MIT Targets Ambitious Recycling Goals

The more MIT recycles, the more MIT saves financially and contributes to a sustainable environment. And the numbers are growing. In 2005, the community recycled over 500 tons of mixed paper, 45 tons of bottles/cans, 60 tons of computer parts/monitors, and 190 tons of wood and metal harvested from discarded furnishings.

Greater community involvement and more recycling options are boosting participation. In 1999, MIT's recycling rate was only 5 percent. With a campus-wide effort, MIT reached its goal of 40% in 2005 and received a GoGreen award from the City of Cambridge.

The Department of Facilities works with campus partners such as the award-winning Working Group Recycling Committee to improve MIT’s recycling efforts. A new initiative targets food preparation – the largest campus waste producer – by composting nearly nine tons of food a month. The bailer in the Stratton Student Center aims to bail 1.5 tons of cardboard daily. In construction, a green demolition project resulted in a 4,519 tons of material recycled - a 96 percent recycling rate - for Buildings E10 and E20.

Community efforts – from the Environment, Health, and Safety Office to student groups like SAVE - are critical to making recycling work. Facilities is championing an Institute-wide Green Goods Purchasing program by buying all recycled content paper towels and toilet paper and many other recycled items. Find out how to recycle items from old catalogs to computer monitors, batteries to bulk cardboard. The "Do's of Recycling" flyer lists what's recyclable on campus.