Waste Diversion

The “Waste Hierarchy,” or the 5 Rs, provide a comprehensive framework for thinking about waste. Many of these steps should be undertaken prior to recycling.

Refuse

First, refuse anything you don’t truly need: this is the first step to diverting waste from the landfill. Even if it’s free, if you don’t need it, say no: decline “swag” and other promotional freebies. Refuse single-use items like plastic straws, utensils, cups, and plates, and anything else that isn’t essential. Opt-in to digital billing and other paperless options. Carry what you buy from the store and refuse the bag.

Reduce

Next, use the minimum amount required to avoid unnecessary waste. Whenever possible, you can reduce the things you use, such as bringing your own water bottle to campus or events, a reusable cup to the coffee shop, or carry reusable utensils in your bag. Turn off your lights when you leave a room to reduce energy use, and switch energy-efficient lightbulbs. Consider purging your download folder and sorting through your cloud files and deleting the ones you don’t need: the Cloud now has a greater carbon footprint than the airline industry, and a single data center can consume the equivalent electricity for 50,000 homes!

Reuse

You can donate and/or buy used items in good condition numerous thrift stores in Albuquerque and around New Mexico. BuyNothing groups, Freecycle, and Craigslist provide platforms for people to access free items.

UNM Residence Life and Student Housing started Lobo Reclaim to minimize the number of usable items student residents were throwing out during move-out and minimize the overall cost of move-in. Lobo Reclaim gives students the opportunity to buy gently used items at a huge discount instead of buying new. During move-in in the fall, students can pay $1 to purchase anything they can carry out of the Lobo Reclaim store.

The Surplus Property Department, which is a division of the UNM Purchasing Department & University Services, is responsible for managing the disposition of surplus property and assets for UNM. The Surplus Property Department focuses on sustainability by repurposing, reusing, and recycling items that have a UNM property tag and are no longer in active use. Surplus Property also offers a Showroom that offers used items that departments can purchase as an alternative to purchasing new equipment.

Recycle

UNM Recycling, managed through Facilities Management, diverts over 500 tons of campus waste from the landfill each year. In addition to mixed paper, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and cardboard, Recycling Services can accept scrap metal, batteries, bulbs/lamps, and toners from UNM facilities.

Recycling Services works with the Office of Sustainability to promote recycling education, perform campus waste audits, and grow resource conservation programs.

Rot

It’s estimated that one-third of all food in the United States goes uneaten, and decomposing food creates methane, a significant greenhouse gas. Composting, by contrast, creates a valuable resource from food waste and organics.

Little Green Bucket provides compost hauling services for UNM at the La Posada Dining Hall and from UNM Catering at the Student Union Building. Over 70,000 pounds of food waste from UNM are composted each year. It is also possible to compost food scraps and yard waste at home.