The Middle Tennessee State University

Recycling Program and Objectives

 Middle Tennessee State University as a higher education institution has an obligation and is committed to being a good environmental steward by protecting and improving the environment through a program of recycling. MTSU recycles a variety of commonly used materials, minimizing non-hazardous waste, and encouraging practices consistent with protection of the environment in order to conserve energy, recover resources, protect the environment, save on disposal costs, and generate revenue for scholarships. Members of the university community, students, faculty, administrative and support staff, and visitors, are entitled to a healthy academic and workplace environment.  

Responsibilities

1. The Facilities Services Department through the Center for Energy Efficiency is responsible for implementation of the recycling program to reduce the generation of solid waste for the campus and the local community and to support an environmentally conscious campus.

2. The Center for Energy Efficiency is responsible for management of the recycling program and coordination of those waste reduction efforts for the campus as appropriate

3. The Center for Energy Efficiency accepted transfer of the successful recycling program, in existence for more than 25 years, from the MTSU Biology Department in 2005.

Objectives

1. The entire campus is encouraged to participate in the recycling and waste minimizing effort in order to maximize the recycling effort and accomplish the campus recycling objectives: to conserve energy, recover resources, protect the environment, save on disposal costs, and generate revenue for scholarships.

2. Cooperation of individual faculty, staff, and students is essential to continue the recycling program’s success.

3. Funds generated through recycling efforts support the program and fund scholarships.

General

1. The recycling program coordinates collection of recyclables from over 75 on-campus and off-campus sites, including many city and county offices, and local businesses. The recycling program also accepts recyclables from individuals in the local community.
2. The  Center for Energy Efficiency  is responsible for coordinating all recycling activities, including collection and pick-up of materials to be recycled, staff to ensure pick-up in a timely manner, storage of materials prior to sale, contact with vendors regarding shipment and payments, and promotion of recycling on campus.
3. Campus and community materials recycled include aluminum cans, mixed and white paper, newspaper, magazines, printer cartridges, cardboard, phone books, maintenance metals, and additional items as implemented.
4. Containers in buildings and at collection sites are not located to cause unsafe conditions.

Other

1. Facilities Services Department recycling also includes fluorescent light materials (lamps and ballasts), batteries, motor oil, pallets, yard waste, roofing materials, and additional items as implemented.

2. Recognizing that reduction in waste is preferable to recycling, the university is encouraged

a)     to purchase recycled content supplies and materials (green purchasing) whenever cost, specifications, standards, and availability are comparable to products without recycled content by identifying those items frequently purchased for which items with recycled content can be substituted.

b)     to develop design guidelines to include recycling initiatives in renovation and construction activities, including construction and demolition debris.

3. The MTSU recycling program has received support from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, receiving the donation of more than 65 recycling bins.

4. The MTSU recycling program has benefitted from Sustainable Campus Fee project funding.