Difference between revisions of "Trash Audit"
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Revision as of 04:56, 11 November 2011
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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.
- Recyclables - Service comes once a week (Wednesday)
- Sorted into 4 bins
- Plastic
- Metal
- Cardboard
- Glass
- Paper - periodically bag up and include in recycle area; keep dry in plastic bags
- Picked up by recycling service
- Sorted into 4 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
- Trash Audit Photos - 2011_11_04
- Experiment Tracker - summary of all experiments & experiment project management
- Waste Management
- TerraCycle
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