Difference between revisions of "Trash Audit"
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<small>return to [[Sustainability Labs]]</small> <br /> | <small>return to [[Sustainability Labs]]</small> <br /> | ||
<small>return to [[Labs Highlights]]</small> <br /> | <small>return to [[Labs Highlights]]</small> <br /> | ||
<small>return to [[Current Labs Summary]]</small> | <small>return to [[Current Labs Summary]]</small> | ||
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=== Trash Audit Experiment === | === Trash Audit Experiment === | ||
---- | ---- | ||
− | ==== Goals of | + | ==== Goals of Experiment ==== |
* No waste - minimize trash; maximize recyclables & compost | * No waste - minimize trash; maximize recyclables & compost | ||
* Reduce recyclables | * Reduce recyclables | ||
+ | * Determine if materials are being placed in the correct stream | ||
− | ==== Decisions to be made from | + | ==== Decisions to be made from Experiment ==== |
* Purchase packages for remaining waste | * Purchase packages for remaining waste | ||
* Define interim goals for reduction of recyclables based on baseline benchmark | * Define interim goals for reduction of recyclables based on baseline benchmark | ||
+ | * Confirm if we have the effective and correct processes for recyclables | ||
==== Expected Outcomes ==== | ==== Expected Outcomes ==== | ||
Line 23: | Line 24: | ||
---- | ---- | ||
==== General ==== | ==== General ==== | ||
− | * Compost - weeds, leaves, fruit, vegetables, tea bags, coffee grounds, etc. | + | * Compost - weeds, leaves, fruit, vegetables, tea bags, coffee grounds, etc. (no protein, no dairy) |
* Recyclables - Service comes once a week (Wednesday) | * Recyclables - Service comes once a week (Wednesday) | ||
− | ** Sorted into | + | ** Sorted into bins |
*** Plastic | *** Plastic | ||
*** Metal | *** Metal | ||
*** Cardboard | *** Cardboard | ||
*** Glass | *** Glass | ||
− | ** Paper - periodically bag up and include in recycle area; keep dry in plastic bags | + | *** Styrofoam |
+ | *** Mixed Paper - periodically bag up and include in recycle area; keep dry in plastic bags | ||
** Picked up by recycling service | ** Picked up by recycling service | ||
* Regular trash service determined by Green Garage Services; see [[Trash Tracker]] | * Regular trash service determined by Green Garage Services; see [[Trash Tracker]] | ||
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==== Process Measurements ==== | ==== Process Measurements ==== | ||
* Audit trash container & bins for appropriate content | * Audit trash container & bins for appropriate content | ||
− | ** Sort trash on tarp | + | ** GG Services retrieves trash and recyclables from remote locations |
− | ** Photograph and video process and contents | + | ** GG Labs receive trash from GG Services |
+ | ** Weigh trash; take photos | ||
+ | ** Dump trash on tarp; take photos | ||
+ | ** Sort trash on tarp; take photos | ||
+ | ** Photograph and video process and contents, especially for things not in the correct stream or not in the right condition to qualify for that stream | ||
+ | ** Repeat for each recyclable stream | ||
** Document results | ** Document results | ||
** Report results | ** Report results | ||
* Measure each stream by weight; lbs | * Measure each stream by weight; lbs | ||
+ | * Highlight improper usage; clear up misunderstanding | ||
+ | * Put info above each bin for % done correctly also (positive reinforcement) | ||
* Document in online workbook | * Document in online workbook | ||
* Report results of each audit | * Report results of each audit | ||
− | * Develop goals to reduce trash over time from baseline | + | * Develop goals to reduce trash over time from baseline (after Beta period) |
+ | * Trend improper usage and use info to educate occupants (work with GG Services) | ||
* Produce Annual Report on results and progress towards goals | * Produce Annual Report on results and progress towards goals | ||
==== Resources Required ==== | ==== Resources Required ==== | ||
− | * Scale | + | * Scale - Joe fixed |
− | * Tarp | + | * Tarp - Peggy |
− | * Rubber gloves | + | * Rubber gloves - Peggy getting 3 more |
− | * Clothes pins for nose | + | * Clothes pins for nose - done; in library |
− | * Online tracking document | + | * Online tracking document - Laurie |
==== Participants ==== | ==== Participants ==== | ||
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* [http://www.wm.com/residential.jsp Waste Management] | * [http://www.wm.com/residential.jsp Waste Management] | ||
* [http://www.terracycle.net/en-US/ TerraCycle] | * [http://www.terracycle.net/en-US/ TerraCycle] | ||
+ | * [http://whatsnext.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/09/mit-project-tries-to-turn-trash-into-a-game/?hpt=hp_bn6 Trash Game] | ||
+ | * [http://www.mastercomposter.com/worm/index.html Worm Composting] | ||
=== Questions === | === Questions === | ||
− | * How will paper be handled when open? | + | * How will paper be handled when open? Answer: Paper is part of recycling package. Will observe and put additional bins in for paper as needed. |
=== TO DO === | === TO DO === | ||
− | * Plan / Do / | + | * Plan / Do / Study / Act / Repeat |
− | * Make sure scale is operational | + | * Make sure scale is operational - DONE |
− | * Develop record keeping and reporting | + | * Develop record keeping and reporting - DONE |
---- | ---- |
Latest revision as of 18:03, 19 April 2015
return to Sustainability Labs
return to Labs Highlights
return to Current Labs Summary
Contents
Trash Audit Experiment
Goals of Experiment
- No waste - minimize trash; maximize recyclables & compost
- Reduce recyclables
- Determine if materials are being placed in the correct stream
Decisions to be made from Experiment
- Purchase packages for remaining waste
- Define interim goals for reduction of recyclables based on baseline benchmark
- Confirm if we have the effective and correct processes for recyclables
Expected Outcomes
- Reduced amount of trash over time
- Reduced amount of recyclables over time
Methodology
General
- Compost - weeds, leaves, fruit, vegetables, tea bags, coffee grounds, etc. (no protein, no dairy)
- Recyclables - Service comes once a week (Wednesday)
- Sorted into bins
- Plastic
- Metal
- Cardboard
- Glass
- Styrofoam
- Mixed Paper - periodically bag up and include in recycle area; keep dry in plastic bags
- Picked up by recycling service
- Sorted into bins
- Regular trash service determined by Green Garage Services; see Trash Tracker
- Trash Audits monthly to start, then less often
- GG Services receives audit report and implements improvements as necessary
Process Measurements
- Audit trash container & bins for appropriate content
- GG Services retrieves trash and recyclables from remote locations
- GG Labs receive trash from GG Services
- Weigh trash; take photos
- Dump trash on tarp; take photos
- Sort trash on tarp; take photos
- Photograph and video process and contents, especially for things not in the correct stream or not in the right condition to qualify for that stream
- Repeat for each recyclable stream
- Document results
- Report results
- Measure each stream by weight; lbs
- Highlight improper usage; clear up misunderstanding
- Put info above each bin for % done correctly also (positive reinforcement)
- Document in online workbook
- Report results of each audit
- Develop goals to reduce trash over time from baseline (after Beta period)
- Trend improper usage and use info to educate occupants (work with GG Services)
- Produce Annual Report on results and progress towards goals
Resources Required
- Scale - Joe fixed
- Tarp - Peggy
- Rubber gloves - Peggy getting 3 more
- Clothes pins for nose - done; in library
- Online tracking document - Laurie
Participants
- Audits will be Hands-On Activity for Labs Session
Collaboration
- GG Services - implement improvements as necessary after audit
- USL - media
Help Wanted
- Open to All
Scheduling & Sequencing
- First audit, 11/4/2011 during Labs Session
- Then monthly audits unannounced until stabilized results
- Quarterly audits unannounced after that
References
- Trash Audit Workbook
- Experiment Tracker - summary of all experiments & experiment project management
- Waste Management
- TerraCycle
- Trash Game
- Worm Composting
Questions
- How will paper be handled when open? Answer: Paper is part of recycling package. Will observe and put additional bins in for paper as needed.
TO DO
- Plan / Do / Study / Act / Repeat
- Make sure scale is operational - DONE
- Develop record keeping and reporting - DONE