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Composition of Waste Stream, Q1-Q3 2006
The following data presents an overview of the composition of Rice University's municipal solid waste stream for the first three quarters of 2006. We attempt to follow EPA's method for characterizing municipal solid waste and measuring recycling as closely as possible to allow for accurate comparisons with other institutions and entities that use this standard.
| Rice University Solid Waste and Recycling Totals (1) |
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| Materials by method of discard |
Q1 2006 |
Q2 2006 |
Q3 2006 |
| A. Recycled Materials |
tons |
tons |
tons |
| -- Paper |
67.86 |
83.22 |
87.76 |
| -- Cardboard (2) |
5.65 |
4.20 |
2.19 |
| -- Glass |
3.99 |
2.86 |
1.57 |
| -- Plastic #1 - PETE |
0.35 |
0.26 |
0.15 |
| -- Plastic #2 - HDPE |
0.18 |
0.00 |
0.05 |
| -- Electronics |
3.63 |
0.00 |
9.87 |
| -- Scrap Metal |
13.81 |
9.95 |
15.99 |
| -- Tires |
0.34 |
0.00 |
0.86 |
| -- Aluminum (3) |
0.41 |
0.14 |
0.00 |
| total recycled |
96.22 |
100.63 |
118.44 |
| B. Composted Materials |
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| -- Food scraps (4) |
2.00 |
2.00 |
0.00 |
| -- Yard waste (5), (6) |
30.00 |
30.00 |
30.00 |
| total composted |
32.00 |
32.00 |
30.00 |
| C. Disposed Materials (7) |
405.87 |
480.4 |
393.23 |
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| Total Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) (8) |
534.09 |
613.03 |
541.67 |
| Total Diverted Materials (recycled + composted) |
128.22 |
132.63 |
148.44 |
| % MSW Diverted (diversion rate) (9) |
24.01% |
21.64% |
27.40% |
Notes:
- This calculation follows as closely as possible the EPA guidelines for measuring recycling
- While cardboard is collected and baled all year long, pick-up is irregular. We have begun weighing the bales as they are created.
- Although aluminum is recycled on campus, actual weights are not available
- This is an estimate based on 2 tons per Earth Tub cycle
- This is an estimate based on 1 ton of yard waste recycled or composted per acre of grounds per year, not including grass
- Grasscycling from mulching mowers is not included, as per EPA guidelines
- Disposal data from the Greenbriar front-end loader is not available.
- Total municipal solid waste is the sum of recycled + composted + disposal
- Total diversion rate equals (recycled + composted) / total municipal solid waste
Last updated: November 8, 2006
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