In Spring 2023, waste audits were conducted to examine the impact of office deskside trashcans upon the campus recycling rate in Holloway Hall, Fulton Hall, TETC, Perdue Hall, and Henson Hall. Student researchers and the Recycling Staff found that a large amount of recyclable materials and trash bags was entering the waste stream via office deskside trashcans.
Fulton Hall was the first building to pilot the Mini-Trashcans in individual office spaces during the Fall 2023 semester. After a couple of months, waste audits were conducted to examine the effects of the Mini-Trashcan Program in Fulton Hall. The results showed that after the mini-trashcans were installed, fewer recyclable materials and trash bags entered the waste stream via office waste.
Based upon this initial success, we decided to implement the Mini-Trashcan program in other buildings across campus, beginning with Holloway Hall. A month after installation, waste audits were conducted to examine the effects of the Mini-Trashcan Program in Holloway Hall. Those results also showed fewer recyclable materials and trash bags entering the waste stream via office waste.
Mini-Trashcans were also installed this past winter in Devilbiss Hall, Guerrieri Student Union, Dining Services, Information Technology, and Physical Plant buildings. In June 2024, the program expanded into Maggs Gymnasium, TETC, Perdue Hall, and Henson Hall.
More waste audits will be conducted this upcoming Fall to examine the effectiveness of the mini-trashcans in the five buildings that were originally observed! Stay tuned for future updates!
Please contact Chris Homeister, Director of Campus Sustainability, at cshomeister@salisbury.edu or by phone at 410-546-2496 if you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the new recycling initiative. Also, please contact Chris Homeister if you wish to request ADA accommodations to receive assistance servicing your new deskside recycling bin and mini-trashcan.