Waste Reduction & Recycling

HBS Student Sustainability Associate Program

Waste Reduction & Recycling Campaign
Campaign Kick-off & Waste Awareness Presentation – today!
• Introduce HBS’ sustainability program and your section’s Student
Sustainability Associate (SSA)
• Kick off the Green Cup challenge and the Waste Reduction & Recycling
Campaign
• Review what goes in the trash, recycling, and compost bins

Garbage Games (Green Cup Challenge) – November 3 @ 3PM

• Seeking 6 tributes from each section to compete
• Teams will enjoy an adventure-packed competition,
snacks, and a shot at winning Green Cup points
• Sponsor tip: pay attention to the content in this
presentation!
Sustainability at HBS
Results (2014)
• 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
• 21% reduction in energy consumption
• 67% campus-wide recycling rate

Initiatives
• 100+ energy conservation measures
• 11 LEED Certified Buildings
• 277.5 kilowatts of on-campus installed solar (Tata, Shad, Batten, Morgan buildings)

Annual Green Cup Challenge

• Competition among the sections through a series of sustainability-themed events
• Sections compete for points that go towards the Green Cup grand prize ($1000) and
contribute to SA Cup totals
• Sections that attend today’s session will receive their first Green Cup point!
Student Sustainability Associates (SSAs)
• The SSAs are HBS students that have a Class of 2016 SSAs
personal and/or professional interest A Aparna Singh F Jim Ross
in environmental sustainability B Sameer Manek G Bhargavi Chevva
C Colin Fraser H Ritika Tawani
• There are 10 SSAs, one per section D Polina Dekhtyar I Lauren Rodriguez
• SSA initiatives: E Nib Paratheeptham J Wendy Lin

– Promote sustainable living and working on

campus through a variety of educational
events and communications (see 2014- 2014-2015 Campaigns
2015 campaigns) Oct-Nov Waste Reduction & Recycling
– Suggest and pursue infrastructure and Nov-Dec Energy Conservation
policy modifications to improve resource
Feb-Mar Water Awareness
conservation on campus
April Earth Month
– Serve as a resource for each section to
address questions and provide information May Move-Out
on sustainable living
 The Facts
• We produce a lot of waste
– The average person generates over 4 pounds of trash per day (about 1.5 tons per year)
– In 2009, Americans produced enough trash to circle the earth 24 times
– Americans throw away (not recycle) 25 million plastic bottles every hour

• We’ve gotten better about recycling our waste, but have a long way to go
– Over 75% of waste is recyclable, but only about 35% is recycled (up from 10% in 1990)

• Recycling waste can generate some serious value

– On average, it costs $30 per ton to recycle trash compared to $50 per ton to send it to
the landfill, and $65-$75 per ton to incinerate it
– The 36 billion aluminum cans in landfills last year had a scrap value of more than $600
million. Over the past twenty years we've thrown away aluminum cans worth over $12
billion on today's market
– Every pound of recycled PET (plastic) used in place of virgin material reduces energy use
in plastic production by 84% and greenhouse gas emissions by 71%

Sources: www.epa.gov, dosomething.org

The Problem
• It is nearly impossible to avoid generating waste and still be a
functional, happy, and healthy person
• The average person is aware of the reduce, reuse, recycle
concept, but this awareness often doesn’t translate to action
• Some common challenges include:
– Convenience – Who has time to do dishes or wash towels when there
are disposable ones? Why would I go searching for a recycling bin
when there’s a trash bin right here?
– Uncertainty about what to throw away vs. recycle vs. compost
– Not a top priority

What has been a challenge for you?

Waste Reduction & Recycling at HBS
HBS is working to make waste reduction & recycling easier for you
• HBS has single stream recycling, which means that everything that can be
recycled goes into one bin
• Waste bins everywhere, including trash and recycling bins inside and
outside of every classroom in Aldrich
• Composting available at Spangler Grill and performed by Spangler dining
staff (waste on conveyor)
• Disposable containers and napkins that are recyclable or compostable
• Other waste reduction & recycling initiatives:
– Used item drives for donation (gently used cosmetics, clothing, office supplies,
housewares)
– Discount on coffee when you bring your own mug
– November 6: Receive $0.67 off food & drink purchases in celebration of HBS’ 67%
recycling rate!
What Goes Where?

Plant-based plastics (labeled #7)

can’t be recycled!
What Goes Where?

Greenware
What Goes Where?
Additional Resources
• Your section’s SSA
• www.green.harvard.edu