Transcript The Bucket Program - UC Davis Student Housing

Moving Toward Zero Waste in the Residence Halls
Overview
1.
Sustainability Mission of Student Housing
2.
Composting in the halls?
3.
Campus partners
4.
Overview of “The Bucket Program”
5.
Common Questions
Sustainability Mission

The definition of sustainability is:
“to meet the current population’s
needs without compromising the
ability of future generations to
meet their needs,” Brundtland
Commission (1987).






Institutionalize sustainable practices
Use LEED as a guide
Educate residents and staff
Collaborate with campus organizations
Integrate sustainability
Model sustainable practices
Zero Waste In the Residence Halls
Zero waste RA programs
 Aggieware
 Purchasing (what comes into the halls)
 Tracking and evaluation
 Recycling and composting reevaluation

…zero waste by 2020
Composting in the Halls?
There
are several
challenges to creating a
comprehensive composting
program in the residence
halls…
Composting in the Halls?
Compost collection
 Cleaning the containers
 Pest control (rodents and fruit flies)
 Roommate issues
 Compost contamination
 Environmental Health & Safety


Other options have been ruled out
 Worm bins
 Compost bins on Housing grounds
Campus Partners

University Dining Services
 seven core sustainable practices

Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S)
 health, safety, and environmental consulting
resource
Campus Partners

Know the issues and work with them
early in the process
 current existing practices
 product details
 cleaning/packing process
 storage
 weight
 documentation
 enforcement
Materials Overview

The Bucket
 Cambro Rounds Poly
 2 and 8 quart
Process Overview
1. Students pay a deposit for a
composting bucket
 deposit is $5 for 2 qt. (individual) bucket
 deposit is $10 for 8 qt. (room) bucket
2. Sign “The Bucket
Agreement”
Process Overview

“Bucket Agreement”





must talk to roommate
refer to “The Bucket” website for updates
who to contact with questions
must be returned with lid fastened
return every three days or when:
○
○
○
○
it is full
there is a strong odor
it is contaminated with insects or flies
Housing staff or roommate request it emptied
 specific return times
○ 1:00 to 2:00 pm
○ 4:45 to 5:30 pm
○ 7:00 to 8:00 pm
 failure to follow rules loses deposit
Process Overview
3. “Bucket Website” will cover rules
4. Residents will be informed to return the
bucket every three days or when there is
an odor, pest issue, etc. (return time
based on which occurs first)
5. Residents will return bucket to the DC
during specific times
Process Overview
6. Residents will print their name and
return date on a label, that will be placed
on the returned bucket
7. After labeled, the DC will give the
resident a clean bucket of the same size
8. If not contaminated, it is handled like all
other compost
Process Overview
10. If it is contaminated, notify the
Manager. The Manager will e-mail
Richard Ronquillo and include the
student name for follow-up. Contents
would be disposed of as deemed
appropriate by manager. Richard will
meet with residents and have an
educational conversation or remove
them from the program.
Process Overview

Leaving the program
 At any time, residents can come to the
Housing office with a clean bucket to get
their deposit back. They will also fill out a
cancelation survey.
 At the end of the year, residents will be
asked to return bucket, complete a survey,
and the deposit refund will be mailed to their
billing address.
Program Cost

Initial material cost of $500
 8qt Cambro round poly
 8qt Cambro round poly lid
 2qt Cambro round poly
 2qt Cambro round poly lid

3.04
2.31
2.45
1.40
Deposits will cover all lost or damaged
containers and/or lids
Pilot Program, Spring 2010

“The Bucket” program was piloted in Cuarto,
spring of 2010
 10 participants
 weekly compost:
○ 4.64 lbs to 0.31 lbs per bucket
 total compost diverted during the 6 week pilot:
○ 57.34 lbs (about 3 automotive tires)
Future Changes
The program is a step toward
incorporating compost collection in the
residence halls.
 Vision for two years in every room:

Mixed
Recyclables
Landfill
Compost
Contact

Richard Ronquillo
 [email protected]

Patrice Stafford
 [email protected]

housing.ucdavis.edu/sustainability