Recycling Project by Mark Lewis https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor Changing Attitudes en-us 2021-04-04 10:01:18 UTC 2025-11-18 21:57:38 UTC hello@padlet.com Understanding the demographic markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420338116  Taking on your local student population might seem like more trouble than it’s worth, but taking time to understand this highly energetic demographic can have lasting long term benefits to your community as students graduate, become householders, work and start families. ]]> 2021-04-15 10:20:11 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420338116 Why are students important? markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420341935  Today’s college and university students are essential to your recycling outreach and education programs' long-term success. If you fail to instil proper recycling behaviour in young people today, they will likely become non-participating adults. You will have lost the largest and potentially most effective demographic in your near-future resident base. On the other hand, if you can inspire and teach them best practices now, not only will you realize immediate results and boost your waste diversion rates, but you will create a generation of influencers who will make recycling their priority for life. They will pass those habits to their friends and family as well. This is an intensely passionate and socially conscious group of young people who welcome the challenge. (https://info.recyclecoach.com/hubfs/Whitepapers/recyclecoach_university_whitepaper.pdf, 2019). 

]]> 2021-04-15 10:21:56 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420341935 Waste Production markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420347497  Waste Production Students also rank high when it comes to waste production. Some recent statistics include • 640 lbs of solid waste = The amount of solid waste an average college student produces each year, WHICH INCLUDES: • 500 disposable cups and 320 lbs of paper 3 • 142 pounds of food waste are generated annually per student; WHICH INCLUDES: • 22 million pounds of uneaten food thrown out by college students each year 4 • 30% = The number of students aged 18 to 30 who don’t recycle at all (compared to 57% of adults aged 55 and above who recycle daily) 5 • 100 tons = The amount of student waste diverted from landfill by the University of New Hampshire’s Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN) in the first 3 years.]]> 2021-04-15 10:24:29 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420347497 Communication markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420358629  College students have a lot going on. They’re juggling school and work and new-found social networks. Technology has given them access to tremendous quantities of information which they juggle on as many as three mobile devices (laptop, smartphone, tablet) at a time. They’re famous for multitasking – one of the key identifying traits of this generational group – and they repeat this fact with pride, though some studies suggest they aren’t necessarily successful at it.8 With information coming at them from all sides and no way to predict which device they’ll be using to access it, today’s college students can be difficult to reach. As compulsive multitaskers, they may also have trouble concentrating on single ideas or longterm projects, a side effect of living in a world with constant stimulation and digital distractions. ]]> 2021-04-15 10:29:34 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420358629 Changing Attitudes markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420405891 People make a lot of assumptions about today’s youth, college and university students in particular. “Millennials are lazy, entitled and self-absorbed,” an early Time Magazine article screamed. But the truth is far more complex, and the current college crowd continues to defy the stereotypes.  ]]> 2021-04-15 10:51:41 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420405891 What do students think of recycling? markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420407883 Well, the good news is that today’s young people have grown up with a sense of global awareness about sustainability and the importance of green living. There are also aspects of their collective behaviors that, properly directed, can turn them into leaders for positive, sustainable change.
The downside is that students still aren’t recycling as much as they should, so we decided to take a look at their overall attitudes to see why this is the case. As it turns out, most of the barriers to recycling for students are much the same as everyone else’s. (https://blog.recyclecoach.com/blog/how-do-college-students-really-feel-about-recycling, 2017).
]]> 2021-04-15 10:52:41 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420407883 Reasons for students not recycling markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420422229 1. Inconvenience
Like the rest of us, students won’t recycle if they can’t find an available recycling bin, if the ones provided are full or if they lack instructional signage.  A 2009 study from the National Institutes of Health found that a lack of available facilities was the number one reason students gave for not recycling regularly. The same reason ranked number one or two in all of the studies we looked at.
2. Lack of Information
The other top barrier to campus recycling is a lack of reliable, easily accessible information to tell them what goes where. For students, a lack of instruction affects their daily recycling behaviour throughout the University year.
3. Time
Let’s face it; no one has enough time these days. Students are juggling assignments, newly developed social lives and possibly also a job or two. What differentiates them from the older set is only that these demands on their time are new, which means they might not have developed strategies to stay on schedule.
4. Priorities
Students freshly entering a college or university environment are often overwhelmed by change and unstructured independence, and the idea of recycling can take a backseat. As they mature as students, they might find themselves under increasing pressure to perform well in class or bowing to social pressures to party, pushing recycling even further down the priority list.]]> 2021-04-15 10:59:44 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420422229 The Shocking Cost Of Not Recycling 20176911 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420836378 According to the most recent government figures, almost a fifth of all waste is generated by businesses, and disposing of it can carry a high price.

Companies end up counting not only the environmental but also the financial cost of the waste they generate. Landfill tax, paid by any business creating landfill waste, has risen to £91.35 per tonne, with the Government continually increasing the rate in an attempt to encourage businesses to recycle more of their refuse. It will rise to £94.15 from April 1, 2021.

]]> 2021-04-15 13:09:28 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420836378 The Psychology Behind Why People Don't Recycle - If it's not extremely easy, people won't do it. 20176911 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420865375
1. The ‘No-Time’ Non-Recycler
The excuse: Recycling is inconvenient, time-consuming or too costly.
The experts say: Iacoviello thinks the crude cost-benefit analysis people do when evaluating recycling’s benefit to them emphasizes the immediate over the long term.

2. The Aluminum Can Confuser
The excuse: Isn’t sure what’s recyclable and what’s not; doesn’t understand recycling’s benefit.
The experts say: Recycling can be confusing. It differs from community to community and rules about recycling have changed over time.

3. The Debris Denier
The excuse: Believes recycling doesn’t makes a difference, isn’t important or is a low priority (”always forgets” to recycle).
The experts say: Despite tangible evidence to the contrary, some respondents still said they didn’t think recycling makes a difference. 
]]> 2021-04-15 13:14:47 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420865375 20176911 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420905481

Recycling facts that’ll encourage you to recycle where you can

1. Recycling is known as the ‘Seventh Resource’ – the earth’s most important natural resources, that being water, air, oil, natural gas, coal and minerals, are the first six. You know these aren’t infinite, and we’re getting through them fast. Hence the seventh resource, aka recycling, being key to make sure we’re using things not once, but time and time again.

2. Excuse the repetition, but as above, this fact is amazing. “Each year, recyclables save over 700 million tonnes in CO2 emissions. This is projected to increase to 1 billion tons by 2030,” shares the Global Recycling Day website.

3. Their site also shares that recycling offsets all CO2 emissions generated by the aviation industry annually. Think about that for a second.

4.  Using recycled paper saves water, as well as trees. 900,000,000 trees every year are cut down to make paper, and 7,000 gallons of water are used per ton of paper produced. Do your bit – buy recycled.


]]> 2021-04-15 13:22:24 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1420905481 Research Into Student Recycling Attitudes 201102615 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1446892911 We created a short survey and sent it out amongst students from various different universities to better understand their attitudes to recycling. We received over 20 responses from students in Swansea University as well as UWTSD and others. Just over 86% of the students who responded to the survey were aged between 18-25. Despite 45.5% of students always recycling and 40.9% often recycling, only 4.5% of responders did not think that their University had a problem with recycling. ]]> 2021-04-22 12:39:01 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1446892911 What Students Believe will Encourage them to Recycle more. 201102615 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1446951906 The final question of the survey was asking students what they feel would encourage them to recycle more. Of the 22 responses we received, a common theme emerged of 2 answers. The first was more clarity as to where to recycle and what types of recyclables go where. Secondly, students feel that some sort of reward for recycling on campus would encourage them to take more time when recycling. ]]> 2021-04-22 12:52:15 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1446951906 Ideas to Help Students Recycle more on Campus 201102615 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1447543367 After receiving feedback from students, some ideas we could look to implement to help solve the problem of student recycling in the university are as follows:
1. On campus pubs and bars will charge £5 for a reusable cup which students can use for the night and when it is returned to the bar, they will receive their £5 deposit back. 
2. Add scanners to bins around campus which students can tap their student card on when recycling. Students can be split into teams, for example, their courses (business, maths, history etc) and the top recycling group for the week can receive discounts for the following week in on campus coffee shops and bars.
3.  The university can invest in reusable plastic bottles for students to use around campus to refill with water. This will cause less plastic water bottles being brought on campus. 
4. Social groups issued recycling challenges to complete throughout the year with the winning team at the end of the year being rewarded by the University.]]> 2021-04-22 14:40:41 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1447543367 Undertake a waste audit 20176911 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1449512156 Discover the volume and type of waste that’s being generated on campus by doing a waste audit. This will determine exactly what is being thrown away on campus, in any of the bins. This will help us to select containers with the correct capacity and place them in the right locations.]]> 2021-04-22 21:43:56 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1449512156 Make all bins consistent 20176911 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1449519367 Standardise the programme by using the same bins, same colours and graphics across campus. The recycling containers need to be consistent in all these areas to help students make the right choice when they’re at the bins. Consistent colours and graphics help reduce the chances of bin mix ups and increase recycling rates.]]> 2021-04-22 21:47:10 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1449519367 Make it an event 20176911 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1449527624 Brand our recycling program to encourage students to take ownership. If they feel proud of our university and want to be proud of all the good things that we are trying to do for the environment. By holding competitions in high traffic areas we will help to spread the word about the recycling program. We could share videos of students winning prizes for recycling properly.]]> 2021-04-22 21:50:56 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1449527624 Use graphics not words to label bins 20176911 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1449536281 Make sure recycling & waste labels on all bins are clear and easy to understand. Our campus has students from all parts of the globe that speak many different languages. By use impactful graphics with clearly identifiable images we will remove any language barrier that may cause a wrong choice at the bins. Make sure the graphics are clear and that  they’re consistent throughout the university. ]]> 2021-04-22 21:55:14 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1449536281 Water fountains 20176911 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1449545173 Place water fountains around campus that mean any student who has brought their own water bottle can fill up throughout the day free of charge using their refillable water bottle from home. This will reduce the amount or water/fizzy drink bottles/cans being put in the bins.]]> 2021-04-22 21:59:09 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1449545173 Rewards for reusables 20176911 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1449560097 Offer a reduced coffee/hot drink price when students bring their own reusable cup. Offer £1 off for not requiring a takeaway cup. Alternatively offer a reward stamp system where a certain number of return visits with your reusable cup earns you a free drink.]]> 2021-04-22 22:06:22 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1449560097 Education and awareness of recycling schemes markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454337926 Recycling schemes can sometimes succeed with little attention but more often than not, staff and students have to be helped by being reminded of the importance of recycling. It is also important to ensure that people are provided with up-to-date information to help them contribute to the various schemes.

  • Arrange a programme of events that will help to raise awareness of your recycling schemes. Specifically this should include an induction for both new and existing students and staff and may tie in to broader environmental and sustainability issues.
    For further information about training and education refer to Structured Approach
  • Use posters and publicise your initiatives in the student and staff press as well as over the institution’s intranet.
]]> 2021-04-24 08:45:50 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454337926 Recycling Committee markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454342602 Encourage students to work with lecturers to organise a committee promoting the benefits of recycling. Students respond very well to their peers so more chance to they will adopt the recycling challenge. ]]> 2021-04-24 08:50:48 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454342602 Raw Materials markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454346843 Encourage students to use recycled materials in their art projects, from water bottles to paper to beads. Keep a scrap paper box in every lecture hall. Put a printer ink recycle bin in each classroom. You can collect these and turn them in for money at various businesses, which can be used to fund university activities]]> 2021-04-24 08:54:57 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454346843 Waste Audit markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454350730 Conduct a waste audit to determine where volume and and type of waste that is being generated on campus. The audit can identify if any specialised bins are required. The waste audit provides a snap shot of the situation, and gives you a starting point for setting your diversion rate goals. Setting goals will help the students know what they’re aiming for.]]> 2021-04-24 08:58:33 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454350730 Standardise – use the same bins, same graphics and same colours across campus. markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454354212 Recycling containers need to be consistent in all areas to help students make the right choice when they're at the bins. Uniform colours and graphics can help reduce contamination levels and increase diversion rates. This can also help reduce the amount of money the university charges for the bins containing mixed rubbish.]]> 2021-04-24 09:02:03 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454354212 Start a Green team. markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454364190 Student green teams can create relevantly and impactful messaging that resonates with their peers. This helps spread the word about what’s happening on campus with recycling and other sustainability initiatives. It becomes a tribal movement rather than a directive from the administration.]]> 2021-04-24 09:12:03 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454364190 Working with Vendors markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454365346 Universities should work with vendors to ensure the products that are brought into the University are both recyclable and compostable. ]]> 2021-04-24 09:13:16 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454365346 Social Media markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454368479 Encourage students to create video presentations about what initiatives are running at the university to recycle more and cut down on single-use plastic. Students can then upload the videos onto social media, reaching a more significant number of students so that every student can feel involved and empowered to make a change.]]> 2021-04-24 09:16:43 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454368479 Publish Results markjlewis8 https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454372958 Let students know what they’ve achieved. This further increases engagement and motivation.
Ensure the results are relatable and easy to understand. Use waste hauler reports to create easy to understand charts and graphs. Post them next to the bins and share on social media.
]]> 2021-04-24 09:21:20 UTC https://padlet.com/markjlewis8/zzmm2btvgni9yaor/wish/1454372958