Difference between revisions of "TRASH AUDIT- April 2018"

Revision as of 16:44, 4 May 2018

Return to Labs Sessions - 2018

• Trash Audit Design
  • Check current compliance levels
  • Analyze current waste stream content compared to what it was
  • Do per capita study compared to before, if possible - GET FROM MARTHA'S ENERGY TRACKING
  • Issue #1 - Lots of carry out cartons now - CONFIRMED STILL AN ISSUE
  • Issue #2 - Food left in fridge on Friday - CONFIRMED STILL AN ISSUE
  • Get historical data on trash weights recently; Google Docs has shared file with weights - TODAY 41 LBS FOR 9 DAYS (THURS - TO TODAY)
  • First audit was 11/4/2011
  • After Action: Talk to Recycle Here to solicit feedback on what we could do better or if anything new in the world of recycling - CAVE DAY; ASK MATT WHICH STREAMS HAVE THE MOST VALUE; METAL ALWAYS HIGH, CARDBOARD THOUGHT TO HAVE VALUE? PLASTICS TRACK THE VALUE OF OIL?
  • After Action: Drill down to hear what we do right/wrong once it gets to the sorting process or its final destination - update us on what helps and what doesn't - what ruins a stream or makes it unusable - CAVE DAY

• Trash Audit Observations
  • Bag #1
    • When feminine products end up in paper towel recycle bag it has to be trashed
    • Too many paper towel bags to compost, so some get trashed
    • Wet paper towels become moldy if bags held for too long
  • Bag #2
    • Some plastic recyclables missed
    • Food containers from local vendors
  • Bag #3
    • One plastic cup missed
    • Styrofoam food containers from local vendors
  • Bag #4
    • Whole bagel
    • Vitamin Water bottle missed
    • Metal lid missed
  • Bag #5
    • Waste of a plastic trash bag; only a few items
    • Metal cap missed
  • Bag #6
    • Rubber bands thrown away could be reused
    • Plastic trash bag barely used - cleaner swaps out?
    • Metal tongs missed
    • Cardboard missed
    • Plastic lids missed
  • Bag #7
    • Stack of office papers missed
    • Paper towels missed
    • Glass bottle missed
  • Bag #8
    • Starbucks lid missed
    • Cardboard missed
    • Banana peels missed
    • Some food waste missed (grapes)
  • Bag #9
    • Office papers and bank statement missed (shred statement??)
    • Broken glass should be wrapped for safety
  • Bag #10
    • Overflow paper towels
    • Some styrofoam food containers
  • Bag #11
    • Overflow paper towels
  • Bag #12
    • Easter grass could be reused or recycled
    • Smoothie Place cups missed; need to be rinsed immediately after use, otherwise sticks
  • Bag #13
    • Overflow paper towels
    • Cardboard toilet paper cores mixed in also trashed with overflow paper towels; could be recycled with cardboard
  • Bag #14
    • More smoothie cups missed
  • Loose in Can
    • Metal tape measure missed
    • Electric power cord missed (metal inside)

• Additional Notes
  • Sometimes has too much paper towel to compost; decision is made to trash excess. Unisex bathroom experimenting with new dispenser to limit to one. Some instruction on new dispenser use may be helpful.
  • Peggy had done complete clean out of kitchen the week of the audit (does about twice per year), hence the tongs.
  • Reminder: Good to opt out of catalogs and use online resources instead.
  • Thermal paper receipts are not recyclable.
  • Friday after lunch, little recycling guidance for visitors.
  • Suggestion: Bring your own recyclable or reusable straw.
  • Suggestion: Best Buy takes old power/communication cords, CDs, cellphones for recycle.
  • Suggestion: Some places recycle old power strips (check Web for resource).
  • Suggestion: Check computer repair places for disposing of old computer parts, screens, etc.
  • Lunch trash should be sorted to individual recycle streams, not thrown away all in one bag.
  • Whole Foods lids can be recycled.
  • Recycling metal sign may be confusing to some.

• Drill Down Questions
  • SOCCRA Web site has streams that are included but not how to prep the streams, if necessary. The following are questions related to what is acceptable:
  • How does the one stream recycling work basically? Overview - ASK MATT
  • Rinsing out container - how much is enough to make recycling okay? - WATER NEXUS; SALAD DRESSING AND GREASY STUFF SHOULD NOT GO DOWN THE DRAIN ANYWAY; SWIRL AND A DUMP WITH FINGER LOOSENING, THEN DON'T BOTHER - KIRSTEN; HELEN, DUMP, WIPE, RINSE, BIN; MICHIGAN HAS WATER, SO SOME RINSING OKAY; QUESTION IS HOW CLEAN DOES IT NEED TO BE?? jOSH; ASK MATT HOW CLEAN IT NEEDS TO BE FOR THE LAY PERSON
  • Debate - how much water usage to rinse is worthwhile? Michigan vs. other states
  • Mixed media cartons for creamer - lining in creamer, orange juice - wax on outside - can they be recycled? What happens to the stream if they are included? - ASK MATT HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HANDLE INTERMITTENT SOME WAY? WILL GET TAKEN OUT OF THE STREAM IF PUT IN.
  • If container has number but cap doesn't and you leave cap on, does it impact? (NOTE: SOCCRA has cap bin and styrofoam repository now) - ASK MATT; DEPENDS ON WHO IS TAKING IT IN
  • Food absorbed cardboard - can it be recycled? - THROW IT OUT; IF SHREDDED YOU CAN COMPOST IT YOURSELF, OTHERWISE TAKES TOO LONG; CAN TAKE TOP OFF AND BURN BOTTOM AS FAKE LOG; PUT LINT IN MIDDLE AND IT GOES UP
  • Are there compostable garbage bags without extra heat needed to decompose? - ASK MATT

• Other Notables
  • Different areas that don't recycle even now - apartments, multifamily, farming communities, some states? - IF THIS WAS A TYPICAL OFFICE BUILDING, COMPLIANCE WOULD BE MUCH LOWER, BUT THERE ARE SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT COULD BE MADE/KEEP WORKING ON
  • Plasma gasification - look up Vienna tourist attraction
  • Methane reclaim
  • Solar gasification - use solar focus

• Conclusions - Suggestions
  • Use kiddie pool or 3 mil plastic sheeting for next audit and store in basement
  • Note that thermal paper and carbon paper is not recyclable, which surprised most of us
  • Found some bank statements and other office papers that might have wanted to be shredded or at least put into recycle bins if not thought sensitive