The Student News Site of Macalester College

The Mac Weekly

The Student News Site of Macalester College

The Mac Weekly

The Student News Site of Macalester College

The Mac Weekly

Lose the Landfill – Zero Waste by 2020

In an effort to bring its values of sustainability into practice, Macalester College has adopted a goal of Zero Waste by 2020. Macalester adheres to the widely accepted Zero Waste International Alliance standard, which states that Zero Waste Institutions divert 90% of waste from landfills and incinerators.

Why does Zero Waste matter? We have a growing population that depends heavily on limited resources from the environment. Materials need to be used as efficiently as possible to create minimal waste, and to allow for a decrease in the extraction of resources. If you’re an average American, you are contributing nearly 4.5 pounds of garbage a day – 56 tons a year – which is carted off to landfills. This garbage is then consolidated into cells, buried, and turned into a toxic landmass that threatens land, air and water quality. Often, landfills are placed disproportionately in lower income areas and communities of color.

Instead of contributing to this issue, Macalester has instituted a number of projects in an effort to reach Zero Waste by 2020. The projects have included implementing campus wide composting, contracting with Barthold Farms to take all food waste generated at Café Mac and Bon Appetit Catering Services for use as hog feed, providing reusable take-out containers at the Grille, and recycling oddities such as printer cartridges and batteries in the lower level of the Campus Center and the Sustainability Office.

Even with these projects, we still have a long way to go to achieve our 90% diversion rate by 2020. At this point, Macalester is trending toward diverting close to 70% of its waste. There are a number of factors preventing us from reaching our goal. One of the main issues is the improper disposal of items in the trash that could be recycled or composted. Based on a recent waste sort during the 2013-2014 school year, 77% of Macalester’s waste could actually be recycled or composted. As a campus, we have actually decreased the amount of recyclables that we are recycling. In 2010, 11% of Macalester’s waste could have been recycled, but in 2014, 25% of Macalester’s waste could have been recycled. This increase in improper disposal can be attributed to anything from an increase in the number of students on campus, to a lack of education of what can and can’t be recycled. Regardless, it’s clear that this is an issue, but one we as a campus are capable of addressing.

There are a number of actions that members of the Macalester community can take to assist the Zero Waste efforts on campus. The first and foremast is take the time to sort and dispose of your trash correctly. Taking those extra ten seconds to remember to throw your napkins and orange peels into the compost actually does make a difference. Also, pass on the knowledge you have about proper recycling and composting to other people you know. If you have ideas for Macalester’s initiatives to reach Zero Waste, feel free to reach out to the Zero Waste Committee, the group that oversees the implementation of this policy. Please contact Gabby Queenan ([email protected]), Suzanne Savanick Hansen ([email protected]), or Kyle Wright ([email protected]) for more information.

Infographics

How long does it take for your waste to breakdown?

Recycling One Ton of Paper Saves…

Waste @ Mac

View Comments (47)
More to Discover

Comments (47)

All The Mac Weekly Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • C

    Chloe WalkerSep 5, 2019 at 11:18 pm

    Hi there to every body, itís my first go to see of this webpage; this weblog contains awesome and in fact good stuff in support of visitors.

    Reply
  • I

    IrishSep 1, 2019 at 11:27 am

    Very good post! We will be linking to this great article on our website.
    Keep up the good writing.

    Reply
  • T

    textpad 8 license keyAug 16, 2019 at 6:36 am

    Ha, here from bing, this is what i was looking for.

    Reply
  • F

    feebhaxAug 15, 2019 at 5:17 am

    I really enjoy examining on this web , it has got fine posts .

    Reply
  • B

    bloxburg money hacksAug 14, 2019 at 5:04 am

    Intresting, will come back here later too.

    Reply
  • H

    hack kim cuong free fireAug 13, 2019 at 10:42 am

    I conceive you have mentioned some very interesting details , appreciate it for the post.

    Reply
  • R

    roblox power simulator codesAug 11, 2019 at 7:17 pm

    This does interest me

    Reply
  • F

    fortnite skin swapperAug 10, 2019 at 4:59 am

    Enjoyed reading through this, very good stuff, thankyou .

    Reply
  • J

    jailbreak noclip hack downloadAug 9, 2019 at 11:21 am

    yahoo took me here. Cheers!

    Reply
  • {

    {vn hax+Aug 7, 2019 at 11:14 am

    I am not rattling great with English but I get hold this really easygoing to read .

    Reply
  • ปั้มไลค์Aug 6, 2019 at 2:16 pm

    Like!! Thank you for publishing this awesome article.

    Reply
  • C

    Collin WignerJul 22, 2019 at 4:04 pm

    Mass parsite http://bit.ly/2W9CVkn

    Reply
  • F

    fortnite aimbot freeJun 3, 2019 at 1:52 am

    I dugg some of you post as I thought they were very beneficial invaluable

    Reply
  • H

    hacks counter blox scriptJun 1, 2019 at 10:03 pm

    I kinda got into this post. I found it to be interesting and loaded with unique points of interest.

    Reply
  • M

    mpl proJun 1, 2019 at 9:58 am

    Hello, happy that i found on this in bing. Thanks!

    Reply
  • F

    fortnite aimbot downloadMay 31, 2019 at 6:52 am

    Yeah bookmaking this wasn’t a risky decision outstanding post! .

    Reply
  • X

    xbox one mods free downloadMay 31, 2019 at 4:06 am

    I am not rattling great with English but I get hold this really easygoing to read .

    Reply
  • V

    vn haxMay 29, 2019 at 9:33 pm

    Cheers, great stuff, Me enjoying.

    Reply
  • R

    redline v3.0May 29, 2019 at 8:22 am

    Thanks for this web. I definitely agree with what you are saying.

    Reply
  • A

    aimbot free download fortniteMay 29, 2019 at 3:54 am

    I was looking at some of your articles on this site and I believe this internet site is really instructive! Keep on posting .

    Reply
  • I

    ispoofer keyMay 28, 2019 at 11:54 pm

    yahoo bring me here. Cheers!

    Reply
  • E

    expressvpn keyMay 28, 2019 at 10:46 am

    I dugg some of you post as I thought they were very beneficial invaluable

    Reply
  • S

    strucid hacksMay 28, 2019 at 1:42 am

    I really got into this web. I found it to be interesting and loaded with unique points of interest.

    Reply
  • R

    rust hacksMay 27, 2019 at 11:25 am

    I consider something really special in this site.

    Reply
  • S

    sims 4 seasons free codeMay 26, 2019 at 10:47 pm

    Enjoyed reading through this, very good stuff, thankyou .

    Reply
  • R

    resetter epson l1110May 26, 2019 at 9:30 am

    Found this on google and I’m happy I did. Well written article.

    Reply
  • S

    smart defrag 6.2 serial keyMay 26, 2019 at 7:04 am

    I am glad to be one of the visitors on this great website (:, appreciate it for posting .

    Reply
  • I

    iobit uninstaller 7.5 keyMay 26, 2019 at 12:44 am

    Ha, here from google, this is what i was browsing for.

    Reply
  • C

    cheats for hempire gameMay 25, 2019 at 9:56 pm

    I like this site because so much useful stuff on here : D.

    Reply
  • I

    ispoofer pogo activate serialeMay 24, 2019 at 9:16 am

    Enjoyed reading through this, very good stuff, thankyou .

    Reply
  • V

    vn haxMay 23, 2019 at 10:08 am

    You got yourself a new follower.

    Reply
  • B

    bitcoin adder v.1.3.00 free downloadMay 23, 2019 at 1:23 am

    Hi, i really think i will be back to your site

    Reply
  • K

    krunker aimbotMay 22, 2019 at 9:46 pm

    I like this website its a master peace ! Glad I found this on google .

    Reply
  • N

    nonsense diamondMay 22, 2019 at 9:28 am

    Ni hao, i really think i will be back to your site

    Reply
  • F

    free fire hack version unlimited diamondMay 21, 2019 at 7:37 am

    I consider something really special in this site.

    Reply
  • R

    redline v3.0May 20, 2019 at 10:25 pm

    Just wanna input on few general things, The website layout is perfect, the articles is very superb : D.

    Reply
  • S

    smutstoneMay 20, 2019 at 2:58 am

    I kinda got into this site. I found it to be interesting and loaded with unique points of view.

    Reply
  • M

    mining simulator codes 2019May 18, 2019 at 10:18 pm

    stays on topic and states valid points. Thank you.

    Reply
  • F

    forza horizon 4 license keyMay 18, 2019 at 6:20 am

    I’m impressed, I have to admit. Genuinely rarely should i encounter a weblog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you may have hit the nail about the head. Your idea is outstanding; the problem is an element that insufficient persons are speaking intelligently about. I am delighted we came across this during my look for something with this.

    Reply
  • B

    badoo superpowers freeMay 17, 2019 at 11:26 pm

    Awesome, this is what I was searching for in bing

    Reply
  • R

    redline v3.0May 17, 2019 at 10:01 am

    I love reading through and I believe this website got some genuinely utilitarian stuff on it! .

    Reply
  • R

    red dead redemption 2 digital key resaleMay 17, 2019 at 6:58 am

    I like this website its a master peace ! Glad I found this on google .

    Reply
  • F

    fallout 76 cheatsMay 17, 2019 at 1:48 am

    Good, this is what I was browsing for in google

    Reply
  • N

    nonsense diamondMay 16, 2019 at 10:19 pm

    Just wanna input on few general things, The website layout is perfect, the articles is very superb : D.

    Reply
  • A

    aimbot fortniteMay 16, 2019 at 8:06 am

    I conceive this web site holds some real superb information for everyone : D.

    Reply
  • K

    krunker hacksMay 16, 2019 at 4:13 am

    Good, this is what I was browsing for in google

    Reply
  • C

    cheatbreaker downloadMay 15, 2019 at 5:30 am

    Just wanna input on few general things, The website layout is perfect, the articles is very superb : D.

    Reply