Recreation Services Max-R Bins Grant Proposal

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1 Recreation Services Max-R Bins Grant Proposal 1. Description of project Recreation Services stands as one of the most visited buildings on campus with nearly 5,000 visitors a day and over 1,000,000 visitors annually. In review of our sustainable initiatives along with the amount of foot traffic in our building, the need for updated resources to meet campus standards is evident. We currently utilize cleaning stations that have a built-in compostable bin and house cleaning spray, paper towels, and hand sanitizer that are crucial in meeting health and sanitation standards in our facility. Unfortunately, these bins are no longer meeting our needs and have reached their life-span. Many of the bins do not close properly and are in need of repair. The current dispenser design is difficult for patrons to maneuver and it is increasing our use of paper towels by unnecessarily dispensing more paper towels than needed. With over 800,000 paper towels used in the last year, we want to make sure the majority of the paper towels dispensed for cleaning were actually used. Additionally, we have very few designated compost receptacles in our facility with most of our cabinets and waste stations only having options for landfill, container recycling, and paper recycling. With little need for paper recycling, outside of office spaces, and a significant lack of compost receptacles, our waste stations are not meeting patron or employee expectations. The Max-R bins are the solution to our problem. They stand out among waste receptacles and have proven to be an industry standard. With matching consistency in receptacle bins across campus, careful placement, and intentional marketing, we believe the Max-R bins would increase the Recreation Center s overall diversion rate and aid in the campus-wide zero waste initiative. The signage on the bins allows for a more informed decision for users to determine the appropriate receptacle for their waste, increasing the likelihood that they will choose a more sustainable option over the landfill slot. The Max-R bins will also significantly reduce the number of floating bins around the rec center and standardize the location of waste receptacles. Project details: - 58 Max-R Paper Towel/Compost Stations (see Figure 1) in all fitness locations that require the cleaning of equipment - 5 Max-R Full Cabinets (see Figure 2) in highly trafficked areas throughout the Rec 2. Matching fund or in-kind support As part of our sustainable initiatives, Recreation Services has allocated over 85% of the total cost ($63,000) towards the project through capital budget. The total cost, around $68,500, is detailed below. 3. Project Timeline, Scope and Feasibility As soon as funding is secured, Recreation Services will work with Max-R and University Procurement to purchase and deliver the bins by August 1st, We will begin by working with our in-house marketing team on creating signage, detailing information about the new containers and their impact before the bins are delivered and then fine tune our marketing materials once installed. Work will then begin with our inhouse maintenance crew and student staff to install the bins before the start of the fall semester, August 27th, The next step in the implementation process is further education with our marketing team creating a campaign on the new bins about campus sustainability efforts. After installation of the bins, we will analyze usage of the bins, and adjust location and look to expand the number of bins, as needed. Recreation Services student and professional staff will install and provide continual service of the bins with direction from our internal Sustainability Committee. No additional support will be required; however, 1

2 guidance from the CU Environmental Center experts will be instrumental in the implementation and education piece of our project. Recreation Services will be able to meet our project s deadline of August 27th, 2018 due to the established working relationship with Max-R from multiple areas of campus, including the Environmental Center, University Memorial Center, and Athletics. We have already been in contact with Max-R to generate a quote and discuss customized bins to address our specific needs allowing for a quicker turnaround of the purchasing phase. Further, our professional and student staff working on this project involve areas throughout our department, establishing the dedication required for implementation to be timely and successful. 4. Environmental Impact Currently, we use compost bins that are not meeting the needs of nearly 1,000,000 yearly users and our waste stations throughout the facility lack consistency. Implementing the Max-R bins would increase the amount of composting in our building, allow opportunity for education to students and visiting campus patrons on our sustainable efforts, and reduce our carbon footprint. Additionally, by reducing the floating bins around the Rec Center, we will diver 7,500 plastic bags from being produced and ending up in a landfill. As a CUSG cost center in support of the CUSG goal of 90% landfill diversion rate and in alignment with the Blueprint for a Green Campus long term plan, this initiative will expand operations and facilities capable of diverting the majority of solid waste from landfills and deliver innovative educational programs...working towards achieving the campus zero-waste initiative Student Involvement Recreation Services recognizes the need and importance of involving students in this project. Student staff will provide primary oversight of the bins on a daily basis and will deliver feedback on the successes and challenges from their use. Our marketing students will help promote and educate our patrons on the new bins. We have two students on our in-house Sustainability Committee that will offer insight and feedback on the bins as well as other sustainable efforts. Finally, improving our efforts toward sustainability is a high priority of our Student Employee Advisory Leadership Committee (SEALC), a student employee board in the department that meets to discuss projects to increase employee engagement and retention. The students involved in this project will directly see the impact of creative problem solving and social marketing. The student staff will be instrumental in the installation of the bins as well as maintaining them for the future. The larger student body will begin to see consistency on campus for a united message with our department joining others in purchasing Max-R bins, helping to increase awareness of sustainable lifestyles. Finally, with the Student Recreation Center being a highly trafficked building for campus tours, prospective students will begin to understand the campus initiative and have a more informed decision on the values of the University. 6. Social Equity It is our responsibility as humans on this earth to take care of the world that surrounds us. Waste collection should be on the forefront of our concerns and we should be collectively working to reduce our landfill waste. Increasing our diversion rate will also help decrease our waste sent off to landfills that are 1 Specifically reference waste reduction and recycling. CU Environmental Center. (2006) Blueprint for a Green Campus: A sustainability action plan for the University of Colorado Boulder. Boulder, Colorado: CU Environmental Center. 2

3 typically located near low income communities. We believe that it is up to us to increase our diversion rates and generate an atmosphere that encompasses support for our environment. With the flexibility of including and changing signage to the Max-R bins, we have the ability to create and support campaigns of social or environmental justice issues. 7. Innovation Recreation Services does not have a streamlined waste disposal system that is catered towards our users. The innovative layout and customizable labeling of the Max-R bins will aide in our initiative to increase our diversion rate to 90%. We are able to split the bins into 4, easy to identify sections, which will increase the amount of materials that can be diverted and decrease the co-mingling of materials throughout our facility. Along with updating our bins, we are encouraging our professional staff to dump their landfill in a centralized location, which will even further reduce our labor and material costs. Finally, the makeup of the Max-R bins are incredibly innovative. They are made of the purest grade of Type-2 HDPE recycled plastic in the industry. Each pound of the container is made up of around 1,000 recycled milk jugs. They stand out among waste receptacles and make it easier to organize our trash. 8. Detailed Project Budget and Savings Recreation Services has graciously committed $63,000 to the project, which leaves us with a little over $8,000 left to fund. Below is a detailed analysis of the project: Individual Cost Total 58 Single Compost $976 $56, station Centers $3,729 $18,645 Retrofit 9 Existing Stations (to include composting) $250 $2,250 Discount $(9,066.12) Subtotal $68, Rec Contribution $(63,329) Shipping $3,000 Total $8, This project would eliminate many floating bins across the Rec Center and would reduce the amount of bags used by 7,500 per year with a savings of $615 per year in bag costs. The Rec Center would save $3,375 a year in labor costs associated with those bins. This saved time and cost would benefit the students and university, offering more funds for other services that benefit students. 9. Project Longevity The Max-R Lumber containers have a life expectancy of greater than 80 years and can easily be recycled and reused several times. We do not foresee the need to replace the Max-R bins within our lifetime. 3

4 Recreation Services wants to increase our diversion rate above the 90% CUSG goal and the Max-R bins will be crucial reaching that goal. We hope that by eliminating the number of floating bins and establishing permanent locations to dispose waste, we will increase the likelihood that landfill/recycling/compost will make it to its appropriate bin. We will be able to see the benefits of this project for years to come through the proper training of student staff and stressing the importance of being as sustainable as possible. 10. Applicant Information Gina Moser, University Staff, Recreation Services 4

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