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Inside recycling at App State — how waste is transformed into sustainable solutions

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App State Office of Sustainability zero waste intern Nicole Sommerdorf ’23, far right, talks to a student about recycling during the Office of Sustainability's Mess on the Mall zero waste education event. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

“We all generate waste, so we can all be a part of a better solution — and once you see the types of impacts that recycling makes, it is extremely rewarding.”

Jennifer Maxwell, sustainability program director, App State Office of Sustainability

“Participating in the zero waste football games was one of the best moments for me. The amount of waste that we sorted through was insane, and to know that it probably would have all gone to the landfill without our efforts is a pretty special feeling.”

Nicole Sommerdorf ’23, zero waste intern, App State Office of Sustainability

By Brian Miller
Posted April 22, 2024 at 12:14 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Recycling is one of the most impactful ways for the campus community to contribute to sustainability efforts at Appalachian State University, according to the university’s Office of Sustainability. The office’s recycling guide is the best tool for students, faculty and staff to learn about what is recyclable, what is not recyclable and where to recycle on campus.

“We all generate waste, so we can all be a part of a better solution — and once you see the types of impacts that recycling makes, it is extremely rewarding.”

Jennifer Maxwell, sustainability program director, App State Office of Sustainability

But where does App State’s recycling go?

The university contracts with Republic Services and material recovery facilities to distribute items that have been placed in recycle bins on both the Boone and Hickory campuses. All recyclables are sent to the Republic Services location in Conover, then the materials are sorted and distributed to be processed in a variety of ways throughout the region and beyond.

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An App State student drops a plastic water bottle into a recycling bin on the Boone campus. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

According to Republic Services’ Conover division, the end markets for recycled products from App State are as follows:

  • Scrap metal — is taken to a scrap yard in Gastonia, where it’s separated and shredded. The metals are then sent to a smelter that melts them down to form sheets that can be used in a variety of products, including appliances, furniture and building materials.
  • Plastic bottles — are separated by polymer grade and baled, then sent to mills in North Carolina, Alabama and Pennsylvania that grind, flake, melt and extrude the bottles to be made into a variety of products, including carpet, clothing and new plastic bottles.
  • Aluminum cans — in the same process as plastic bottles, aluminum cans are sent to mills in Tennessee and various other locations on the East Coast to be melted and made into sheets that can be used in a variety of products, including car parts, baseball bats and new aluminum cans.
  • Paper and cardboard — is distributed to facilities in South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and various locations on the East Coast to be placed in a pulper, washed, dried and made into sheets that can be used in a variety of products, including office paper, tissues, toilet paper, napkins and paper towels.
  • Glass — is sent to a processor in Georgia that cleans it, then crushes it into a clean product or cullet that can be melted down and used in a variety of products, including new glass bottles, jars and construction materials.
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An App State zero waste student volunteer picks up aluminum cans after a home basketball game. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

View larger image

App State students work at a compost pile at the university’s Sustainable Development Farm and Gardens. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

“Participating in the zero waste football games was one of the best moments for me. The amount of waste that we sorted through was insane, and to know that it probably would have all gone to the landfill without our efforts is a pretty special feeling.”

Nicole Sommerdorf ’23, zero waste intern, App State Office of Sustainability

“It’s so important for App State to be messengers and to teach the community that recycling and composting take us back to our roots of being stewards of the environment. When attention is given to it and people work together, recycling can make a real difference.”

Lanie Karstrom, outreach director, App State Office of Sustainability

“We all generate waste, so we can all be a part of a better solution — and once you see the types of impacts that recycling makes, it is extremely rewarding,” said Jennifer Maxwell, App State’s sustainability program director.

Maxwell said that zero waste is always at the forefront of sustainability efforts at App State, and that composting — the natural process of converting organic materials such as decomposing plants or food waste into fertilizer — has similar impacts to recycling.

“Composting is actually our most desired stream, because it happens right here on campus and we can use the finished product,” said Maxwell.

For example, compost can be distributed to App State’s Landscaping Services for flower beds and tree plantings, and to the Boone campus gardens and Sustainable Development Farm and Gardens to amend the soil for vegetable planting.

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Zero waste volunteers — App State students, faculty and staff — work with the university’s Office of Sustainability to pick up and sort through trash after a home basketball game in App State’s Holmes Convocation Center. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

“It’s so important for App State to be messengers and to teach the community that recycling and composting take us back to our roots of being stewards of the environment. When attention is given to it and people work together, recycling can make a real difference.”

Lanie Karstrom, outreach director, App State Office of Sustainability

The university has also implemented a Farm to Table to Compost initiative with Campus Dining, in which food grown at the Sustainable Development Farm and Gardens is prepared and served at campus dining halls, and leftovers are composted and sent back to the farm.

Other recent examples of App State’s recycling and composting impacts include:

  • The Zero Waste Stadium initiative, in which volunteers sort through waste at home football games. During the 2023 season, nearly 30,000 pounds of material was diverted from the landfill through recycling and composting efforts. This initiative has also recently expanded to some home basketball and baseball games. WATCH: UComm's Dave Blanks catches up with Zero Waste Initiative volunteers as they sort trash after an App State football game day.
  • Campus Dining’s ReusePass program, which allows diners to check out and return reusable to-go containers. In the last academic year, the program saved over 2,600 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, over 2,500 gallons of water, over 300 pounds of waste and over 4,000 single use containers.
  • About 250 tons of food waste was composted on campus in the last academic year, which in turn cut carbon emissions by about 500 tons.

“I encourage the App State Community to take advantage of these types of opportunities,” said App State Office of Sustainability zero waste intern Nicole Sommerdorf ’23, who holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. “Participating in the zero waste football games was one of the best moments for me. The amount of waste we sorted through was insane, and to know that it probably would have all gone to the landfill without our efforts is a pretty special feeling.”

View larger image

In App State’s Farm to Table to Compost initiative, food grown at the university’s Sustainable Development Farm and Gardens is prepared and served at campus dining halls, and leftovers are composted and sent back to the farm. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

The Office of Sustainability continually strives to make properly disposing of waste as easy as possible on campus. All of App State’s waste bins are labeled and color coded — blue for recycling, black or gray for landfill and green for compost — and everything is located at centralized sites so that people can dispose of all types of waste in one swoop.

App State offers special recycling services in Plemmons Student Union and the Office of Sustainability in East Hall for plastic film recycling, which includes the following items:

  • Plastic grocery bags.
  • Plastic wraps.
  • Shrink wrap.
  • Plastic packaging.
  • Bubble wrap.

The student union, as well as Information Technology Support Services in Anne Belk Hall, also offers special recycling services for technology equipment, which includes the following items:

  • Computer equipment.
  • CDs and DVDs.
  • Cell phones and technology accessories.
  • Batteries.
  • Printer cartridges.
  • Compact fluorescent bulbs.

“It’s so important for App State to be messengers and to teach the community that recycling and composting take us back to our roots of being stewards of the environment,” said Lanie Karstrom, App State’s Office of Sustainability outreach director. “When attention is given to it and people work together, recycling can make a real difference.”

Maxwell added that all of App State’s sustainability efforts, including sustainable purchasing, contribute to a circular economy — where materials, products and services are kept in circulation for as long as possible, rather than discarded, with an aim to mitigate waste.

For more information or questions about how to recycle, contact App State’s Office of Sustainability at 828-262-2659 or [email protected]. For more information about App State’s other sustainability efforts and how to get involved, visit sustain.appstate.edu.

What do you think?

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View larger image

It’s important to “know your no’s” in order to recycle properly. Image courtesy of the N.C. Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service

Avoid common recycling mistakes

App State Office of Sustainability Program Director Jennifer Maxwell said that the majority of people who don’t recycle simply aren’t educated about it, and don’t want to make mistakes.

“We have such a transient population here that education has to be ongoing,” said Maxwell. “The campus community does a great job with recycling, but mistakes will be made — and that’s all part of the learning process.”

Maxwell said that, generally, one of the most common recycling mistakes is putting items that contain food residue in recycling bins, including pizza boxes, which are actually compostable on campus. She said plastic bags are also a common contaminant that must be removed from recycling collections, because people use them to bag all of their recyclables, then toss the whole thing into the bin.

Following is a list of landfill items that are not accepted for mixed recycling on campus:

  • Food waste (which can be composted).
  • Single-use disposable items, including cups, drink lids, straws, plastic silverware, condiment packets and paper plates.
  • Hygiene items, including napkins, paper towels and tissues (which can be composted).
  • Plastic wrap, foil snack bags, plastic snack packaging, Ziploc bags, chips wrappers and candy wrappers.
  • String, twine and Styrofoam.
  • Incandescent light bulbs, ceramics, mirrors and Pyrex glass.
  • Hazardous waste, including paints, glues and pesticides.
Recycling off campus

App State’s Office of Sustainability is part of a regional waste committee with representatives from the Town of Boone, Watauga County and local material recovery facilities. The group’s mission is to collaborate on recycling awareness, education and solutions.

“Eventually we’d like to come together to put some policies in place to get a more streamlined waste system for the High Country, but for now, it’s just to make sure we’re all on the same page so that it’s easy for the community to understand how recycling works,” said Jennifer Maxwell, App State’s Office of Sustainability program director.

The Town of Boone takes a single-stream approach to recycling, much like App State does — where recyclables don’t have to be sorted. However, multiple Watauga County waste sites operate under a separated stream model, where recyclables have to be sorted into categories.

“That’s where it can get a little confusing,” said Maxwell. “Anyone off campus really needs to pay attention to recycling signage, because it differs everywhere.”

The Town of Boone provides curbside sanitation and recycling services to all town residents through a contract with Republic Services. Sanitation is serviced on a weekly basis and recycling is serviced biweekly, and the town provides free residential recycling carts.

The Watauga County Solid Waste and Recycling Department operates a transfer station for municipal solid waste, an inert debris landfill, 10 staffed convenience centers, a mulching program for clean wood, an appliances collections program, used tire collection and a recycling program. All container sites are equipped with recycling containers for glass, newsprint, paper and cardboard.

At App State, sustainable purchasing is a collective effort — and a key climate strategy
At App State, sustainable purchasing is a collective effort — and a key climate strategy
May 12, 2023

App State continues to implement its sustainable purchasing initiative as part of the university’s Climate Action Plan, which guides App State’s progress toward climate neutrality. Sustainable purchasing is the practice of buying goods that mitigate negative effects on human health and the environment.

Read the story
App State's dining upgrades prioritize access, nutrition and sustainability
App State's dining upgrades prioritize access, nutrition and sustainability
Oct. 23, 2023

App State Campus Dining has renovated its All Access locations at Roess Dining Hall and Trivette Hall. Students, faculty and staff can enjoy new menus, and several updates have been made for a more inclusive dining experience for those with dietary restrictions.

Read the story
App State helps reduce e-waste by donating more than 2,800 surplus computers, monitors
App State helps reduce e-waste by donating more than 2,800 surplus computers, monitors

Equipment is refurbished and distributed to low-income families across NC

Oct. 31, 2023

Since 2021, App State has donated more than 2,800 computers and monitors for refurbishment and distribution to economically disadvantaged or underprivileged families in North Carolina — making App State one of the largest contributors to electronic waste reduction in the UNC System.

Read the story

About Sustainability at Appalachian

Appalachian State University’s leadership in sustainability is known nationally. The university’s holistic, three-branched approach considers sustainability economically, environmentally and equitably in relationship to the planet’s co-inhabitants. The university is an active steward of the state’s interconnected financial, cultural and natural resources and challenges students and others think critically and creatively about sustainability and what it means from the smallest individual action to the most broad-based applications. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate academic degree programs that focus on sustainability. In addition, 100 percent of Appalachian’s academic departments offer at least one sustainability course or course that includes sustainability, and all students graduate from programs that have adopted at least one sustainability learning outcome. Learn more at https://appstate.edu/sustainability.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

“We all generate waste, so we can all be a part of a better solution — and once you see the types of impacts that recycling makes, it is extremely rewarding.”

Jennifer Maxwell, sustainability program director, App State Office of Sustainability

“Participating in the zero waste football games was one of the best moments for me. The amount of waste that we sorted through was insane, and to know that it probably would have all gone to the landfill without our efforts is a pretty special feeling.”

Nicole Sommerdorf ’23, zero waste intern, App State Office of Sustainability

View larger image

It’s important to “know your no’s” in order to recycle properly. Image courtesy of the N.C. Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service

Avoid common recycling mistakes

App State Office of Sustainability Program Director Jennifer Maxwell said that the majority of people who don’t recycle simply aren’t educated about it, and don’t want to make mistakes.

“We have such a transient population here that education has to be ongoing,” said Maxwell. “The campus community does a great job with recycling, but mistakes will be made — and that’s all part of the learning process.”

Maxwell said that, generally, one of the most common recycling mistakes is putting items that contain food residue in recycling bins, including pizza boxes, which are actually compostable on campus. She said plastic bags are also a common contaminant that must be removed from recycling collections, because people use them to bag all of their recyclables, then toss the whole thing into the bin.

Following is a list of landfill items that are not accepted for mixed recycling on campus:

  • Food waste (which can be composted).
  • Single-use disposable items, including cups, drink lids, straws, plastic silverware, condiment packets and paper plates.
  • Hygiene items, including napkins, paper towels and tissues (which can be composted).
  • Plastic wrap, foil snack bags, plastic snack packaging, Ziploc bags, chips wrappers and candy wrappers.
  • String, twine and Styrofoam.
  • Incandescent light bulbs, ceramics, mirrors and Pyrex glass.
  • Hazardous waste, including paints, glues and pesticides.

“It’s so important for App State to be messengers and to teach the community that recycling and composting take us back to our roots of being stewards of the environment. When attention is given to it and people work together, recycling can make a real difference.”

Lanie Karstrom, outreach director, App State Office of Sustainability

Dave By The Bell | Zero Waste
Dave By The Bell | Zero Waste

In this episode, Dave gets down to the dirty truth about what happens to our trash after an App State game day. Join Dave, The Office of Sustainability, and many volunteers at a Zero Waste Initiative trash sort and learn about how these Mountaineers are making a difference.

Watch the video
Recycling off campus

App State’s Office of Sustainability is part of a regional waste committee with representatives from the Town of Boone, Watauga County and local material recovery facilities. The group’s mission is to collaborate on recycling awareness, education and solutions.

“Eventually we’d like to come together to put some policies in place to get a more streamlined waste system for the High Country, but for now, it’s just to make sure we’re all on the same page so that it’s easy for the community to understand how recycling works,” said Jennifer Maxwell, App State’s Office of Sustainability program director.

The Town of Boone takes a single-stream approach to recycling, much like App State does — where recyclables don’t have to be sorted. However, multiple Watauga County waste sites operate under a separated stream model, where recyclables have to be sorted into categories.

“That’s where it can get a little confusing,” said Maxwell. “Anyone off campus really needs to pay attention to recycling signage, because it differs everywhere.”

The Town of Boone provides curbside sanitation and recycling services to all town residents through a contract with Republic Services. Sanitation is serviced on a weekly basis and recycling is serviced biweekly, and the town provides free residential recycling carts.

The Watauga County Solid Waste and Recycling Department operates a transfer station for municipal solid waste, an inert debris landfill, 10 staffed convenience centers, a mulching program for clean wood, an appliances collections program, used tire collection and a recycling program. All container sites are equipped with recycling containers for glass, newsprint, paper and cardboard.

At App State, sustainable purchasing is a collective effort — and a key climate strategy
At App State, sustainable purchasing is a collective effort — and a key climate strategy
May 12, 2023

App State continues to implement its sustainable purchasing initiative as part of the university’s Climate Action Plan, which guides App State’s progress toward climate neutrality. Sustainable purchasing is the practice of buying goods that mitigate negative effects on human health and the environment.

Read the story
App State's dining upgrades prioritize access, nutrition and sustainability
App State's dining upgrades prioritize access, nutrition and sustainability
Oct. 23, 2023

App State Campus Dining has renovated its All Access locations at Roess Dining Hall and Trivette Hall. Students, faculty and staff can enjoy new menus, and several updates have been made for a more inclusive dining experience for those with dietary restrictions.

Read the story
App State helps reduce e-waste by donating more than 2,800 surplus computers, monitors
App State helps reduce e-waste by donating more than 2,800 surplus computers, monitors

Equipment is refurbished and distributed to low-income families across NC

Oct. 31, 2023

Since 2021, App State has donated more than 2,800 computers and monitors for refurbishment and distribution to economically disadvantaged or underprivileged families in North Carolina — making App State one of the largest contributors to electronic waste reduction in the UNC System.

Read the story

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

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Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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