SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): A recently conducted waste audit of McCartney residences revealed high contamination rates in recycling stream, despite students throwing majority of trash items into the correct bins. The waste audit metrics suggested a contamination rate of 48.6%.
The audit was conducted on trash and recycling gathered from the common spaces of the McCartney Residences, McCartney North and McCartney South on two days-22nd and 23rd of October, 2022, which were weighed. The EcoReps separated the bags into two sections-trash and recycling, based on the general contents of the bag, which were weighed again. The data thus compiled were analysed for results.
The waste audit found that 13% of the items in trash could have been recycled and another 43% could have been composted. Also, liquids accounted for 14% of the weight of the trash. In the recycling, only 51% were actually recyclable. Almost 19% of the recyclables were trash, while 16.5% were compostable.
Overall, recycling has a contamination rate of 48.6%. The diversion rate pre-sort was 48.48%. If the items had been properly sorted, the diversion rate would have been 31%, the audit results said.
Samantha Smith, sustainability outreach and engagement manager noted that the waste audit has helped to better understand the current setup and the improvements that need to be done.
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