Corporate
Citizenship
Sustainability:
New Mexico State University
In 1994 the New Mexico State University (NMSU) wanted to develop a solid waste management program that would cost-effectively recycle campus paper products, aluminum and other metals, as well as organics like leaves and grass clippings. Other goals included achieving state waste reduction mandates and promoting recycling among students. The university asked Sodexo to oversee operations and develop the program.
Solution
- Sodexo immediately provided a professional solid waste recycling manager,logistical and organizational support, as well as supplemental labor and equipment from the grounds unit.
- A separate shop, Solid Waste/Recycling, was created to expand upon previous volunteer recycling efforts.
- Grants were obtained from the New Mexico State Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources department.
- Changes in the refuse hauling contract were recommended and implemented.
Successes
- The campus now recycles and composts 25% of its waste.
- NMSU's landscape management department has obtained 180 tons of class A compost and another 500 tons of yard-waste compost (composted on site) for use in university landscaping. Compost market value: $7,500.
- $75,000 has been returned to the program through sale of recycled materials.
- 3,685,000 pounds of recyclable materials have been handled in the first four years.
- More than 4,000 trees per year are conserved.
- NMSU and Sodexo received a 1998 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Excellence Award.
- A shared-cost, $80,000 recycling facility was built in 1995 by the partners to house the growing recycling operation.
- An additional $103,500 to purchase collection and processing equipment was obtained through grant funding in 1996.
- Monitoring dumpster usage determines if the dumpster in an area is efficiently utilized. Because of overflow, dumpsters were added to the existing service at DABCC and the Williams Art building. On the other hand, superfluous dumpsters were removed from the Wind Tunnel and Compost Yard.
- Aggie Recycling cooperated with two student environmental clubs and the Associated Students to determine the feasibility of plastics diversion and marketing.
Waste Management
Krumsiek considers the Sodexo partnership "a seed that got dropped in fertile ground." He sees the trend on campuses going away from grassroots recycling programs run by student volunteers and toward a more professional management concept. "There's a continuity in this management process, whereas in a student driven approach, a program can be hurt when leaders graduate," he says. "I think there's potential for other institutions to form the type of partnership we have here."
Kerry Krumsiek
NMSU Recycling Manager
View the full summary of the sustainability efforts at New Mexico State University as a PDF document here.
View all university sustainability profiles as a PDF document here.
Did You Know?
Last year, more than one-third of our entry-level management positions were filled by hourly employees.
Sodexo Stories
They really emphasize the team aspect of a job. They give you enough freedom, enough latitude to do your job without feeling that there people looking over your shoulder...
Jerry
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