PSU in-action
Recycling
Visit the Office of the Physical Plant's Recycling Program.
Informal recycling programs led by a student environmental group and concerned individuals on campus have existed since the early 1970s. However, a formal, comprehensive, University-wide recycling policy and program was implemented in October 1989.
Recycling Highlights:
- Penn State recycles 48 percent of its total waste.
- Penn State recycling has grown from collecting 20 tons in 1989 to 6,070 tons in 2006.
- Landfill waste has decreased from 76,400 tons in 1989 to 6,432 tons in 2006.
- It costs about $17 a year per student to dispose of refuse generated in the Residence Halls as compted to about $3.80 per student to dispose of recyclables generated in the Residence Halls.
- The average Residence Hall student generates about 375 pounds of trash and 69 pounds of recyclables each year.
- Recyclables are taken by Penn State to the Centre County Solid Waste Authority (CCSWA), which processes and sells them to various markets.
- Newspaper is used for animal bedding and to produce other paper products.
- Mixed office paper is made into paper products such as tissue, paper towels and napkins.
- Glass is used to produce new glass bottles.
- Aluminum is remade into cans.
- Plastic and steel are sold on the open market to different companies.
- Penn State recycled 794 tons of mixed office paper in 2005. This recycling process saved 3,176,000 kwh. This is enough electricity to heat 396 average sized homes for one year.
- Penn State recycled 396 tons of newspaper in 2005. This recycling process saved 1,288,000 kwh, which is enough electricity to power a television set continuously for a year.
- The University recycled 29 tons of oil in 2005 from OPP's garage and fleet services. This amount of oil would provide enough energy to meet the electrical needs of an average size home for over 9.5 years.
- 5 tons of toner cartridges were recycled at Penn State in 2005. This saved 245 gallons of oil.
