Teachers College actively participates in the New York City recycling program in all buildings. The College recently completed a waste and recycling audit which indicated that the College produces about 1280 tons of solid waste per year and of that amount about 400 tons (or 35%) is captured as recyclable material. The College is committed to developing and maintaining an environment that enhances human health and fosters a transition toward sustainability. To that end, we have set a goal of increasing the recycling percentage to 50% over the next two years.
In order to achieve this goal we are revamping the College’s recycling program in the academic buildings. The new program involves several key elements (1) ensuring that waste receptacles are always paired with recycling receptacles throughout the campus, (2) standardizing to the NYC recycling colors—green for paper, blue for metal, plastic, glass, and (3) asking each member of the community to actively get involved in the effort.
Beginning fall 2010, each office suite in Horace Mann, Russell and Thompson will receive a new centralized bundled set of waste and recycle bins. The set will include: a blue receptacle for glass, plastics, and metal cans; a green receptacle for paper; and a black receptacle for non-recyclable waste. Each work station or private office in Horace Mann, Russell, and Thompson will receive a desk-side smaller version of the centralized recycling station. It will include a new green desk side receptacle (for paper) with two smaller bins attached to it -a blue one for plastics, glass, metal cans and a black one for nonrecyclable waste.
Each employee should empty their desk side recycling and waste containers into the office suite centralized containers. The facilities staff will be responsible for emptying and maintaining the centrally located bins.
Responsible Office: Facilities Management
Effective Date: September 2010
Last Updated: April 2015