UK Recycling has conducted two Waste Characterization Studies on UK’s landfill and recycling waste to find out what material is thrown away that could be recycled or reused. These studies have allowed UK Recycling to better understand what the university is throwing away and make data-driven decisions to minimize the University’s landfill waste.
Waste characterization is a process where samples of waste are hand sorted into identified categories, weighed, and recorded. The data from the samples are then applied to the total landfill (refuse) and recycling waste weights to give a comprehensive report of material for the whole university.
A Waste Characterization Study provides a baseline for the University to build and increase waste diversion programs. They help answer questions like: