UK Recycling Makes Progress Toward Sustainability Goals Despite Pandemic
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 23, 2021) — The University of Kentucky Recycling program has continued to make exciting progress throughout 2020 toward their sustainability goals, despite some of the complications the past year presented. Exciting changes to campus included the expansion of the food waste composting program to coffee shops on campus, an increase of collection spots for yard/green waste by grounds, recycling concrete that comes from sidewalk repairs on campus and the development of online resources — such as the ‘IDK’ (I Don’t Know) recycling container — for faculty, staff and students.
UK has a target of diverting 50% of its waste from the landfill by 2022. This goal — which means working to recycle, donate, reuse or compost at least as much material as it landfills — is part of the UK Sustainability Strategic Plan. UK Recycling is leading the university’s efforts on this front and works diligently with partners throughout campus to increase recycling and reduce the university’s landfill waste. Data from 2020 highlights significant progress toward this goal.
The university maintained a 34% diversion rate in 2020, the same diversion rate for 2019. Despite a 3,598-pound drop in overall waste generated on campus (decrease in recycling, landfill and organic volume), the diversion rate remained stable suggesting campus is making substantial strides toward sustainable behavior change.
“A 34% diversion rate for the university as a whole (academic campus and UK HealthCare) is exciting!” said Joanna Ashford, recycling coordinator for UK. “We are also excited to announce a separate diversion rate for academic campus and UKHC, which gives us the opportunity to set new goals for each area of campus.”
Academic campus, which includes classroom buildings, athletics and office buildings, reached a 42% diversion rate for 2020. UK Recycling is confident that academic campus will reach a 50% diversion rate by 2022. UK HealthCare, in the face of all the many challenges of 2020, was able to achieve a 25% diversion rate. This rate is considered a great starting point to continue to grow and expand current recycling and waste reduction efforts.
"UK Recycling would like to thank everyone who has had a role in this continued progress," Ashford said.. "Every action helps reach our goal — a student using a reusable bottle for water, a staff member recycling a piece of paper at their desk, an employee recycling a cardboard box at the bookstore or dining hall, a facilities employee recycling light bulbs and batteries or students donating clothes during move out."
For more information about UK recycling and to view the 2020 Annual Report visit https://www.uky.edu/facilities/cppd/services/facilities-services/recycling/Annual-reports and follow @UKYRecycles on social media.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.