Zero Waste Research Center Caitlin Catalano, Kristen Klein, Kellie Carlson, Lena Forti, Mayra Estrada, & Shannon Davis Helping the University achieve Zero Waste by 2020 through research and implementation of solutions
The Zero Waste Research Center consists of five students working to research and recommend recyclable and compostable alternatives to products on campus currently going to landfill. Research and implementation involved meeting with various stakeholders on campus and from around the world, as well as choosing unique alternatives that will provide the best solution for Berkeley’s campus. Look for changes in the following areas during the upcoming school year. Office Supplies
Green Labs
Focusing on the school’s relationship with Office Max, the Center looked into finding alternatives to the most purchased items on Bear Buy to have the greatest impact on the campus community.
Furniture The furniture waste from our school will rapidly become one of the greatest landfilled products, so the Center began researching alternative products to purchase in the future as well as establishing recyclable or reusable options for disposing of the current furniture.
Repetitive Plastic Waste that has possible glass alternatives
A B2P pen made from 86% recycled content Send used furniture to charities instead of landfills. Less than a day’s worth of Styrofoam waste from Stanley.
Whiteboard markers made from 91% recycled material that can be refilled and reused for 5 cycles
To help Berkeley Labs become zero waste, the team sat in on CACS Green Lab meetings, participated in a waste audit of Stanley to better understand the waste stream and products to target, and researched glass or other reusable materials to replace one time use plastics.
Working with Terracycle to recycle more difficult to recycle materials, such as pens or beauty supplies, is a sustainable zero waste option for Cal.
A Steelcase chair that can be a part of a cradle to cradle furniture program
Memorial Stadium
Plastics Disclosure Project
The ZWRC helped Cal Dining to look at all of the products being sold during the Cal football games to see where they were in relation to zero waste, and what recommendations we could make in order to help them achieve it.
The PDP is a Project dedicated to looking at the University’s plastic waste stream in order to figure out where our plastics came from and where they are going. We are using this information to help further our research into products as well as implement the best alternatives and change the amount of non-recyclable plastic on campus.
A compostable clamshell
Compostable Peanut Bag Compostable box candy A compostable coffee lid
Working with cutting edge recycling technology to create a cradle to cradle plastic stream on campus
Plastic HDPE #2 recyclable Souvenir Stadium Cups
Zero Waste Serving Techniques