Case Study: The Effectiveness Of Busch Recycling Containers In Michigan State University

Background
Michigan State University

Founded in 1855
The top research institution and leader in international engagement
Currently has 533 buildings and over 40,000 students enrolled in the more than 200 programs
First recycling program was launched in 1991
Thousands of recycling containers have been scattered across the campus

Busch Systems International

North American leader of waste, compost and recycling containers for the past 25 years
Set the industry standard for the yearly production of new molded bins
Each container is 100% recyclable and North America made with a minimum of 35% recycled content

Waste Watcher

Space efficient, high density, attractive and functional
Ideal for high traffic areas
Holds upward of 23 gallons of recyclables or waste
Has custom lids, labels and openings for easy sorting
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) also uses these containers

Analysis
The new containers marked the beginning of Phase II of the MSU recycling program.  In Phase I a mix of old and new containers were used in various building across the school. The mix of containers was confusing for students and looked poorly on the campus. Phase II was rolled out in late December of 2009 with Busch ‘Waste Watchers’. Staff spent four, fourteen hour days over winter break to setup the program effectively. 

Phase II consisted of three thousand dark green ‘Waste Watchers’ which were placed in over 200 buildings at MSU including:

Classrooms
Research labs
Athletic centers
Administration buildings
Residential houses
Bus terminals

Previously, Deans had objected to recycling containers being in so many public spaces because they were unattractive. The sleek appearance of the ‘Waste Watcher’ meant that more recyclables could be collected in more places at MSU.

The containers were used to form a recycling station:

The ‘Waste Watchers’ are designed to link together to form a sleek recycling station
Each container collects a different material without occupying a great deal of space
The station collects paper, mixed, boxboard, plastics and household metal

The recycling stations are emptied by the custodial staff who:

Transfers the material into larger containers
The recycling crew picks up and transports the containers to an on campus recycling center
The school then sorts it, bales it and sells it
This fosters sustainability and produces a profit to fund the program by

The ‘Waste Watchers’ features are designed to help the schools collection process including:

Removable lids and easy-grip handles which save time and resources
Custom lid openings
MSU selected a circular opening for plastics and a thin slot shaped opening for paper collection

MSU found the custom openings on the containers to work well with their program. The openings feature a simple, clean sorting system which is easy to identify and use. This diverts more materials into the correct container and reduces the resources spent sorting them.

Conclusion
Overall, Busch recycling containers have increased MSU’s recycling participation. They have also improved the quality of sort from the collected materials. What remains to be seen is how the program will take shape in the coming months and how this will impact future initiatives. Nevertheless, the new containers allow for more recyclables to be collected in more areas. This increases the profit made by the recycling center and reduces the schools carbon footprint.

Tagged as: Busch, Case, Containers, Effectiveness, Michigan, recycling, State, Study., University