. Choose 1 for the signage that you find the MOST understandable and 4 for the signage you find the LEAST understandable.

1^st Choice [Question 19]

Choice 1	47	19.7%
Choice 2	70	29.4%
Choice 3	24	10.1%
Choice 4	97	40.8%

2^nd Choice [Question 19]

Choice 1	69	29.5%
Choice 2	55	23.5%
Choice 3	40	17.1%
Choice 4	70	29.9%

3^rd Choice [Question 19]

Choice 1	63	27%
Choice 2	56	24%
Choice 3	60	25.8%
Choice 4	54	23.2%

4^th Choice [Question 19]

Choice 1	53	22.4%
Choice 2	56	23.6%
Choice 3	112	47.3%
Choice 4	16	6.8%

Question 20 – In your own words, please explain why you choose/not choose to recycle?

I recycle when it’s easy to do. Although I know it’s best for the environment, if it’s not convenient, I won’t go out of my way to recycle.
I recycle all of the time. A lot of my friends don’t and I think it’s because it’s not on their radar. People know they need to throw some things in the trash so they just through everything in the trash. Sometimes people are just on autopilot and don’t even think about it.
Recycling can be a hassle, especially when whatever must be recycled does not quite fit in to a category listed on a sign.
Not specifically clear what can/cannot be recycled.
N/a
I choose to recycle because it’s necessary to protect the environment and to lessen our consumerism of resources + it’s better to recycle something that you can’t reuse than to just throw it out. I would choose not to recycle if it were a hassle or if it were too difficult to find a recycling bin.
In the hope of reducing waste and protect the earth.
I recycle as much as possible for the environment and hope of making a difference.
Environmental purposes.
I use disposable items so that I do not need to wash them. It is inconvenient to wash something in order ot put it in a recycle bin.
I choose to, in the HOPE that some economic benefit will accrue. Unfortunately I consider many green programs NOT cost beneficial.
Recycling is the right thing to do, though is not always available for all recyclable materials.
important for the environment
We’ve become such a disposable society, that it’s up to us now, not soon or later or just at home, to preserve our world for future generations.
I choose to recycle for the next generation.
I want to reduce the waste to the environment. Sometimes I don’t think about it though and just throw away for the ease of it.
I don’t recycle because I’ve seen the environmental people throw everything in the same trash bin/bags when they pick it up. No sense of doing it if they all end up in the trash.
I choose to recycle because I have grown up recycling in my home and I believe that it is an easy adjustment for everyone to make that would help our environment.
Unclear what goes where (mostly in offices), bin says one thing, sign says another and contents tell a different story.
I recycle everything I can on in my office/on my floor.
I hate the environment and al gore
Sense of responsibility to recycle if the option is given.
I don’t have time to read the signage. Pictures are easier to identify what I have an place it in the right bin. Especially at a bit of a distance the words can be hard to read
Separating everything after having lunch can take more time than I have. I am not sure what to do with something that is plastic and still has a fair amount of food (e.g., yogurt) in it. I assume it goes in the bin with plastics.
If there are no bins around but there is a trash can, I am not going to hold onto my trash until I find a recycling bin.
for the environment
I choose to recycle because it reduces our impact on the environment and alleviates issues such as overfilling landfills.
environmentally responsible
I recycle for the greater good of the earth.
I recycle whenever possible for the environmental benefits. Occasionally I don’t if there isn’t recycling nearby, or if I’m unclear as to whether something is recyclable.
I am part of Team Green Dinning on campus I recycle no matter what
I choose to recycle because it’s a simple way of reducing how much trash I throw out.
Good for the environment, pressure from colleagues to do so, easy to do on campus
Time and concern that I am not recycling the proper material.
I recycle because it is good for the earth and because I want to help preserve what we have for future generations
It can be too time consuming and confusing to sort everything upon throwing things away. If it was made simpler I would try to recycle much more.
I do choose to recycle, because I believe in trying to conserve resources and energy to protect our environment as best as we know how.
I try to recycle often, but find it inconvenient a lot of the time. Paper is easy and bottles and cans are generally easy…I try to take the tops off when I remember. Anything I may or may not remember to recycle. I think there’s a much bigger push on campus for students to recycle, but staff and faculty never hear about it. If you’re serious, you need more publicity about it, more containers, and clearer signage.
Save the earth
I choose to recycle to reduce waste in our landfills and improve the environment. Why put something in the trash that can be re-purposed through recycling?
i try to recycle every time it’s possible… stuff has to be ‘clean’ though, and that’s hard sometimes. (in my office we have a sink, for instance, so I can rinse things out and then recycle, but that’s not true all over campus) Lots of things aren’t recyclable; hot Starbucks (i try to bring my own mug), very hard with batteries.
Sometimes the toter things are not accurately labeled, or there are two for plastic and none for paper. Sometimes there are no recycling things nearby, lilke on the academic quad
My hometown had single stream recycling programs that were easy to use and funded civil jobs. I always recycled when I was home, so it just carried over.
Don’t recycle when there are no containers. I would choose the recyclable cup if they were available.
It’s confusing and sometimes just don’t take the time to understand/learn what can and cannot be recycled.
To reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. Recycled materials can be re-used into different items thus reducing the amount of fossil fuels consumed to make new items
I choose to recycle because I believe every little bit helps and it doesn’t take much effort on campus to properly recycle
I recycle because it is the best way I can help keep the Earth a viable planet
I’ve been doing it for as long as it was a possibility in the states I’ve lived in. Reduce my carbon footprint…renewable resources, care about the environment, reduce what goes into landfills that can be reused recycled. Who could not care?
Not recycling is the most arrogant and lazy things someone does in a day-to-day routine.
because it is the right thing to do
I recycle cans/boxes/etc because its just as easy as trashing it. I don’t recycle when I get confused or have too much waste in my own trashcants.
We can reuse instead waste.
On the whole, recycling destroys more resources than it saves, and distracts us from far more important environmental issues. In addition our university has not studied its recycling program to evaluate it’s environmental and economic cost effectiveness and dedicates many resources to simply promoting the act and expanding its programs.
Must recycle!!! need to be responsible for our waste ad re-use whatever we can.
I recycle because it is good for our future.
Resources are limited, as is space in Landfills. It doesn’t make sense not to recycle.
It helps the planet. If we reduce the amount of trash, we save space, save money, and it is more environmentally-friendly.
I like recycled materials
I don’t see any reason not to take the extra couple of minutes it takes to recycle, and it helps the planet.
I choose to recycle because it is a good step to reducing waste; I try to limit what I use in the first place; and as anoying as it would seem to other students, I would encourage the U of R to make non recyclable (and even recyclable) container options harder to use and obtain in order to force people to realise that they can do without if they try.
It’s important for the environment, the future, and for our comfort. “The planet is not a gift from our parents, it is a loan from our children”
I would recycle even more if I had a battery and toner recycling station nearby. It would also be good to have eye glass collections. I’d like to see some outdoor recycling rather than all trash, in parking lots, near doors, etc, esp for plastics, alum cans and papers.
I was raised to recycle and took out the garbage from my home twice a week.
I choose to recycle to minimize items going into landfills.
it’s better for the environment, better for people, and better economically.
I recycle because I hate the idea of items sitting in a landfill forever. I feel it is wasteful and irresponsible.
support the environment
I recycle all I can.
I recycle to help the planet.
I choose to recycle because repurposing makes more sense to me than recreating. I believe that I have an obligation to all generations to recycle.
WE ARE FUCKING UP THE PLANET
want the world to last
I always have recycled. Good for our school and environment.
I believe that given a choice between throwing away and recycling for conservation, there is no reason why I shouldn’t just put a bit more thought into what I am doing with resources.
I choose to recycle, because recycling will help to keep the world we live in viable for future generations.
Way too much goes into landfills. My wife and I have been recycling at home for years and putting our vegetable waste into compost.
I like to recycle and I do it in my home, but get confused with non single stream recycling. On campus, its hard to tell what should go in which bin, and whether they need to be completely cleaned before I put them in the bin
To reduce waste, to protect our planet for younger generations.
I recycle to help reduce the amount of waste in landfills. This campus also makes it extremely easy and convenient to recycle.
I prefer to recycle because I know of its many benefits. However, when I don’t recycle, it’s because I am unable to find the appropriate container easily. I also would have preferred to have a personal recycling bin inside my suite, not just the communal one.
I like to think the planet benefits when we all recycle.
Recycling leads to a greener earth. Without recycling, we would be living in our own trash.
when walking about campus, i have no means to clean out containers before placing them in a recycle receptacle. There is no clear place to discard items such as old copper power or network cables.
It’s the right thing to do
It’s easy to do and helps the environment.
I choose to recycle – not to trash environment
To help save our earth and the environment.
climate change
recycling saves the planet
Save the Earth
It’s in the best interest of our community.
I recycle because although it’s a small act, if enough people do it the impact adds up. Each little thing you can do to help can make a world of a difference.
I am from Austria, not to recycle something feels very weird to me.
I recycle everything I can.
I try to recycle when I know my trash is clean and fits into the recyclable requirements. The only reason I don’t recycle is when the container isn’t clean.
I choose to recycle to help make this world a cleaner place. If something can be reused why throw it in the landfill.
The signage needs to be larger than 8 1/2″ x 11″. Oftentimes, the receptacles are located near bulletin boards–which are covered with all sorts of 8 1/2″ x 11″ pieces of paper. The Recycling signage should be both bigger, larger, and more permanent. I believe a lot of staff make a concentrated effort to recycle. However, faculty aren’t necessarily “embracing” it. While most conference rooms, seminar rooms, common areas, etc. have standard waste baskets, you’ll likely not find even blue recycling bins in these rooms. It’s been my experience the DEPARTMENT has to incur the cost of purchasing these blue bins. These should be distributed by another River Campus source (e.g., Facilities).
I like to recycle when I see bins that are conveniently placed around. I wouldn’t want to go extremely out of my way to recycle. The university does a great job of having bins located everywhere especially in Wilson Commons and Library areas where students are most likely to have recyclables on hand.
I recycle. If you have to ask why, then you won’t understand the answer.
I choose to recycle because it’s better for the planet! If I ever throw away something recyclable, it might be because going through the process of cleaning them (especially for plastic food containers) is a lot.
I choose to recycle because I don’t want my recyclables going to a landfill. I get very annoyed when I can’t find a place to recycle something.
I’ve noticed that when I’m usually alone, I tend to recycle as I’ve been taught to do so at home but when I’m with others (ex. friends) I tend to not recycle because they don’t recycle for time reasons (ex. We are rushing to get to class and we simply just throw away paper bowls or whatever in the trash)
Just always choose.
I ALWAYS choose to recycle, it’s important to limit the amount of materials that end up in a landfill and repurpose if possible.
Sustainability; society
The dorms where I have lived in for the past two years did not provide recycling bins and there was no convenient place to put them. Common area bins were placed in the basement laundry room, meaning I either had to make a special trip down 11 floors to recycle, or I had to juggle it with my laundry. I wanted to recycle, but it just wasn’t functional for me. Moving to a Maisonette may or may not help.
Don’t have the bins…..we’re a very green family at home….wish I had the ability to do so at work as well.
I recycle because I care about the world I live in and the impact I have on the environment. Fyi – there’s a survey glitch or something because I couldn’t answer about 5 questions or so
It’s easy to do.
I recycle because it’s important for keeping our environment healthy and for being able to have resources available to us with minimal landfill waste.
It can be ambiguous whether an item is recyclable, especially if it contains multiple types of materials. For example, an empty oatmeal tube is mostly cardboard, but also has a plastic ring and lid on it. Is it recyclable, and in which container? The signs only help for the most common items but there are items that are difficult to tell.
Because the environment is in trouble.
If it can be reused, why not?
The biggest reason I recycled less this year was because I was living in Anderson where individual rooms do not have recycling bins.
Recycling allows us to avoid going to nature for new materials. Keeping nature as intact as possible helps us preserve it for future generations. Destroying too much of the natural environment poses some grave risks to the planet – especially when done upon a large scale.
Environment
It’s my personal contribution to the planet.
not enough containers in my building
I know the environmental and economic benefits of removing things from the landfill and creating recycling products.
It’s important to keep usable materials out of landfills.
should get paper recycle bucket for my office
Having problem with document- I believe this was already submitted twice
Choose to recycle if it’s easy.
I always try to recycle. Sometimes with just the blue bin in my office I get confused by what I can mix into the recycling bin.
I don’t feel there are enough options for recycling on campus. Much of the food packaging items in Wilson Commons are considered non-recyclable and I’d like to see that changed. There are also not enough bins for recycling on campus. Classrooms and conference rooms need more bins – especially when food is served in many of these rooms.
Recycling is important for protecting the environment. If I can make a change by doing something as simple as recycling, why wouldn’t I?
I choose to recycle because it’s environmentally responsible, and the earth needs all the help it can get from us
I choose to recycle most of the time because, having researched somewhat about how quickly landfills are growing and thinking about how much energy goes into producing plastics and other recyclables, it seems silly to throw these things away when it just takes a little extra effort to recycle. When I don’t recycle, it’s usually because of convenience; e.g. in the office where I’m working this summer (on the second floor of LeChase), I’d have to walk outside the hallway to recycle.
I hate wasting our resources. Not recycling, does not help our environment and will lead to a bad place in the future.
I choose to recycle because it is a simple and important contribution to our community and the environment. If it’s just a matter of putting my unwanted items into different, but equally convenient containers, why NOT recycle??
Recycling makes sense, we need to do more. I choose to do my part.
I recycle to save the environment.
I feel strongly about conserving fiscal and natural resources–that’s why I like to recycle.
Help the environment
With a facility that contains 30,000+ staff and then students and others our impact on what is recycled and what is trashed is huge. Our carbon footprint should be a high concern because of our impact.
I recycle because it’s easy to do and is better for the environment.
Why bother. The Res Life BSW’s in Anderson and Wilder Towers just empty the recyclables in the garbage anyway.
Better for the environment.
Helping the environment in whatever way I can
It is a matter of being responsible and considerate.
I recycle if it is easy to do. I often do not recycle if the only containers available are in the basement.
I watch cleaning staff dump recyclables in w/ regular trash when they empty the bins in my office.
Need to save the world ya know
Why wouldn’t I recycle?
I like the planet and I want to be able to recycle my materials instead of wasting them whenever possible.
Reducing personal ecological footprint; life philosophy is “leave it in a better state”
I recycle mainl because it was something I always grew up doing. Now as an adult I look for many ways to recycle… more han dropping in the blue bin, but o really look to reuse my belongings.
I choose to recycle because we have finite resources and must conserve and reuse as much as possible.
to preserve the planet for our kids
I am concerned about the environment and am pleased this University is doing and continues to increase the recycling efforts. While I am willing to go out of my way to recycle, many are still not in that mind set; especially those that should most logically be. I believe this to be a lack of knowledge in the programs available as well as a lack of encouragement from their supervisors.
It’s the right thing to do for the environment
I am a recycling freak because we only have one planet and there’s no room for inefficiency.
I choose to be green and support the earth.
I always try to recycle – hate our throwaway society!
I recycle because I believe it is my duty to be a responsible inhabitant of my planet. Recycling not only helps the earth, but helps human society and there is absolutely no reason not to do it.
I want to recycle! it’s smart, makes me feel better about my day and the environment
The recycling recepticles are located in a convenient location to my office so it is easy to use them. Other staff in my office are located on floors that don’t have recepticles so it is less likely that they will carry their recyclables to another floor to dispose of them.
Recycling allows things to be diverted from landfills, reducing our footprint on the Earth and allowing us to do better things with what we discard.
To save natural resources and reduce pollution/waste.
I choose to recycle to help make the planet a greener place.
I choose to recycle because it’s easier on the environment. I wish there were more options on and around campus.
I try to recycle simply because you should! If I don’t recycle that is a character flaw because I am probably too lazy to stop and think about what I am doing.
Cause I’m used to it back home in Canada

Question 21 – Can you see any potential benefits or problems in switching to Single Stream Recycling?

If you use blue bins, people assume you will only mean for paper
Biggest problem: Large volumes of office paper that are recycled will become lower-quality recycled material when contaminated with liquid from non-paper recyclables. Biggest benefit: recycling rate will hopefully increase as it becomes easier.
Many students don’t recycle because they are too lazy to separate items or not knowledgable on how to separate them, so single stream recycling may increase the total amount of recycling.
Makes things so much easier
potential to contaminate everything in one source? as is, contamination of only one container of two/three.
It has been my personal experience that even though I separaate everything at home for Waste Management, they toss it all into the landfill truck. At work specific bins are provided so things are separated and apparently it is worth the minimal effort to do the right thing. Good habits have to be followed wherever we are.
No
I am concerned that if there is an emphasis on the fact that now everything can just be “put together” into one system, people will just simply throw more garbage into the recycling.
I think more people would recycle since it would be easier to figure out what is recycled and what is not. Not having to separate the items for recycling is a big benefit. A potential problem is the size of the bins. They look rather large.
it might be easier for people that are either confused by the current recycling methods or just plain lazy
It would definitely be easier for people to recycle since they would not have to worry about separating their recycling, but I’d worry about more contamination (ie. people just throwing everything into the recycling bin because it says single stream).
I think proper labels are important if the university switches, because otherwise students might think there isn’t a place to recycle certain items and will throw them out instead. Also, I noticed that paper cups were not recyclable with the Single Stream system, and I thought they were recyclable with the current system, so many of those might be placed in Single Stream recycling bins anyway.
If there is a lot of mixing, people might be more likely to mistake it for trash or get less careful about what they are putting in.
People putting non-recyclable items in – using it as a single dispenser for any waste product.
Those who have to sort it and a lot of trash mixed in.
I see no problems, but ease of use may make people more prone to recycling.
It simplifies recycling, making it more appealing
The system is less visually appealing and may appear to be a downgrade from the current system. On the other hand, it may be easier to recycle since the recycled material is not as restricted.
It is more convenient for students, easier to understand, and demands less effort.
it can be confusing to people who are used to recycling the old way (like me)
People not having enough time to look at what goes where
Yes, people not being educated on it
People will throw everything into it, without bothering to differentiate.
cost to have things sorted later, maybe?
Worked well on my undergraduate campus. Foreseeable problem: increase in non-recyclable materials finding their way into recycle bins.
Either way we are saving resources.
It all depends on the cost. If separating the single stream is considered worth the cost (in all respects), then no problem.
Benefit – More recycling will occur because either end user of recyclable products has one less barrier to recycling – they do t have to do the sorting. Problem – lids on big green bins are a new barrier and people don’t like to touch bin lids.
One problem I can foresee is people throwing trash into single stream recycling. If they see a mixture of things in one container, they might just think it’s all trash.
The benefits would be that it would encourage me to recycle more since I see recyclables as just that (recyclables) rather than plastic recyclables separately from metal recyclables and so on. I need to actively separate them when I take them to the colored bins. However, SSR would help me because I’d just throw it all out in the same bin and separate the landfill from it. Problems would be that people would think that “oh, everything is recyclable” and that might cause them to throw landfill in the recycling bin which just ruins the whole process for everyone, maybe a recycling awareness session at the beginning of every academic year would help.
It simplifies things. It may take a while. Two choices is better.
It makes recycling easier. People won’t have to separate paper and plastic. If it is easier, people will more likely recycle. I personally don’t like it too much because I don’t mind manually separating paper and plastic, but I think it would increase overall recycling at UR.
There’s to much trash as it is we must recycle before we get berried in the trash
It will encourage more students-laziness is a huge factor
Currently, students is residential housing (I am basing this off of Susan B. Anthony Hall, a freshman living area) do not properly sort their recycling materials. Paper and cardboard end up in the plastic/metal/glass bin and vice versa. I’ve also found trash (chicken bones and other items) in these bins. By switching to Single Stream Recycling, these issues (besides the trash) may be avoided. I do not know if these items are not being sorted properly due to laziness or failure to read signs. I am leaning more toward the former.
Contamination of paper and just generally more trash contamination in the recycling bin.
Yes, makes it easier. However: a) I’m afraid people will not be careful to distinguish trash container from recycling container; b) Big green containers may take up too much room or look out of place in lots of rooms–e.g., dept seminar rooms. (b) especially as two big containers are needed. Maybe there should be smaller (but still single-stream) containers for smaller spaces.
Not from my end, but I don’t know what it means to the people/machines doing the sorting. If it means that more people will recycle, then that’s good.
NA
Benefits – it’s easier Problems – more education
Increased recycling rate
We would capture more recyclable items
More people might recycle.
More non-recyclable trash might be put into recycling containers.
Simpler = less time = more people will do it!
Some things that are not recyclable might get through the single stream recycling and trash might go into the mix.
people just put everything in instead of thinking of what can actually be recycled
The green bin is very big.
This should encourage more recycling.
i think that the single stream recycling is a good idea for the dorms because students have a blue bin that they but paper and plastics in in their dorm room and then have to separate the paper from the plastics when they get to the big recycle bins. i think that this may cause some lazy people to just throw the things away rather than recycling them. however, in the other buildings (Hutch, Wilson Commons, ect) most people dont have that much to recycle at one time. so i think the three tier system is still good for buildings that are not dorms
I can’t see that it would be fun for the end-sorter; I think I’d feel guilty using it unless I know it’s fully automated (in which case it probably isn’t very accurate).
It’s simpler, people don’t have to think about which bin to put things in.
Switching to single stream may encourage more participation in recycling. But switching to single stream may cause confusion unless adequate signage and language is made available explaining what single stream does and what items can be recycled.
Less work
Id imagine the amount of trash put in recycling will increase.
It may simplify the issue and thus encourage more people to recycle.
Benefits–if someone sorts wrong, it doesn’t require the whole thing to be thrown out which I hear often happens at the recycling plant. If this impression is wrong, I’d love it to be corrected. Disadvantage–it could become overall trash dump with people hoping someone down the line will figure it out. How clean do things have to be? At home I wash, I try to hear but not always available.
Not sure how well it gets sorted, but it is probably sorted as well or better than separate recycling bins. The one problem with single stream recycling is that some people will put trash into the recycling.
People will assume it is all trash – or it only gives the appearance of recycling and “behind the scenes” it is all thrown in the trash
I think a single stream recycling system will encourage students to recycle a larger variety of recyclables.
Some people may recycle more because they wouldn’t have to understand the separation process themselves, but it’s really not hard to understand, so they should benefit from multi-stream recycling.
Make things simpler and more people would be more likely to participate in it.
would love single stream. I think it would help most of the lazy people recycle more.
Benefit – it’s easier! People are more likely to do something if they don’t have to think as much about it. If you don’t have to think too much about which bin and whether your item is recyclable, it’s much easier.
There is still a differentiation in landfill and recycling, which is probably even harder to understand for people less familiar with recycling. So eventually every bin is used as if it was landfill. I strongly prefer to put stuff that can be easily differentiated in different boxes. (I.e. paper, plastic, metal, glass, ideally compost)
Not at this time
If bins are not adequately sized there will be an overflow of products. Also, if people are disposing of containers with liquid in them papers may become wet, stick in bins.
Ideally this should make it easier for folks, right?
It will save time. However, we still have people putting garbage in our department recycling bins which are clearly marked “NO TRASH”. I worry that all of our efforts to recycle will be compromised by a lack of understanding by the general population. More training for incoming students & faculty (especially foreign students) needs to happen.
I find is less aesthetically appealing. Outside or in food court areas would be fine – not in office space.
A lot. It’s basically like making another trash pile. People don’t learn anything more about recycling and if anything would be less likely to recycle. It also measures things harder for workers who have to sorry through the mess.
Sometimes people throw trash in single stream bins. Besides this, I think single stream makes it easier for people to want to recycle.
Single stream all the way
less time needed for ESW’s to go through buildings, but costs more for technology (or staff) to sort through unsorted recycling
There is no recycling in U of R. When the trash people come get the trash, every bin gets dump in to one trash bin. Waste of my time and effort.
Single Stream Recycling streamlines the process and makes recycling more convenient, encouraging more people to take part.
No–some places in the library may have issue with dirtier than usual collection and residues? The containers have to be clean, when empty, to be in the library, please
Simplicity, particularly for educating people on how to recycle materials (no need to explain how to separate). However, knowing whether something is paper/not paper is fairly simple, and it doesn’t address the problem that people don’t know whether something is or is not recycle-able. Changing the bins that already exist with little added benefit to the users doesn’t seem like a reasonable use of resources (time, money, labor), which could be allocated to teaching people whether a questionable material is recycle-able or not. It may help residence halls, which tend to overflow their toter containers regularly, but only one or the other (and sometimes, one of the two streams lacks a toter because it was just taken out). Single stream would be helpful here.
Better have lots of pics for the idiots.
Yes, greater chance that people will use the recycle bins vs the trash containers.
People will mistake it for trash and just dump all of their shit in it willy nilly. Having the option to sort makes one reflect, and when there is doubt, not recycle insetaed of potentially putting trash in the recycling and gunking up the works.
Students already throw paper recyclables in with glass and can recyclables in the toter bins in residential halls; single stream recycling would simply make this university policy. It might increase the accidental inclusion of trash into recyclables.
The container will not be big enough.
People are basically lazy…..if when they go to toss something out….they have to read the instructions……they will toss in the garbage.
More bins is great – provided people realize that they can put more than just paper or cans in them.
Benefit: faster for people to recycle (I often pause at the bins to consider which one is appropriate) Problem: Careless people will mix trash in with recyclables.
n/A
More material will be recycled.
I think it might end up being just a jumble of trash and recycling stuff.
No, it may encourage more people to toss everything into one bine
We have single stream recycling in my home town (Newton, MA) and it makes things a lot easier. From the slight research I’ve done, it seems like recycling rates have gone up since implementing this system. I definitely don’t foresee any problems, however, I’m not sure how much it will change people’s behavior.
Nope
None
won’t have to worry when one gets filled
People won’t have to study the signs and try and figure out which bin to use for recycling what. The downside is they may just throw everything in the recycling bin whether or not it is recyclable
I think there will be a problem if the containers are not different colors so you don’t have to stop and read. It will just become automatic to reach for the container by color.
Generally more cost.
Simpler way to recycle will prompt people to do so.
I do think that myself and others are generally not as conscientious of what is appropriate to throw into each container, so I suspect that Single Stream Recycling will encourage more people to recycle, especially those who are not interested in learning how to recycle more responsibly by doing research.
It chagrins me to see recyclable bottles or other material tossed in the trash, and I feel as though I see this happening regularly on campus. I myself am sometimes stifled in my efforts to recycle because the appropriate type of receptacle isn’t available in the room where I’m located. I hope that with single stream, people might be more inclined to recycle.
benefits = ease; problems = don’t see any.
Switching to single stream recycling seems like it would simplify the sorting process. Just about everything can go in the container.
Absolutely! I believe more University residents would participate. However the toters look a little big for many building hallways. Perhaps a “neater” and smaller set of such bins could be used. Or perhaps utilize the existing sets with new signage and different tops to distinguish between garbage and recycling products. My fear would be with the big sets there would be less making recycling more inconvenient. While some of us are willing to walk many extra steps to recycle, most are not.
I wonder if switching to single-stream will cost us more money as a University. If it does not, switching is fine. I am not sure that the current program is so hard to understand.
I think this will reduce some burden for others who don’t recycle now because it is confusing. As long as the recyclables can still be sorted appropriately downstream, I don’t see any problems. However, when implementing this, I think it would be useful to designate the variety of things that could be put into the blue buckets in campus offices. Perhaps a graphic sticker that could be mailed to department administrators and distributed internally, so people could attach those to their buckets for future reference?
As long as there is a recycling program and information is spread around on what/how to recycle, it shouldnt matter what form is used.
We don’t know how efficient the sorting system is at the center, so we don’t know how well it’d work. However it’d promote more recycling if busy people didn’t need to sort it themselves.
Benefit: it’s a lot more convenient to throw all my recyclables in one bin Problem: contamination might be a bigger problem; upperclassmen who are accustomed to dual-stream will be confused
People may just use it like a trash bin.
There may be more items that end up in the recycling bin that are not recyclable. If people can’t differentiate between a large green bin and a large trash can, there may be more trash put in the recycling bin.
I don’t know enough to say.
People putting garbage in the recycling
People will assume that EVERYTHING can be recycled!
It can decrease the ambiguity of certain recycling items, especially if it is present in dorms as well. In the oatmeal tube example I gave earlier, instead of wondering whether it is fit for recycling in plastics or cardboard, I would recycle it in single stream recycling. I think students often fail to accurately sort their recyclable items, so putting this in campus housing is a good idea
Just easier with two choices – recyclable or trash. Big visual easy to understand pictures of what goes in the recycle bin and then everything else goes in the trash bin.
It would encourage people to recycle more since they wouldn’t have to figure out how to sort items.
Nah
A benefit of Single Stream Recycling would be that students do not have to worry about where to place items. However, a downside of single stream is that it does not teach students proper recycling techniques. I prefer that we keep the 3-bin system so students learn valuable recycling skills for the future.
The three-bin option suggests only “printer paper,” “soda bottles,” and trash to many people, especially those who aren’t willing to study the signs & labels.
Single stream recycling means that we are not using valuable floor space for multiple cans.
People may recycle more.
It would be easier for on the BSW’s to empty just one container into the garbage.
Single Stream Recycling would be more ” user friendly “
Nope
It may be harder to sort out the non-recyclable materials that end up in the bin.
Potential benefit – easier to do, so more people may do it but on the flip side, because it takes less brain power to do, you may find that recyclables and landfill items become commingled due to lack of differentiation and thoughtfulness.
I think that a lot more trash or other un-recyclable materials will go into the recycling bins.
I can see ignorant students not paying attention throwing trash in the blue bin expecting environmental service employee’s to pick up the slack from them.
I think that many people would recycle more but it would need to be understood which items could and could not be placed in the bins.
Easier to recycle. Less work for students to recycle means more likely to do it
Read the research on this … single stream is easier and makes better use of individuals’ time but of course expect more trash in there and expect there to be weaker markets for the material with possibility that more will be generated and more end up in landfills.
Mmm people will just take it for a regular trashcan.
I think it would be easier
This might help with the laziness attitude. Just advertise more for the other types of recycling/waste management programs for special materials (lightbulbs, batteries, etc).
I’m not really sure that I understand the benefits of Single Stream recycling. I feel that it might contaminate possible recyclable materials because people won’t know what to recycle and what not to because it will just get mixed in with trash materials.
It would encourage students because they don’t have to figure out what goes where, but I also forsee students treating a Single Stream Recycling bin as a regular trash can.
Lazy people won’t have to sort the recycling.
I think going single stream may encourage people to recycle more. An emphasis should be placed on what should be thrown out instead of recycled. By going single streamed students wouldn’t need to spend time separating recyclables and may feel more inclined to recycle.
Students would be more likely to recycle, but they also might be more likely to throw garbage in. In addition, it wouldn’t teach students how to separate their recyclables for situations where single stream recycling is not an option.
Certainly would be easier (trash or recycle) as opposed to leaving separation at the basic level up to the individual. Also for the amount of ESL and foreign students, may be easier. However, I am not certain of the cost of single-stream (but even triparate would have to be separated at some point, so maybe there isn’t a difference). Big green bins are ugly, though.
It’s easier– especially when you get food and have like 6 different materials that go in the bins and have to stop and think about each one.
…makes things much easier and (should) increase the the amount of recycling done on campus.
Problem – I think people will just dispose of ALL trash that way
I don’t think more students will recycle and it’ll just cost the university more.
Makes it less cumbersome in sorting out the things that I have to recycle.
I do not see any problem but I think is a waste of money and energy, we can make the current system work, we are not monkeys!
Does it cost more?
See above
We have single stream at home and I love it. It is so much easier.
Although this single stream recycling method works fairly easy with home recycling, if UR RC adopts this, who’ll pay the cost (wages, etc.) for the individuals separating the items? Most people who’ve lived in the United States for any length of time are fully aware of the recycling efforts. What about students & faculty who’s home country isn’t the US?
I think some people will think it’s easier…less thinking, just throw. Others will find it off-putting because they’ll want more specifics. It’s a 50/50 shot, but probably it would have more benefits than problems. 🙂
People are generally lazy and will throw trash (especially food waste) into any and all containers, thus contaminating everything. Also, in the questions, it assumes certain items are clean (or rinsed), so while “paper plates” means used, to normally go in the regular trash, a stack of clean paper plates should be recycled! (It’s sad what I see throw away on campus.)
Definitely benefits: I could just throw the plastic from my lunch into the blue bin in my office, instead of having to walk outside my hallway to recycle. Also, I’d take out the recycling more often in my dorm because I wouldn’t have to sort through the (dirty) blue bin when I put it into the green bins down the hall. Also, people would be less likely to place things in the wrong bins. Potential problems: people might be more likely to throw trash in the recycling, because they would see a wider variety of stuff in there. Also, would this cost more?
If there is any leftover liquid or food left in plastic containers, it could make a mess on the paper products.
The only problem I see would be educating people. We are so used to having to separate things. I can also see a lot more trash ending up in the single stream containers.
container too small

Question 22 – Please share with us any concerns, problems, or questions you have about the current recycling program at the University of Rochester.

Please see question 20.
I’m very much supporting every effort you are currently putting into this project. Keep up the good job!
I feel that not enough people recycle
“Landfill” should not appear alone. If it is used at all say “Trash/Landfill” or “Garbage/Landfill”.
I feel like not enough people care about recycling in order to recycle. I think the university should reduce the amount of plastic it uses, ie have less bottled water, provide a clam shell for each employee/ student, have more programs on reducing the amount of plastics in a persons life, etc.
We still have people putting garbage in our department recycling bins which are clearly marked “NO TRASH”. If we had the same type of lids on the cans it might help. A single stream would make it easier if people didn’t put trash in them. I worry that all of our efforts to recycle will be compromised by a lack of understanding by the general population. More training for incoming students & faculty (especially foreign newcomers where language is an issue) needs to happen.
There are no trash or recycling bins in the hallways of Hutch Hall, which means that I throw away everything in the trash bin of either the bathroom or my lab.
I think the current program is by far the best I have seen on college campuses.
I’ve seen blue bins and trash combined at pickup. Please stop using pesticides on Campus, as the students still lounge on the grass before the warning signs even go down.
I think that the university should be taking advantage of the bottle return money opposed to just throwing away or recycling plastic water bottles.
I have seen recycling and garbage being combined on numerous occasions, likely due to a mixture of contamination and laziness.
More so than just people not recycling, there’s so much food waste too! People are “too busy” to take ten seconds and sort; they would rather just trash it, but a single stream has it’s risks too.
Where do we put plastic bags to recycle them? Do pizza boxes and other large cardboard boxes go in the container or next to it?
There needs to be containers down in the 3 gyms along with down on the tennis courts. People are lazy and don’t bother to carry their stuff upstairs to recycle. The garbage cans in the tennis courts are filled with empty recyclable containers. Also need some recycling containers at the outdoor tennis courts.
during the summer at least, not all of the dorm rooms have the blue bins, so a lot of people just ending up throwing bottles and things out because they’d have to walk the material to the main bins, that they would have been more likely to recycle if they had been provided a blue bin
I have a blue bin in my office for paper. I often wonder if the environmental staff actually recycles it when they emply my trash or if they just put it in the garbage. I wonder this because a few years back I saw the environmental workers doing this but I hope that has changed.
items which should be destroyed (documents with personal/sensitive/confidential information regularly go in a recycle bin instead of a “destruct” bin or paper shredder.
We need more recycling outdoors. Kids walk around with their starbucks and throw the containers in the first bin they see, which is often trash.
I think we need more recycling containers for offices and common areas in departments
people end up throwing a lot of stuff away probably because they dont really care. i think that encouraging recycling and making it a big deal on campus would have a much greater affect than switching to a single stream recycling
N/A
I think the students are the real problem, and efforts to changing mindsets are probably more important than expanding the already pretty good recycling options. Hope this helps! Thanks!
A well organized and obvious thought out program.
No communicated focus on recycling
Electronic disposal is not easy to come by. People often break phones, or computers and don’t dispose of them properly, same goes for batteries. If such disposal receptacles could be more abundant, there would be less erred disposal.
There should be more recycling bins outdoors. At Sage art center, where I work, there are only standard trashcans nearby outdoors and they’re always overflowing. Its a high traffic area so a bin would be helpful.
Currently, students is residential housing (I am basing this off of Susan B. Anthony Hall, a freshman living area) do not properly sort their recycling materials. Paper and cardboard end up in the plastic/metal/glass bin and vice versa. I’ve also found trash (chicken bones and other items) in these bins. By switching to Single Stream Recycling, these issues (besides the trash) may be avoided. I do not know if these items are not being sorted properly due to laziness or failure to read signs. I am leaning more toward the former.
The signage is too small and Recyclemania is a waste of time
Containers have to be immediately available–i.e., in a room, not just outside the room or in the nearest available hallway. Frequently I see faculty and students throwing clearly recyclable material in the waste basket because not recycling containers are “right there.” They should even be by both exit doors when there are two. Also, currently not clear what to do with certain kinds of plastic (especially bags), particularly since there are recyclable at grocery stores.
Kids throw in plastic bags in the plastic recycling…. I mentioned to eco-reps to put plastic bag recycling bins out. They have done this before. But they need to be placed all over the school, not just in sue b.
Lecture halls don’t have recycling bins.
Need for recycling around campus
I can’t understand why the paper Starbucks cups can’t be recycled in the paper blue bins!!! Why? Why?
Signs indicating what things are recycleable are nice but they’re too small. I personally have bad eyesight and unless I squint or get real close, I actually can’t read the signs especially when there’s a lot of information or wording. Students just passing by may feel the same way so maybe signage should be poster sized and not A4/Letter paper sized.
It’s managing behavior – people just don’t care so they trash everything. Even in my own department I am consistently pulling things out of the trash that can be recycled. I would think I would be extremely frustrated if I was a facilities person collecting and emptying the trash and recycle bins everyday.
It’s not clear how to recycle large items that don’t fit in the trio of bins: ie: large cardboard boxes. Also, why can’t we have battery collection bins all over campus?
We should definitely compost!
NA
More compost options!
It seems that often the ESWs combine what is in my recycling and trash containers when they take it out of my office.
See 20 above, the program seems to be far more interested in effort and intentions and not about true sustainability.
People don’t know how to recycle properly
Where does the stuff go?
No problems. In the summer in Sue B the recycling needs to be taken out more. I wasn’t able to recycle for like 2 weeks because the bins were overflowing.
None
I think the system the UofR has makes recycling very accessible. I think more of the change has to come from the students.
I have recently seen more containers in the outer areas of campus – but still – not enough.
In some department offices, there are unmarked recycling containers. It is unclear what we are supposed to recycle here.
In the lobby in Wallis Hall, the green recycle bin has a sign on it that says bottles/cans only. Also, there are no signs above the cans due to placement.
Containers are functional but not attractive. Going to single stream might help solve that problem.
As a note for this survey, the questions that asked the participant to say which material was appropriate for which recycling bin were impossible to answer because the picture was too small. Even after zooming in, the recycling sign in the picture cannot be read.
I think the UR is trying very hard to establish good habits among the staff and residents and students here. Providing places for sorting our “trash” is the key.
We should always be looking for ways to improve on the amount of recycle that we generate.
I would like to see more publicity about the value of using reusable products (mugs, clamshells) in the same places we educate about recycling, at least at those relevant retail establishments.
We need composting for students to do and to used in the flower beds in front of Crosby and Burton for growing stuff
More information about how the process works beyond our classroom/office bins would be helpful. A common misconception is that the housekeeping staff doesn’t _really_ recycle anything — that the bins are only for show. Re: an earlier question about sources of information. The survey design suggests I’ve heard of all bathroom signs, a blog, and a recycling website. I had to rank them, but I had never seen/heard of those three.
n/a
I think the recycling signage needs to be much larger, say, poster-sized. Then the text is larger and it’s easier to capture the needed info quickly
There are not large bins easily available for large plastic containers or large folded boxes.
survey too long….
Attracts rodents and cockroaches if not cleaned. I see rats coming out of recycling cans or composting cans outside.
There is no such thing as too much information when it comes to recycling and helping our environment.
I have none of the three.
Nice survey–thanks. We had a presentation by Amy Kadrie at our staff meeting this past year, which is why I am as aware as I am of what can and can’t be recycled. Otherwise I would have struggled (even) more with those questions on the survey.
more bins needed out side and in academic and support buildings –everywhere.
Single stream recycling would be great. It can sometimes be frustrating to take time to try and understand what materials can go in what container — single stream would eliminate that. I would like to see more bins in administrative areas.
I do have some concern when I take the effort to recycle, that my items are just going in the trash anyways. When I’ve seen our wonderful facilities folks at work, occasionally I’ll notice that items are pulled from the office recycling bins, added to the trash can sitting next to it, and then that bag is removed with everything in it and placed in their big garbage can. It just seems to undermine efforts to encourage recycling, and I know some in my office who don’t recycle for this reason, feeling that it doesn’t matter if they do or not.
It seems to be a joke.
One concern on campus is the recycling of plastic bags. Many students throw out plastic bags or let them sit in their dorms. Last year on campus, I spearheaded a project (with Ms. Amy Kadrie and a few EcoReps) that enabled students to recycle plastic bags. Students may have seen a kiosk stationed outside Hillside that collected plastic bags (which filled up very quickly). Unfortunately we had to postpone the project due to funding issues. However, I hope that the project we had to halt temporarily can be continued on campus this coming year. If successful, this project can provide students and faculty with an effective and efficient way of recycling plastic bags and make our campus even more sustainable.
I think that you do a great job of posting signs and posters that detail the recycling available on campus. I find the bathroom posters particularly helpful, as most students see them regularly. The posters in the gym relating to the recycling of worn out shoes could be more obvious, as could the posters about lightbulb and printer recycling.
n/A
None at present time
not clear where to recycle batteries, electronics, etc.
We need to think about recycling our batteries. More and more labs and computers are utilizing wireless keyboards and mice. Contents of our batteries are not good for landfill environments. I had a situation earlier this year by an instructor asking what to do with his old used batteries. When taken up with our housekeeping’s bosses … the reply was there was no need to think about recycling them … just toss them in the garbage. Both the housekeeping person and I were surprised by the response to just toss them. Someone really needs to look into the UR’s battery usage.
The green bin opening is not big enough to fit a Panda Bow. Same for boxes in the blue bin openings.
I’m glad that it keeps getting easier to recycle. I do spend a lot of extra time going out of my way to recycle and would love to see things continue to get easier.
I just wish there were more separating bins distributed throughout buildings. I have to walk pretty far to get to a plastics recycling bin.
Here’s the deal: People don’t go to your website…they just don’t. If they’re super into it, they might…but most people eat and drink and throw without thinking. Listen, I’m lucky they throw ANYTHING away…lots of things are left sitting on tables. Lol. But the information is not communicated to the WHOLE campus often enough, clear enough, or with enough “oomph” to make us really pay attention. One little blurb in the @Rochester ain’t gonna do it, guys. People don’t read emails…not mine, not yours. BUT, they are visual creatures. So more signage, bigger signage, more color, and more bang will help you tremendously. Even just mailing each person a colorful flyer to put on their wall would help…or what about a magnet? People love stuff like that and they can stick on a file cabinet or their desk to remind them. Magnets! I’m telling you. 🙂
Signage above recycling containers is generally good, but some of the containers themselves say “bottles and cans” instead of “plastic, metal, glass,” and don’t have room to put something bigger in it, like a milk carton or the top from a Burrito Bowl. This has often discouraged me from recycling.
not enough support on weekends when housekeeping is off to keep containers empty,sometimes food trash sits for days
I work at the Laser Lab and ALL office waste that goes into the blue recycling bins goes directly into the garbage. I watch the janitors do it all the time and there is no separate pickup of recycling outside of the normal trash pickup. There is no office paper recycling at the Laser Lab — it is a total farce.
The current program is pretty good. It is sometimes unclear how to recycle certain unusual items. For example, I did not know that there is a program for recycling shoes. It is great that it exists. But anything that is not communicated at the bins may not be known by most of the population.
I think switching to single stream, and emphasizing just what is and is not recycleable, period, would improve students use.
keep up the good work.
its a great program. unfortunately you cant fix lazy unconcerned people who refuse to take part.
As part of the group that has to collect the recycling containers for batteries, I see that many people use the recycling containers as trash cans. It appears that it is too inconvenient to sort the items into the correct containers.
I think it’s unfortunate that we can’t recycle plastic or paper plates, clamshells, utensils, or other take-out materials once they have had food in them – think of all the trash that comes out of a place like the Wilson Commons cafeteria every day, and then think of how much less there would be if we could recycle its used paper and plastic dishes and utensils.
Survey malfunctions…
No individual bins in rooms at southside.
Biggest hurdle I think that there is with the campus’ recycling program is getting the students to make the effort to put stuff in the appropriate bins (trash included). In addition to the “Go Green” campaign, I would suggest an initiative that encourages students (particularly the undergrads) to take pride in their campus and do their part to keep it clean (eg not spit out their gum inside the buildings, throwing their trash away, not trying to eat a five course meal while walking through the tunnels, etc).
Firstly, I should state that I was an EcoRep, so I am very aware of the system currently in place for recycling. In addition, I feel that there are two battling perspectives on the issue-if you are not informative enough, people who care will not know what to do, whereas if you make the signage less informational but have more of an advertising punch, you might ring some people who normally would be disinclined to recycle, or bring it up as a student body issue where it could be addressed. My thought is that those who are intrinsically motivated to recycle will be willing to take the 30 seconds to look up policy on a phone. This would render the signage of little use in general, especially if it is too verbose to attract the attention of those who do not care about recycling. If you would like to further discuss this with me, I’m happy to talk. I can be reached at nkochan@u.rochester.edu
Not all three bins are together in all places. Sometimes I see a garbage bin accompanied by just a blue or just a green top bin. What drives me nuts is all the disposable materials on campus events and in meetings. I want everyone to recycle what they can instead of throwing it all away.
I still see students every day places containers with food waste inside recycling containers.
Staff do not want to clean out recyclable food ware, as sold in Wilson Commons, etc. I pick them out of the trash and wash and recycle. How can we make the “to go” containers more sustainable?
There are enough bins, but they are too small/not emptied often enough. It would be great to get some information on what happens with the stuff that is put into the recycling bins. (Where is it taken, what is made out of it, how much landfill can be avoided, etc.)
Even though I put my stuff in a recycling bin, I have no way of knowing if it actually gets recycled. I have witnessed “programs” at other Universities where everything still ends up on the garbage.
I watch cleaning staff dump recyclables in w/ regular trash when they empty the bins in my office.
People still think you can recycle things like used tissues or candy wrappers.
Everything gets thrown out in the same trash bin when the recyclable bins are emptied. Why bother separating the bins.
The lids on the current bins deter students from recycling much beyond paper and cans/bottles. While the bins are supposed to be used for all kinds of recyclables the round wholes and small slots on the top can cause students to believe that only select kinds of recyclables can be placed in them. Yes, the lids can easily be lifted to throw things like panda bowls and salad containers away, but students unfortunately rarely do this.
would be helpful to have more large quanity drives MORE OFTEN. (like shred fest and electronic devices dump)
its not hard to have separate bins and separate plastic/metal/glass and papers. people already do it as a habit theres no need to switch.
Not sure what can go in the blue bins!
It’s not bad right now.
The signage is really small. I think the signs should be bigger, not 8×11, more like a poster size.
The signs are old. Not sure if they are current or not in what can or cannot be recycled.
many states/countries don’t recycle…students from these states/countries have no clue and don’t care and need to be educated by us – maybe they can take that back to their own states/ countries and we’d all have a better world gong forward
I think that there is adequate signage and labeling on campus. Other miscellaneous materials that can be recycled including batteries, lightbulbs etc.. can be better publicized. However, overall I think that the recycling program at the Univeristy of Rochester is truly unique through its implementation of the EcoReps program which gets students more involved and informed from a Residence Hall standpoint starting their freshman year.
Can implement more awareness programs to promote recycling.
Much of the time, I struggle because it isn’t convenient for me. It’s more convenient to take out the trash than recycle. So why go through extra effort to make space, sort, and take the items down when I can just add them to the trash and send it down the shoot?
Having different cans for different items takes up too much space in common areas.
I like it.
It is difficult to clean things before recycling.
There aren’t enough bins in the engineering buildings (Hopeman, Gavett, the Engineering quad). Also I feel like a lot of people aren’t aware of exactly how to recycle and exactly why we do it.
See question 20

2 Replies to “Results of the 2015 University of Rochester River Campus Recycling Survey”

AMY KADRIE says:

September 2, 2015 at 8:13 am

I really like the idea of magnets too. It’s being considered for student orientation next year. Thanks!
B Rybak says:

August 31, 2015 at 8:55 am

I still think you should do magnets…the more I think about it, the more genius it seems to me. I realize cost may be prohibitive…

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