UNE’s Sustainability Lab conducts waste characterization study

For their semester-long project, Alethea Cariddi, MS Ed., sustainability coordinator; Michelle Steen-Adams, Ph.D., associate professor; and the Sustainability Lab students have taken an up-close look at recycling on the Biddeford Campus. As resource management is at the core of environmental stewardship, they decided to investigate what students, faculty and staff are recycling versus throwing away.

In their waste characterization study, the Sustainability Lab analyzed the contents of recycling bins and dumpsters across campus. They discovered that although there was very little trash inside of recycling bins, 40% of the material in the dumpster was actually recyclable. Over the course of a year, this would add up to nearly 128 tons of recyclable items.

As a result of the study, the Sustainability Lab is working to increase awareness of what can be recycled. The students have designed new posters for the recycling stations, incorporating their knowledge of community-based social marketing into the messaging. Over the summer, the new posters will be printed and displayed.

Discussing the study, Cariddi praised her students, saying “They were so professional while dissecting the contents of a dumpster. I was really impressed with their maturity and task-oriented behavior.”

Leo Maheu, education program manager at EcoMaine, echoed this statement, saying “I've been doing this activity for close to 4 years and have never worked with such a motivated, professional and respectful group.”

The Sustainability Lab will share their findings and discuss ways to minimize waste on campus at a presentation on May 13. This talk will take place at 11:30 a.m. in Marcil Hall 323.