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

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:

1. Visit postlandfill.org
2. Register using your @illinois.edu email
3. Confirm account in your inbox (make sure to check your “Spam” folder!)
4. 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 >>>

Handy Guide

iSEE’s Suggestions for Recycling Options

Stay Connected

Join the Waste Reduction @ Illinois Facebook Group >>>

It won’t take a minute, just Bin It!

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

• The Zero Waste Illinois Program through the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC)
• Recyclemania, E-cyclemania, and Zero-Waste events on campus
• University of Illinois Waste Transfer Station
• Champaign Recycling
• Urbana Recycling
• Habitat For Humanity ReStore
• PACA Architectural Salvage Warehouse
• University YMCA Dump and Run
• Wheels for Wishes
• Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Disposal Options in East Central Illinois
• iSEE feature on Fresh Press (organization making paper from ag byproducts) working with U of I Library to conserve books
• iSEE feature on Illinois Biodiesel Initiative taking used cooking oil to make fuel and soap
• iSEE feature on Gadget Garage, fixing and repurposing electronics
• iSEE feature on Bevier Café’s sustainable practices
• iSEE feature on Certified Green Chapter Program
• iSEE feature on Architecture program to recycle sawdust for 3D printing

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 >>>

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