by Shane Henson — February 15, 2012—With the help of Waste Management of Arizona, part of the Waste Management team that provides waste and recycling services throughout the United States and Canada, Arizona State University (ASU) has launched a program called “Roadmap to Zero Solid Waste” that aims to eliminate 90% or more of the university’s solid waste by 2015.
According to ASU officials, the program is being developed in three phases, including waste assessment, roadmap development and program implementation. It includes all four ASU campuses—Tempe, West, Polytechnic and Downtown Phoenix.
Waste Management already is working with an ASU team to assess the university’s complete waste-collection processes, waste generation and material conveyance. Waste Management dedicated an on-site project manager and two student interns to provide continual guidance and direction throughout the roadmap development process, including the execution of the waste-elimination plan.
The objectives outlined in ASU’s current 2015 zero-waste strategy include averting 30% of campus solid waste from the landfill and diverting 60%. Landfill-waste diversion includes recycling, repurposing, reusing and composting practices.
Waste-related operations at each of the four ASU campuses, including generation trends, collection flow, container and compactor placement, front and back of house solutions, and the final waste elimination processes are key areas for solid waste diversion measures, says Waste Management of Arizona.
