June 2007 - Recycling Grants - Colleges, Universities

COLUMBUS, OH – A total of $318,337 in College and University Recycling & Waste Reduction Program funds has been awarded to nine Ohio public colleges and universities.

The money will help these institutions develop or expand their campus recycling and waste reduction programs, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention.

Financial assistance ranges from $4,200 to $60,000, depending on the type of recycling or waste reduction project. The colleges and universities receiving funds have proposed to set up or expand campus-wide recycling of numerous materials, perform campus waste audits, recycle at special events and implement waste reduction projects.

"There are increasingly strong links between the future of our environment and the future of our economy," said Sean D. Logan, director of ODNR. "Projects like these connect the initiative of concerned Ohioans with the conservation and efficiency goals of our public institutions."

All Ohio public colleges and universities were eligible for this competitive funding. Each recipient will provide a 50 percent match, based on the funding amount awarded.

Grant recipients by region are:

CENTRAL OHIO

The Ohio State University in Franklin County received $31,900 for special recycling containers to be used at home football games. Tailgaters will be provided the opportunity to recycle their beverage containers. The containers and recycling awareness literature will be available for all fans at stadium parking lots. This project expects to gather 16 tons of recyclables such as cans and plastic that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

NORTHEASTERN OHIO

The University of Akron in Summit County was awarded $12,900 for the purchase of containers to conduct campus-wide recycling. Numerous materials will be collected. Software will also be purchased to accurately track and monitor solid waste generated and recycled on a monthly basis. Diversion rates will be tracked to determine success of the recycling program.

Youngstown State University in Mahoning County received $4,200 to expand the food waste composting pilot project at its main dining hall. Structures will be built and site improvements completed to facilitate the food composting project. The project will allow for an additional 24 tons of food to be composted annually.

NORTHWESTERN OHIO

Bowling Green State University in Wood County was awarded $60,000 to expand campus-wide recycling for paper, plastic, cardboard and aluminum. Recycling containers will be purchased for 28 locations. The funds will also pay for a waste audit to establish the volume of campus-generated electronics, and to determine the best recycling option for these items. An additional 250 tons of materials are expected to be recycled.

Owens Community College in Wood County was awarded $50,000 to expand their current recycling program with the purchase of bins and material-handling equipment. This expansion will place 25 collection centers across the main campus and the branch campus in Findlay. An additional 63 tons of office paper, newspaper, beverage containers, ink jet cartridges (new program) and cell phones (new program) will be recycled annually.

SOUTHEASTERN OHIO

Ohio University in Athens County was awarded $50,000 to purchase and install solar panels to power its food waste in-vessel composting project. This is the largest project of its type in the United States. A solar photovoltaic array will be installed on the roof of the building that will house the in-vessel composting unit. This project anticipates 875 tons of materials will be composted each year.

SOUTH-CENTRAL OHIO

Shawnee State University in Scioto County received $30,000 to launch a new, campus-wide recycling program. This funding will cover recycling containers, service fees and awareness costs. This project expects to recycle 100 tons of paper, plastic, cardboard and aluminum cans annually.

SOUTHWESTERN OHIO

Miami University in Butler County was awarded $31,689 to expand special event recycling. The "Full Contact Recycling" campaign will be promoted at all home football games and during student move-in and move-out weeks. Cardboard and plastic bottles will be targeted with an additional 456 tons of material expected to be recycled.

Wright State University in Greene County received $47,648 to expand classroom and facility recycling. Recycling will be established in 100 classrooms and 33 campus locations. Cardboard will be baled and recycled at the student union as a result of grant-funded equipment. The college expects to annually recycle 56 additional tons of plastic bottles, aluminum cans, newspaper, cardboard and mixed office paper.