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Division of Facilities News

Recycling & K-State

by Kevin Schindlbeck, Director of Custodial, Landscape, & Recycling

Recycling at K-State was formally initiated in 1989. Recyclable materials were collected at 22 buildings on campus. At the time, the University collected newspaper, aluminum cans, computer paper and white bond paper using one pick-up truck to move the materials to a local recycling vendor.

In 1998, the KSU Recycling Advisory Committee was established. The University was loaned a baler from a local vendor and began to bale recyclable materials. This allowed for better space utilization and a more marketable end product.

By the year 2000, Students for Environmental Action proposed Game Day Recycling, which was started that same year. K-State purchased its first baler and extended recyclable materials to include plastics. The baler was replaced in 2011.

The recycling program added desk-side recycling and purchased a forklift in the 2001-2002 academic year. A side-load recycling truck was purchased in 2004.

On June 11, 2008, a tornado damaged numerous buildings at the University including the Wind Erosion Lab, which was owned by the USDA. It was given to KSU later that year. Using a grant, KSU was able to make the needed repairs to the Wind Erosion Lab, converting it to the Recycling Center on campus.

In 2009, K-State participated for the first time in RecycleMania. Over an 8-week period each spring, colleges across the United States and Canada report the amount of recycling and trash collected each week. The results are then ranked in various categories. K-State has been named the Big 12 RecycleMania Champion in 2014, 2015, and 2017.