Zero Waste SWATeam

Campus Sustainability Menu

Composting Basics Video!

Recycling 101

A guide to reducing waste (especially plastics) on campus — and it all starts with reuse and reduce!

Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN)

The Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN) cultivates, educates, and inspires the student-led zero waste movement, informing students about the waste crisis and equipping them with the necessary skills and resources to implement solutions to waste in their campus communities.

PLAN was founded in 2013 by a group of college students. These students witnessed a systemic waste problem on their campus and developed the first student-led, financially self-sustaining, zero waste move-out program of its kind. Other campuses wanted to replicate the program and from there, PLAN was born.

Thanks to Student Sustainability Committtee (SSC) funding, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a PLAN member, which means you are a PLAN member as well! Follow these simple steps to access your membership:

Visit postlandfill.org
Register using your @illinois.edu email
Confirm account in your inbox (make sure to check your “Spam” folder!)
Log in and browse your newly available content!

Resources you can use as a member include:

1-on-1 advising calls with any PLAN staff member throughout the year
Free virtual leadership trainings and workshops to achieve Beyond Waste Leadership Certification
The Plastic Free Campus Toolkit to help campus #BreakFreeFromPlastic
Discounts to 30+ zero waste companies
Unlimited access to PLAN’s extensive downloadable resources and manuals

Learn more about our campus’s PLAN membership and how you can get involved >>>

Recycling Options

Handy Guide

iSEE’s Suggestions for Recycling Options

Zero Waste Reduction Facebook Group

Stay Connected

Join the Waste Reduction @ Illinois Facebook Group >>>

Zero Waste Efforts

It won’t take a minute, just Bin It!

bin2 For Campus Sustainability Week 2016, we’ve teamed up with Facilities & Services to promote recycling on campus! Do your part by recycling your cans, bottles, papers, and cardboard boxes. No matter where you are on campus, you’re never too far from a bin. It won’t take a minute, just Bin It!

Learn more about what can be recycled on campus, how to get your waste in the proper place, and how campus recycling works — from use to reuse — on the official Bin It website.

Purchase 30% Recycled Paper

One significant milestone that occurred in the first year of iSEE’s Certified Green Office Program was an April 2015 deal between Office Depot OfficeMax and F&S Stores & Receiving, which allows for a ream of 30% recycled office paper to be sold through the iStores punch out for 14 cents less than virgin paper through iBuy. Read more about that new opportunity to green your office here.

Campus and community programs, events, features and tips related to purchasing, waste, and recycling

More on campus recycling efforts

The Waste Transfer Station recycles or diverts from landfills nearly 50% of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign waste. In fiscal year 2009, the Waste Transfer Station recycled 1852 tons of paper and cardboard, 38 tons of aluminum cans, 899 tons of scrap metal, 38 tons of plastic, 1300 tons of landscape waste and 325 tons of pallets. In addition to the Waste Transfer Station’s efforts, the Campus Garage and Carpool recapped 25 tires rather than replacing them. Over the years, the University has recycled approximately 2,500 semi loads of materials. This effort kept 53,000 tons out of the landfill and generated 3.5 million in cash. The University also recycles equipment, both electronic and non-electronic. In fiscal year 2009, we recycled over 118 tons of electronic equipment and nearly 300 tons of non-electronic equipment.

University Construction Services demolished a Dining facility and captured 77% of the material for recycling. Material included copper, aluminum, glass, baling material and structural steel. This project was completed on time and well within budget. By utilizing recycling of this demolition, the University kept more than 3 million pounds of material out of the landfill. This is the model for future demolition projects.

The Labor Electrician’s shop has operated a Fluorescent Lamp Recycling program since 2000. Shop employees properly recycle 99.9% of all University light bulbs. The Maintenance Electrical Repair shop has also been successful at recycling ballasts and removing copper wiring.

Check out this iSEE article on helium recycling on the U of I campus >>>

Ag, Land Use, and Food Programs

Campus and community programs, events, features, and tips related to agriculture, land use and food

University of Illinois Sustainable Student Farm
University of Illinois Energy Farm
Natural Landscaping
University Housing Dining Services on environmentally responsible dining
iSEE feature story on sustainable food on campus
iSEE feature story on homemade tomato sauce on campus
iSEE feature story on campus prairie zones
iSEE feature on Illinois Biodiesel Initiative taking used cooking oil to make fuel and soap
The U of I’s Bee Campus USA website and Facebook page; Facilities & Services news announcement of Illinois becoming the 53rd Bee Campus USA (and first in the Big Ten Conference)
iSEE feature on the student who started the Bee Campus USA movement at Illinois
iSEE feature on Bevier Café’s sustainable practices

Zero Waste iCAP Team

Poster displaying key points from the iCAP 2020 Zero Waste theme.

“At-a-glance” key points from the iCAP 2020 Zero Waste theme. Click for an enlarged version.

Read iCAP 2020 Chapter 5: Zero Waste >>>

The Zero Waste Team, examines sustainable purchasing, waste disposal, recycling, and campus dining — with the goal of achieving zero waste on campus as outlined by the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP).

Newly formed in 2019, this team covers the mandates outlined under the former PWR Sustainability Working Advisory Team as well as the food aspects of the former ALUFS SWATeam (see below).

iCAP Topical Teams report annually on progress made toward Illinois Climate Action Plan objectives in their area of focus.

Read a 2024 update on iCAP progress in zero waste >>>

Current Team Members

Faculty: Nishant Garg, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2022-)
Faculty: Joy Scrogum, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center Assistant Scientist, Sustainability (2016-18, 2022-) Read more about Joy >>>
Staff: Thurman Etchison, University Housing Food Service Administrator (2015-21, 2022-) Read more about Thurman >>>
Staff: Aaron Finder, Office of Business and Financial Services Assistant Director of Purchasing (2019-) Read more about Aaron >>>
Staff: Daphne Hulse, Zero Waste Coordinator, Facilities & Services (2022-) Read more in a Q&A with Daphne >>>
Staff: Tim Knox, Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities & Capital Projects (2023-)
Student: Jenna Schaefer, Graduate student (2021-) Read more about Jenna >>>
Student: Dominika Szal, Undergraduate in Civil & Environmental Engineering (2023-) Read more about Dominika >>>
Student: Sakshi Vaya, Undergraduate in Earth, Society and Environmental Sustainability (2023-) Read more about Sakshi >>>
Clerk: Olivia Pazerunas, Undergraduate in Agricultural & Consumer Economics (2023-) (Email) Read more about Olivia >>>

Retired Team Members (see toggles below for fuller list)

Faculty: Joe Bradley, Clinical Assistant Professor of Bioengineering (2022-23)
Student: Justin Holding, Undergraduate in Industrial Engineering (2022-23) Read more about Justin >>>
Student: Shreya Mahajan, Undergraduate in Civil & Environmental Engineering (2022-23) Read more about Shreya >>>
Clerk: Nikki Palella, Undergraduate in Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability (2022-23)
Faculty: Timothy Stark (Chair), Professor of Geotechnical Engineering (2017-22) Read more about Tim >>>
Faculty: Clara Bosak-Schroeder, Associate Professor of Classics (2021-22)
Faculty: Yuanhui Zhang, Professor of Bioengineering (2020-22)
Staff: Tim Knox, Assistant Director of Athletics, Capital Projects, and Facilities (2021-22)
Staff: Avery Maloto, Sustainability Intern, Facilities & Services (2021-22)
Staff: Mike Olinger, Housing & Dining Food Service Administrator (2020-22)
Student: Sarah Shoaff (2021-22)
Student: Sydney Trimble, Undergraduate in Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences (2021-22) Read more about Syd >>>
Clerk: Alexa Smith, Undergraduate in Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences (2021-22) Read more about Alexa >>>
Faculty: Brajendra Kumar Sharma (Co-Chair), Senior Research Scientist at Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (2020-21) (Email)
Staff: Caitlyn Aylmer, Illini Union Main Desk Attendant (2020-21)
Staff: Shantanu Pai, Facilities & Services Zero Waste Coordinator (2020-21)
Student: Leah Courtney, Undergraduate in Civil and Environmental Engineering (2020-21)
Student: Madalyn Liberman, Undergraduate in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (2018-21) Read more about Maddy >>>
Student: Cassidy Steel, Undergraduate in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (2020-21)
Clerk: Julija Sakutyte, Undergraduate in Molecular and Cellular Biology (2018-21) (Email) Read more about Julija >>>
Faculty: Robert McKim, Professor of Religion (2018-20) Read more about Robert >>>
Faculty: Leon Liebenberg, Teaching Associate Professor in Mechanical Science & Engineering (2019-20) Read more about Leon >>>
Student: Emily Recupido, Undergraduate in Civil Engineering (2019-20)
Student: Manying Zhang, Undergraduate in Civil Engineering (2019-20) Read more about Manying >>>
Staff: Marya Ryan, Facilities & Services Waste Management Academic Hourly (2019) Read more about Marya >>>

Purchasing, Waste, and Recycling

The Purchasing, Waste, and Recycling SWATeam, which formed in 2014 and continued through Spring 2019, examined the Illinois Climate Action Plan goals and accomplishments in this theme.

The ultimate goal in the waste section is to become a zero waste campus: meaning nearly all wastes are recovered or recycled, not buried or burned. In FY14, campus diverted 31% of its municipal solid waste (MSW) from the landfill.

To reduce the volume of landfilled waste, campus could purchase fewer nondurable products (go for metal forks, not plastic!), purchase recycled-content products whenever possible, and raise awareness and improve infrastructure for waste management so that a greater number and more types of items make it into campus recycling bins.

SWATeams report annually on progress made toward Illinois Climate Action Plan objectives in their area of focus.

VIDEO: The Basics of Campus Recycling in Less Than 5 Minutes

Click here for the accompanying resource page (referenced in video)

2018-19 Team Members

Faculty: Timothy Stark (Chair), Professor of Geotechnical Engineering (2017-19) (Email) Read more about Tim >>>
Faculty: Robert McKim, Professor of Religion (2018-19)
Staff: Aaron Finder, Office of Business and Financial Services Assistant Director of Purchasing (2019) Read more about Aaron >>>
Staff: Macie Sinn, Facilities & Services Transportation Clerk (2019) Read more about Macie >>>
Student: Madalyn Liberman, Undergraduate in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (2018-19) Read more about Maddy >>>
Student: Neal Shannon, Undergraduate in Agricultural and Consumer Economics (2019)
SWATeam Clerk: Julija Sakutyte, Undergraduate in Molecular and Cellular Biology (2018-19) (Email) Read more about Julija >>>

Retired Members

Ella Liskiewicz, Undergraduate in Public Policy and Law (2018)
Brad Henson, Office of Business and Financial Services Director of Purchasing (2017-18)
Jamie Wiberg, Undergraduate in Architectural Studies (Fall 2018; moved to ECBS SWATeam)
Rebekah Jonas, clerk, Undergraduate in Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability (Fall 2018)
Warren Lavey, Adjunct Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (2014-18) Read more about Warren >>>
Ireland Flannery, Undergraduate Undecided (2017-18)
Fanxing Liu, Undergraduate in Civil and Environmental Engineering (2016-18)
Rebecca Laurent, clerk, Undergraduate in Political Science (2017-18)
Brian Plotner, student in Public Health (2017)
Bélen Muñiz, student in Integrative Biology (2016-17) Read more about Bélen >>>
Meghan Killinger, student clerk in Integrative Biology (2016-17)
Dilip Chhajed, Professor of Business Administration (2014-17) Read more about Dilip >>>
Marcy Wright, Office of Business and Financial Services Business/Administrative Associate in Strategic Procurement (2014-17) Read more about Marcy >>>
Karin Hodgin Jones, student in Urban and Regional Planning (2015-16) Read more about Karin >>>
Alexia Bedolla, student clerk in Earth, Society and Environmental Sustainability (2015-16)
Bart Bartels, former Illinois Sustainable Technology Center Zero Waste Coordinator (2014-16) Read more about Bart >>>
Rachel Baits, student (and fall 2016 chair) in Integrative Biology (2014-16) Read more about Rachel >>>
Elizabeth Shancer, student in Agricultural and Biological Engineering (2014-15) Read more about Elizabeth >>>

Buying Security: Filings Can Reveal Best Companies

Prof. Warren Lavey’s article about the benefits of greater reporting from businesses on their environmental footprint was featured in the March/April 2016 edition of “The Environment Forum,” an environmental policy journal published by the Environmental Law Institute. Read the article here. Learn more about the Environmental Law Institute at its website: www.eli.org.

Agriculture, Land Use, Food, and Sequestration

The Agriculture, Land Use, Food, and Sequestration SWATeam, which formed in 2014 and continued through 2019, examined the Illinois Climate Action Plan goals and accomplishments in this theme.

By FY20, campus aims to reduce emissions from on-campus agriculture, food procurement, and land use by 30%. Dining already procures 28% of food from sources within 150 miles of campus – including 95% of all the produce grown on the Sustainable Student Farm.

Going forward, campus will undertake several studies to precisely determine where and how emissions are created from its 6,368-acre landscape to aid in designing strategies for further reduction. By FY25, campus also hopes to purchase 40% of its food supplies from local vendors.