Recycling Efforts Save $35,000 In 1995

10-8-96

University Park, Pa. -- Thanks to the recycling efforts of Penn State students, faculty and staff, the amount of recyclable waste collected at the University Park campus -- aluminum cans, glass, newspapers and so on -- increased from 5,286 tons in 1994 to an all-time high of 5,316 tons in 1995.

That's good news for at least two reasons:

-- One, the increased amount of recyclable material represents a corresponding amount that won't be taking up space in a landfill somewhere, and

-- Two, it translated to a savings of more than $35,000 in the 1995 "tipping fees" Penn State had to pay for waste handling and disposal.

The savings were realized because Centre County charges a tipping fee of $75 a ton to handle nonrecyclable garbage, but only $5 or $10 a ton -- depending how it's sorted -- to handle recyclable materials.

Al Matyasovsky, who oversees Penn State's waste management and recycling efforts, said that the University's waste management team is grateful for the strong public support of the program.

"The University community has responded to our recycling program in a very positive way," said Matyasovsky. "Because of the strength of this response, we are able to offer a recycling program that covers several different kinds of materials. We've also been able to improve our collection services."

Between 1994 and 1995, the total amount of waste collected campus -- nonrecyclable refuse as well as recyclable materials -- decreased 9.6 percent, from 11,744 tons to 11,287 tons.

Over the past three years -- between 1992 and 1995 -- the recycling statistics are even more impressive. In 1992, only 1,019 tons of recyclable material were collected on campus. But the number zoomed to 2,415 tons in 1993, to 5,286 tons in 1994, and to 5,316 tons in 1995.

Through another University program -- the ongoing recycling program at Beaver Stadium and the Bryce Jordan Center -- money generated from the sale of recycled material goes to the Centre County United Way.

During home football games, 20 recycling stations are located throughout the Beaver Stadium parking lot for glass and plastic bottles and steel and aluminum cans. Last year, United Way received more than $11,000 from the sale of 34 tons of recyclable material.

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Editors: For more information about Penn State's recycling program, call the Recycling Hotline at 814/865-8000. Al Matyasovsky can be reached at 814/863-4719.

Contacts:
Alan Janesch (814) 865-7517 (office) axj12@psu.edu
Christy Rambeau (814) 865-7517 (office) cmr7@psu.edu