Overview
SMCCCD committed to becoming a Zero Waste District by 2025. The purpose of the SMCCCD Zero Waste Program is to identify and implement waste reduction and waste diversion strategies to achieve Zero Waste goals, and empower students, faculty, and staff to become change agents in their local and global communities.
Table of Contents
Our Goals
1) By 2025, reduce District waste generation by 25% from a 2018 baseline.
2) By 2025, increase diversion rate (i.e. % of total waste that is recycling and compost) to 95%.
Integrating Equity into Zero Waste
Research shows that the majority of landfills and waste incinerators are located in disadvantaged or marginalized communities. Even recyclable materials, such as plastics and electronics, are often sent overseas and burden developing communities with environmental toxins and adverse health effects.
From manufacturing and production, to transportation, use, and disposal; the materials economy is at root a social issue. SMCCCD strives to minimize waste at all steps in the supply chain in order to reduce the environmental and social impact of resources used and disposed of on our campuses.
Background Information
Zero Waste Defined
Zero Waste is the conservation of resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.
In practice, Zero Waste means that 95% of waste is diverted from landfill through reducing or reuse efforts, or through compost and recycling streams.
SMCCCD & Recology San Bruno
In 2017, SMCCCD entered into a Franchise Agreement with Recology San Bruno to serve all three campuses waste service needs. This allowed SMCCCD's waste services to be normalized across all three campuses.
Zero Waste Program
In order to achieve our Zero Waste goals, we are focusing on decreasing waste production, increasing waste diversion, and increasing communications and engagement with students, staff, and faculty at each College in the District.
What can you recycle at SMCCCD?
Ever finish eating a meal and get confused as to what containers you can recycle? Or what materials you can compost? Check out this cheat sheet on how to sort some common waste items.
Strategies to Achieve Zero Waste
Waste Reduction Efforts
Sustainable Procurement
Purchasing Environmentally Preferable products as a District maximizes resource efficiency by supporting products that are made using less energy and water, using recycled materials, or designed to be compostable, reusable, refillable or biodegradable.
Waste Infrastructure
In accordance with SB 1383, SMCCCD's waste infrastructure is set up to support three streams of waste (recycling, organics and landfill) at all high traffic locations on each campus. Clear signage and appropriate colors should be present at each waste system.
Special Waste Collections
SMCCCD makes every effort to donate or sell usable materials including electronics, vehicles and furniture. Hazardous waste including paints, chemicals and light bulbs are collected and processed separately. Batteries are collected in campus bookstores and should never be placed in any waste bins on campus.