Recycling roundup

Known for its recycling, and sustainability in general, Portland State has contributed to keeping the environment clean for decades. In 1969, PSU initiated a “new multi-material recycling service through student services,” according PSU’s Sustainability Web site.

Over 40 years later, PSU has added many programs for recycling and sustainability—such as PSU ReUse—to examine the waste stream of PSU, composting and to obtain grants that enable more research. It has also added two recyclers located on campus.

The PSU system of sustainability and recycling stems from research on two related fields: human and natural systems. These two coincide to formulate the general way that PSU deals with its recyclables.

PSU Recycles! and Aramark Limited run the way that PSU recycles and composts. PSU Recycles! takes care of the campus at large, while Aramark deals with the Viking Food Court, the PSU Dining Services, Victor’s in the Ondine Residence Hall and the Meetro in the King Albert Building.

There are various programs involving recycling going on right now. Chuck it for Charity is a fundraiser and recycling program in which unwanted things are given to PSU Recycles! and discounted to students. The proceeds go to local charities. Recycling bin consolidation is another program, in which trashcans are taken from rooms and placed in convenient locations around campus, while recycling bins are placed in almost all rooms across campus. PSU also participates in the international RecycleMania competition.

Aramark also takes part in composting and recycling. In a recent e-mail, Aramark said that PSU Dining Services composts all kitchen pre- and post-consumer food waste. In the past academic year, they diverted 109 tons of food waste from the landfill via composting efforts at Victor’s and The Viking Food Court. For all catering events, Aramark also purchases compostable food ware, such as cups, plates, napkins and flatware.

Aramark supports local vendors, which include Sunshine Dairy, Pacific Coast Fruit Company, Pacific Seafood and Portland French Bakery. When asked if Aramark affiliates itself with companies that do not practice sustainable recycling techniques, Aramark representatives responded that it “has formalized agreements with our suppliers in which we require them to abide by all applicable environmental regulations.” 

Honore Depew, PSU Recycles! student marketing and outreach specialist, said that PSU Recycles! is connecting with the academic side of keeping campus sustainable. he said that student leadership will play a role in progressing PSU Recycles! and the sustainability program in general so working with Freshman Inquiry classes is important. The FRINQ class that Depew worked with looked into the way that the Broadway and Ondine buildings recycled materials and used utilities. The recycling center also has nine new recyclers—this will help free the PSU Recycles! staff to focus on academics and research.

In spring term, PSU Recycles! will christen a new composting station in the Smith Food Court with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Since the fall of 2008, Aramark has implemented tray-less dining in the Victor’s dining lounge. Aramark works closely with Lean Path, a company based in Portland that works with organizations to minimize waste.

Once all the compost and recyclables are gathered on campus, it is disposed of by Trashco, a local disposal company. Christel Eichner, PSU’s research management coordinator, said that PSU can only use companies to take disposal away to a certain point. Rather than sending compost and recycling away, PSU Recycles! is trying to move toward keeping it on campus to be put back into the ecosystem here.

For more information on sustainability efforts by PSU Dining Services, please visit www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSW/PortlandState/Sustainability/.