Recycling

Campus Recycling
Coordinated by the Physical Plant with assistance from the students at the Outhouse, the college is committed to a recycling program that was started in the mid 1980s.

How do I recycle my batteries and electronics at Whitman?
You can take them to the Outhouse or the Penrose Library to dispose of your batteries and electronics.

Where does Whitman buy its paper?

• Whitman purchases paper through a bid process. They ask for bids from several different paper companies and the company that can deliver the paper that is certified at 100% recycled to their specifications at the lowest price is what they select.
• In the 2012 academic year they purchased paper from Georgia Pacific. Their paper is 100% recycled SFI chain of custody certified and also sourced locally from Camas. It is the same paper that the UW and WSU purchase.

How much paper is used?

• Approximately 840 cases of paper are used per year
• Last year the Greenhouse Gas Audit calculated that 50,992.2lbs of Uncoated Freesheet: 100% recycled paper was used. This includes the total number of cases purchased for daily use on campus, including copying and printing

Check out a short video on Recycled Notebooks here! And information about the 2007 Paper Campaign can be found here.

Brief history of paper conservation
Prepared by Mike Osterman and Jed Schwendiman in March 2009

• 2009 - GoPrint pilot launched with $60 free printing credit
• 2008 - WCTS installs GoPrint on public-access printers
• 2007 -  Paper Campaign recommendations to President Bridges regarding potential paper use reduction measures. The Paper Campaign also began the tradition of turning one-sided paper and old letterhead into recycled paper notebooks.
• 2006 - Math Dept. sets up a print-release station in Math Lab
• 2006 - College shifts to 100% recycled content paper
• 2005 - Conservation Committee, ASWC, Campus Greens, WCTS and President’s Council investigate print charging options
• 2002 - WCTS staff research “Paper Waste and Social Norming,” launches “Paper Tracker” and “Think Before You Print” campaign
• 2001 - Student member of Conservation Committee recommends installing print release stations to reduce paper waste
• 2001 - Conservation Committee requests all printers default to duplex
• 1999 - College purchases 30% recycled content paper (20% previous year)
• 1994 - Laser printing becomes free of charge
• Prior to 1994 - Laser printing $0.05/page (where available)

Campus Recycling
Acceptable items:

• All grades of plastic
• Tin
• Aluminum
• Cardboard
• Newspaper
• Magazines
• Phone and paperback books
• All kinds of paper
• Small batteries
• Fluorescent light bulbs
• All types of electronic components
• Scrap metal

Unacceptable Items:

• Used motor oil
• Car batteries or tires
• Used food wrappers
• Glass of any kind
• Hardback books in large quantities
• Any recyclables mixed with garbage

Walla Walla Recycling:
Acceptable Items:

• Paper and mail
• Newspaper and advertising
• Phone Books
• Magazines and catalogs
• Cardboard and paperboard (cereal boxes, etc.)
• Milk and juice cartons
• Plastic bottles and jugs (no lids or caps)
• Aluminum cans
• Tin or steel cans

Unacceptable Items:

• No glass (see information below)
• No food or soiled paper or boxes
• No paper towels, tissues, or napkins
• No plastic wrap, packaging, or grocery bags
• No garbage, no food waste
• No Styrofoam containers or pellets
• No plastic cups, plates, utensils, or take-out containers
• No light bulbs
• No toxic containers (antifreeze, oil, etc.)
• No lids or caps
• No window glass or mirrors
• No ceramics, dishes, glassware
• No yard clippings or leaves

Call the Recycling Hotline at (509)524-4503 if you have questions about whether or not something is accepted curbside or if other recycling options exist locally.

View the Walla Walla Recycling guide here.

Campus Waste
The most recent comprehensive survey of campus solid waste was conducted in 1995. The survey recorded that about 31,800 lbs of solid waste were produced during an average month in the academic year. A 2007 survey of dining hall and Reid cafe organic waste found that an average of 5,488 lbs/week were generated in a typical week across the three food service facilities. Whitman College also produces sewage waste and hazardous waste, and the recycling program collected about 300,000 lbs of recyclables in 2007.