Installing Recycling Bins at Clark Kerr Dorm Rooms Final Report 2015 1. Project Leaders Names Jordan French and Eva Malis 2. Project Title Installing Recycling Bins in the Clark Kerr Residence Halls 3. Fiscal Sponsor and any Partnering Organizations Campus Recycling and Refuse Services 4. Project Summary a. Goals of the project- what did you set out to accomplish? What campus need were you trying to fill? Before this project, the residence halls of UC Berkeley completely lacked recycling bins. Although the Units had recycling chutes, residents lacked a bin in their rooms to collect recyclables to bring to the chutes. Other residence halls like Clark Kerr lacked recycling dumpsters entirely so that residents had no access to recycling. This project initially aimed to fill this gap and provide recycling for residents. After consulting with TGIF and CRRS, this project developed into a pilot program to initiate recycling and composting in four buildings of the residence halls. From this pilot program we would gain a model for implementing zero waste which we could expand to the rest of the residence halls. We set out hoping to ensure the success of the systems in place so that we could prove that recycling and composting is possible within the residence halls. With the impending deadline of 2020 to achieve Zero Waste campus-wide, this project aimed to create a pathway towards establishing zero waste. We hoped to fulfill residents demand for recycling while responding to their needs for the system to operate smoothly. We also aimed to increase education about recycling, composting, and zero waste within the residence halls. By holding educational events and installing proper signage we aimed to educate residents about sustainable behavior and sorting waste. There is currently no standardized form of sustainability education at our school, and we hoped to fill that gap in the pilot buildings so that in the future we could move forward with a stronger educational campaign in all of the residence halls. We envisioned that the residence halls could be the place where new students could learn about zero waste, landfill diversion, and sustainable practices. b. Accomplishments and successes what went well? We were able to install paper recycling minibins and mini compost pails in every room in buildings 3, 4 of CKC and 6, 9 of Foothill. We also installed common bottles and cans recycling bins in every bathroom of the CKC buildings and the common rooms of the Foothill buildings. We provided compost liners in dispensers located in bathrooms at CKC and dumpster enclosures at Foothill. In the Clark Kerr dumpster enclosures, we added compost dumpsters (toter carts) and switched the large landfill carts to smaller toter carts so that it will be easier to reduce expected landfill waste. When learning from the residents that the compost bins were becoming smelly because it was not convenient to empty them often enough, we moved the compost dumpster to right beside the building 4 entrance to
encourage residents to empty their compost more frequently. This accommodation received a lot of positive feedback from residents who were able to utilize their compost with less issues. Four of the four buildings successfully utilized the recycling system and three of the four buildings successfully utilized the composting system. The feedback that we received from residents was also very successful. We were able to conduct two surveys, one mid-year and one end-of-the-year, to record resident feedback and consolidate lessons learned from this pilot program. In the surveys we sent out, the majority of the residents supported the system and were especially enthusiastic about having composting available. We were able to receive incredibly valuable feedback on how to better serve residents to optimize the successful function of this program. We were able to see what type of bins and bin locations work best within each residence hall, for example if there should be common room compost or individual room compost in the suites. We were also able to see what areas of the program were lacking and could use more improvement. We learned that we needed more communication with RSSP and more frequent educational events from the beginning of the school year. With this information, we can make vital improvements to our waste diversion system next school year and successfully expand zero waste practices in the rest of the residence halls. We were able to partner with the SPROUTS team of Campus Recycling and Refuse Services to build the educational campaign surrounding zero waste in the residence halls. SPROUTS collaborated with our mini-grant project by placing the order for the bins, helping coordinate the installation, and spearheading the educational campaign. SPROUTS provided clear signage which was placed on every bin and helped design instructional flyers for every room to ensure that residents are able to sort their waste properly. We also designed bathroom stall flyers that communicated the importance of waste diversion, while SPROUTS provided Recyclemania posters with sustainability messages that we put up in every hallway. Furthermore, we coordinated two educational events with SPROUTS to engage the resident community. We hosted Sustainability Socials at each location (Clark Kerr and Foothill) and gave informational presentations with participatory games and prizes that SPROUTS provided to educate residents what waste belongs in each bin. This has been a crucial step towards educating new and old students about sustainable behavioral practices which they can carry to campus and into the future. This pilot program also allowed us to build connections and collaboration between different groups. Two of the pilot buildings housed Theme Houses, the Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) Theme Program and the Global Environment Theme House (GETH). Connecting with these residents allowed for more participation in the pilot program due to the strong sense of community in these houses. We were able to capitalize off of this sense of community to build a sense of responsibility to sort waste. We also worked closely throughout the year with the Residential Sustainability Program, who helped design signage, spread the word, and work on our newer grant Expanding Zero Waste in the Residence Halls. Aside from SPROUTS, CRRS was extremely supportive and guided us through the implementation of the pilot program. They also covered a lot of the extra costs that the mini-grant did not originally fund so that we could add composting and expand to Foothill. Lastly, we had a large number of residents become involved due to their demand for recycling and composting. At least
three times in the past year, we heard of small recycling/composting projects starting up in various res hall buildings, and we were able to contact the residents spearheading these efforts and collaborate with them. We now have a strong team of CRRS staff, volunteers, and RSP members working to expand this system to the rest of Clark Kerr, Stern, and Foothill. c. Challenges and obstacles what were the challenges/obstacles in this project and how did you handle these? Did you have to make any changes from your original application submission? Is there anything you wish you had known before you started the project? Is there anything about the process you wish you could have changed or do over? It was challenging to gain support from a lot of the key players, especially from RSSP staff (Resident Directors, Resident Assistants, Facilities Managers and Custodial Staff). Understandably, they are concerned with their own duties and there is currently no RSSP staff responsible for sustainability initiatives. We struggled to communicate enough with RSSP to keep everyone on the same page, and could only maintain communication through persistent emailing and calling. There was also an initial lack of communication with CRRS which led to a later start on the project and inefficient overlap. During Summer 2014, CRRS assigned this project to members of the SPROUTS team without our knowledge so both groups ended up doing the same work twice. Furthermore, because CRRS had so many other project commitments, most of the bin orders just barely arrived on time before move-in, and it took around a month for the compost liner dispensers to be installed. Therefore, some residents had already given up on using their compost bins at the beginning of the school year because this crucial part of the system was initially missing. Once some residents minds were made up against compost, it took hard work to change this mindset. Due to some of these obstacles, doubt and hesitance formed within members of RSSP and our team worked all year to build up RSSP s confidence in our program. One major setback that occurred a month after the bin system was installed was that building 6 started having pest issues and a custodian removed all the compost bins. This was partially a result of lack of communication with RSSP about who is responsible for the bins, but mostly a result of the suites not emptying the compost regularly. Although some rumors were fostered by this bin removal, (we heard that building 6 had made a pact not to use the compost and that there were rats), we were able to communicate with the RA and RD to find out the real story. Both buildings 6 and 9 had a common room compost pail in every suite, and all the suites in Foothill have a regular schedule which RA s organize for residents to take turns emptying the common room garbage. Building 9 had a very involved RA due to the WiSE Theme program, and the strong sense of community was enough to make residents feel responsible enough to take out the compost regularly. Therefore there were no issues with the build 9 common room compost bin. However in building 6, it was already a struggle to get residents to take out the landfill trash that has always been in the common room on time, let alone the new compost bin. Furthermore, the compost bin could not sit for more than a few days without growing smelly, so it would have to be taken out every couple of days instead of
once weekly like the landfill. From this incident we gathered that a common room compost bin is not viable for the Foothill suites, and that individual in-room compost pails like the ones in Clark Kerr would work better. Therefore, after the Fall 2014 semester, we decided it would be best to focus our efforts on building 9 rather than work backwards to get building 6 on board. So, for Spring 2015 we installed individual compost pails in building 9 to pilot that system and observe what worked best. Although some of the residents in build 9 preferred the common room compost pail because their system of emptying it was already working so smoothly, the individual bins were a success and received a lot of positive feedback. We were able to gain from this that individual compost bins in Foothill would be successful if implemented in the other suites. Another challenge was to uphold a strong educational campaign while smoothing out all the operational logistics. Although we were able to reach a majority of the residents, one of the most common comments we received from surveyed residents was that they were often unsure what items belonged in what bin. Our educational campaign could have been a lot stronger and more frequent, which is something I would have changed if given the chance to do this project again. It was also a challenge to retain in the resident s memory what we had already taught them and sustain the sustainable practices they had learned through our presentations and outreach efforts. Although our methods of educational outreach were largely successful, the resident demand for more educational efforts was an inspiration to continue this work and fulfill this demand. We did not have the capacity to host more of these events this year but realize that more community events, presentations, and signage are crucial for a successful campaign and zero waste system. The last major obstacle, perhaps the most devastating, occurred when we removed the bins after move-out at the end of the school year. Somehow, many of the bins we had installed were missing from the rooms. In some buildings, mostly in Foothill, about half of the bins were gone. We still are not positive where these bins have disappeared to but during move-out, two of our volunteers found a three compost pails in trash bags that custodians were using to gather leftover belongings. In order to avoid this in the future, we are going to take major precautions to ensure that the functionality of our system is clearly communicated to custodial staff of all levels and that residents know upon moving in that they will be responsible for any damaged or lost bins. d. Feedback to TGIF Is there anything that TGIF could have done to better advise or help your project? TGIF was extremely helpful and supportive the entire time we ran this project. Every time that we sought advice or assistance, TGIF was extremely responsive and helpful. We cannot think of anything that TGIF could have done better, although perhaps we should have asked for support from TGIF more often. We had some trouble getting in touch with key decision makers in the residence hall system who needed to approve our project, so it may have been helpful to receive some extra support from TGIF to contact these individuals. e. Actual Timeline of the project from start to completion November 2013 Received grant
January-February 2014 Established collaboration with CKC Facilities Manager Leonard Green March 2014 CRRS commits to holding funds and collaborating April 2014 Vision shifts from only recycling in Clark Kerr to a pilot program with recycling and composting in CKC and Foothill June 2014 Finalized decision on which bins to order, communicated with Resident Directors about new bin installation, partnered with SPROUTS and designed educational signage July 2014 Order bins, and organize volunteer team to roll out the bins before residents move in, SPROUTS initiates RA sustainability outreach August 2014 Bins arrive, roll out bins into pilot buildings, reach out to RA s of pilot buildings to train them about waste diversion, RA s read our announcement to all their residents on move-in day September 2014 Trouble-shooting system, installing more liner dispensers, and planning educational events with the SPROUTS team October 2014 Designing more educational signage, bathroom stall flyers, weekly meetings with the SPROUTS team, planning educational events November 2014 Hosted first Sustainability Social, received resident feedback December 2014 Installed individual room compost pails in building 9, installed more educational signage January 2015 Switched landfill dumpsters to toter carts, moved compost and recycling toters to building 4 entrance February 2015 Sent out first feedback survey, begun application for TGIF grant, outreach to RSSP administration regarding institutionalization March 2015 Installed educational hallway posters, gave a presentation at WiSE (building 9) April 2015 Sent out final feedback survey, compiled survey results May 2015 Removed bins to be stored under CRRS at the Richmond Field Station for the summer 5. Sustainability Impact a. What quantitative and/or qualitative sustainability impacts/metrics did your project have? 100 compost minibins, 6 bottles and cans slim jims, 25 6-gallon compost containers, about 180 paper minibins, and 5 compost liner dispensers were installed. Over 400 residents participated in the program and now have access to recycling and composting services. At the Clark Kerr building 3 enclosure, large landfill carts were replaced with 15 toters to ease the transition towards zero waste, enabling easy removal of toters as we reduce demand for landfill dumpsters. About 40 residents attended the Clark Kerr educational event from buildings 3 and 4. About 30 residents attended the Foothill educational event from the Women in Science and Engineering Theme Program in building 9. b. Do you expect on-going benefits (annual cost savings)? Please include estimates of these impacts.
6. Visibility / Outreach (examples include building renovations, signs, a garden, etc.) a. Please include any examples of publicity with your final report (in possible, please send original files with your final report) b. Photographs of your project (if possible, please send original.jpg or other photo files with your final report) 7. Conclusions and next steps will your project continue on into the future, and if yes, who will be carrying on the project? What are the next steps for this project? Will it need continual financial or staffing support and who will be meeting those needs? An expansion of this project is currently underway. Eva Malis, Jean Ji, and Allie Lalor have applied for and received a significant TGIF grant to provide all the hillside dormitories, including all residential buildings of Clark Kerr, Foothill, and Stern. We have adjusted some aspects of the project to better meet student needs and ensure the expansion project runs smoothly, such as providing larger landfill bins and accommodating bin spacing for suite layouts. We will also incorporate more educational events for students to make sure each bin is used properly. Most financial support comes from TGIF, yet we hope to have RSSP institutionalize ongoing costs of the projects, such as refilling compost liner dispensers and replacing lost or broken bins. The budget for this expansion includes two paid positions to ensure the success of the project for the first year of implementation. 8. Budget Summary include an official copy of a ledger with all expenses listed