University Assessment 

Co-Curricular Initiatives: Facilities Engineering

Recycling Program
The Department of Facilities Engineering has a robust recycling program that is implemented University-wide. Members of the University community engage in a number of efforts to reduce waste and increase the amount of materials that are repurposed in an environmentally sound manner each year.  Gourmet Dining Services continues to focus on reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills via the use of organic, biodegradable take-out containers. They also manage a food composting program through a partnership with Organic Diversions, a company that turns all food waste into organize fertilizer. Recycled frying oil is picked up and turned into biodiesel fuel. The amount of food waste that was recycled in 2011 represents an increase of 48% from 2010.

The University’s preferred carpet vendor, Carpets et cetera, sends old carpet to a recycling center which remanufactures the used product into new carpet and carpet backings. In 2011, the amount of carpet from Seton Hall that was recycled was 20% higher than in 2010.

A cooperative effort with the Digital Sustainability Committee has resulted in a very successful electronics recycling program. The University uses a vendor that certifies that none of the electronic waste was exported or sent to a landfill. The firm completely dismantles the electronics down to commodity level and utilizes only domestic manufacturers to receive the material for manufacturing raw material, thus ensuring proper disposal.  In 2011, 37% more electronic materials were recycled than were in 2010.

Below are charts which illustrate the amount of material the University has recycled in recent years. Facilities Engineering staff use the data from past years to set targets for increased recycling efforts going forward.

South Orange Campus Recycling Report »