Waste Assessment

Lowes Grove Middle School

March 3, 2009

What is a waste assessment?

• A tool to help identify and quantify the amount of waste generated

Why do a waste assessment?

• Identify areas of where we can reduce waste

• What are some benefits to waste reduction?– Protect environment– Save energy– Reduce greenhouse gas

emissions– Decrease cost

North Carolina Recycling Facts

• The trash we throw into the landfill each year is equivalent to the weight of 6.8 billion cars.

• Last week, NC threw away enough newspapers to fill nearly 3 football fields 3 feet deep.

• There is a state ban on throwing away aluminum cans. Despite this, only half are recycled.

• From January to July, North Carolinians throw away enough trash to build a 3 x 3 foot wall around the earth.

Steps to Conducting a Waste Assessment

1. Decide on the type of assessment that will be performed

Types of Waste Assessments

1. Records Examination• Examining school’s waste generation and removal

patterns• Purchasing invoices, sales logs, waste hauling and

recycling records2. Facility Walk-Through

• Tour school and grounds, observing activities in each department, interviewing employees about waste producing activities and equipment

3. Waste Sort• Identify each component of school’s waste and

calculating its percentage of school’s total waste generation

Records Examination

Strengths• Provides weights or volumes of wastes generated• Tracks major potential waste from the point of origin• Identifies the most expensive or valuable components of waste• Documents financial benefits of reuse and recycling including total

revenues and avoided disposal costs• Requires less time and effort than other approaches

Limitations• Might not provide quantitative data about specific waste

components• Does not provide qualitative data on how or why wastes are

generated• Might require substantial effort to collect and analyze data

Facility Walk-Through

Strengths• Requires less time and effort than waste sorts• Allows first-hand examination of facility operations• Provides qualitative information about major waste

components and waste-generating processes• Reveals waste reduction opportunities

Limitations• Might not identify all wastes generated• Might not be representative if only conducted once• Relies on estimates of waste generation

Waste Sort

Strengths• Provides qualitative data on total waste generation and

specific waste components

Limitations• Requires more time and effort than other approaches• Might not be representative if only conducted once• Does not provide qualitative data on how or why wastes

are generated

Steps to Conducting a Waste Assessment

1. Decide on the type of assessment that will be performed.

2. Map your Assessment

Mapping the Assessment

• Where will you perform the assessment?• Will you evaluate the waste generation in

every classroom or a few?• Will you include the kitchen and cafeteria

in your assessment?

Steps to Conducting a Waste Assessment

1. Decide on the type of assessment that will be performed.

2. Map your Assessment

3. Set a date and announce the assessment

Announce the Assessment

• Let faculty and administration know of the assessment

• Ask faculty to put aside a full day’s trash so you can assess that trash

Steps to Conducting a Waste Assessment

1. Decide on the type of assessment that will be performed.

2. Map your Assessment

3. Set a date and announce the assessment

4. Gather necessary supplies

Gathering Supplies

Facility Walk-Through• Clip board and assessment forms• Gloves• Litter pick-up stick (used to move waste in

containers)

Waste Sort• Clip board and assessment forms• Gloves• Scales• Plastic traps• Plastic bags• Buckets

Steps to Conducting a Waste Assessment

1. Decide on the type of assessment that will be performed.

2. Map your Assessment

3. Set a date and announce the assessment

4. Gather necessary supplies

5. Perform the assessment and record gathered data

Performing the Assessment

1. Records Examination• Collect relevant records such as purchasing invoices, sales

logs, and waste hauling and recycling records• Compare purchasing information with waste and recycling

removal information2. Facility Walk-Through

• Walk through the selected areas of the school, begin looking in waste receptacles

• Estimate the volume and/or weight of materials collected. Record estimated values on assessment form

3. Waste Sort• Place tarps in area chosen for waste sort. Empty contents of

the dry trash on one tarp, wet on another• Sort contents according to materials list on assessment form• Weigh dry and wet trash

Steps to Conducting a Waste Assessment

1. Decide on the type of assessment that will be performed.

2. Map your Assessment3. Set a date and announce the

assessment4. Gather necessary supplies5. Perform the assessment and record

gathered data6. Tally and share results

Sharing Results

• Tally the results. The data will provide you with an overview of:– How much waste your school generates– The composition of the waste– Where specific materials accumulate in high

volume• Share the results with faculty, staff,

administration and students– Wow Presentation

What are your next steps?

• Decide on what waste assessment to do• Plan how you are going to approach the

assessment– Who, what, where, when

• What results do you expect from the assessment?

• What materials will we need to conduct the assessment?

• Assign roles for students: Who will do what?