Grand Valley State University’s Office of Sustainability Practices has implemented numerous waste reduction initiatives throughout the years, including refinements to the University’s recycling program and Surplus Store.
Over the last five years, Grand Valley State University has doubled its recycling rate. The University partners with multiple recycling companies and agencies, including Republic Services for recycling collection and reallocation. On-campus recycling stations are emptied weekly, and brought to Kent County’s Recycling Center. The University’s recycling program accepts paper, cardboard, plastics, glass, metal, batteries and computers in bins located throughout on-campus housing and academic buildings. Every year, GVSU competes against other universities in Recyclemania, a challenge between schools to see who can recycle the most.
Most of the food and beverageware on campus is compostable, meaning students can put their entire disposable plate in the compost bin, not just leftover food. In addition to this, students part of the Sustainable Agriculture Project have also created a composting system.
“GVSU has a long history of being an early adopter of sustainable practices and demonstrating its commitment to sustainability through the buildings on campus, classes we teach, way we dispose of waste and so much more,” said Yumiko Jakobcic, director of the Office of Sustainability Practices.
One challenge that has presented itself is contamination resulting from improperly sorted waste, according to Cameron Annis, a student senator on the Policy Committee. Annis emphasized the importance of knowing the different standards between providers and sorting items into properly labeled bins.
“Each provider offers different services with varying degrees of leniency on contamination (and) improperly sorted goods,” said Annis. “It is important for students to know what our recycling standards are, and what can be recycled to minimize waste and cross contamination between landfill and recycling.”
In addition to recycling and composting, GVSU is reducing waste in other ways. Facilities Services partners with local nonprofit organizations to set up donation boxes for students to donate furniture, clothing and food at the end of each academic year. The GVSU Surplus Store sells items that have reached the end of their shelf life for a reduced cost, instead of sending them straight to the landfill.
Annis encourages students to reuse goods, and contribute to sustainable efforts like the Surplus Store.
“I really hope to see that future students continue to inquire about our sustainability here on campus,” said Annis. “It is vital the momentum doesn’t stop with us, and that regardless of the generation we care deeply about, GVSU leaves its footprint on local ecosystems.”
University administrators and Student Senate are continuing to look for ways to improve sustainability practices on campus. The idea of an on-campus bottle return was recently brought to the attention of student senators at the Solutions Summit earlier this month. The proposed idea would minimize the amount of beverage waste by eliminating the need to leave campus and return bottles at a grocery store.
“It’s my hope that we’re able to keep on the cutting edge and support our students on their sustainability journeys,” said Jakobcic. “The students give me so much hope for the future with their brilliant ideas and enthusiasm for sustainability.”
