Challenge
Swarthmore College is a community seriously committed to sustainability as evidenced by their Environmental Sustainability Framework, their deeply engaged students, faculty and staff, and the large number of campus-wide initiatives dealing with many of the issues that contribute to a sustainable world. One component of sustainability that the Swarthmore College community sought to address was waste: awareness, reduction, and diversion. With an eye towards better managing waste in a cost-effective and efficient manner, college administrators requested iSpring to review the current system of waste disposal and, working with student Fellows, identify opportunities for improvements to the system that would result in reduced waste, the possibility of reduced cost, and more environmentally-friendly disposal.
Project Description
The project viewed the campus holistically in order to create an integrated system that would maximize efficiencies, take advantage of scale where possible, and provide a cohesive plan for current needs and for future expansion.
The project comprised the following steps:
- Creation of an “as-is” model of waste flow. Extensive interviews were conducted with campus stakeholders who are involved in the waste management process to develop an accurate model of how waste is generated, handled, and removed from campus. Data detailing both the quantity and composition of waste was gathered via a two-day waste characterization study performed on five representative campus buildings. Information on removal of waste from campus was gathered from interviews and discussion with the College’s primary waste hauler, and an analysis of current vendor contracts.
- Data Analysis. All of the information and data collected were analyzed in order to identify missing elements, areas for improvement, and areas of excellence. This data analysis also provided the basis for metrics to determine future improvement in performance in waste reduction.
- Information Sharing and Stakeholder Input. Workshops were held for a cross-section of College administrators, faculty, staff and students to share the findings and their implications for the design of a new system. The workshop gauged the group’s responses to the findings and solicited ideas to be incorporated into the new system. A strong connection was also forged with the EVS techs to allow closer collaboration with those staff members who would be impacted most greatly by a redesign of the waste management system.
- Scenarios. Based on all of the accumulated information, a variety of scenarios were created by the Waste Team to address the issues raised. Preliminary cost/benefit analysis was done on the most likely scenarios.
- Analysis of Chosen Scenario. More in-depth cost analysis was done on the chosen scenario and a preliminary implementation timeline was developed.
- Implementation of Plan. Because of the breadth of the plan, implementation was undertaken in steps based on time and the availability of funds. iSpring helped Swarthmore staff and fellows design a workable timetable that is projected to span more than three years.
Results
The project provided Swarthmore with a full-scale plan for a more integrated approach to waste management along with cost estimates, timelines and various tools for creating effective metrics to measure project progress. This included:
- Process and methodology for both annual campus-wide and specific building waste characterization studies.
- Analysis capabilities to understand the results of the waste characterization studies.
- Creation of metrics and goals to achieve, first, reductions in waste and eventually a zero waste campus.
- A three-year rolling plan to standardize waste receptacles and retrofit the whole campus to provide consistency for waste disposal.
- Expansion of the student-led composting program to a year-round program.
- Resurrection of a year-end move-out recycling program.
- Creation of a Sustainability Advocate program among staff, faculty and administration to complement the student Green Advisors program.
- Designation of one building as a pilot for reaching zero waste.
- A campus-wide education program on why zero waste is important.
- Redesign of freshmen orientation program to include significant emphasis on the sustainable campus and the goals for zero waste.
- A site plan for the creation of a central waste yard.
The waste management implementation at Swarthmore College is ongoing.