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Smart Program a.k.a The Quad System--Get SMART |
| A recycling concept and program developed by the University of Minnesota Recycling Programs. |
The Introduction |
SMART, which is an acronym for Self Managed Activities for Recyclables and Trash, was a completely revolutionizing concept by which individuals disposed of their own waste and recyclables. Responsibility and accountability were emphasized at the individual level; making waste management the responsibility of those who create waste.
What were the results of such a waste revolution? A dramatic and successful increase in the capture reate for recyclable materials, from 60 to 90 percent. Imagine, nine-tenths of all recyclable materials were captured and either reused or recycled as opposed to remaining in the waste stream! This dramatically reduced the amount of garbage sent to the incinerators and landfills. |
The Concept |
| The underlying premise of the SMART system was to have individuals consider the disposal of trash and recyclable materials to be equally important and convenient. Each time a person disposed of their waste, they're presented with an opportunity to recycle. People took their waste and recyclables to four conveniently located conatiners within their workspace. Custodial staff then emptied those containers once a day, instead of emptying individual's personal trash containers. |
The System |
| Four containers strategically placed within the work area provided appropriate disposal of waste and recyclables; one for trash, and three for office paper, newspaper plus, and commingled bottles and cans. Cardboard was collected by flattening boxes and placing them along side the containers for custodial staff to remove at the end of the day. |
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The Pilot Studies |
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Originally, the SMART system was developed and tested as an outdoor system. To remain cost effective and to efficiently use the space available, containers were adapted to a lid with three disposal options. These lids have one hole for waste, and two holes for recyclables. Aside from offering a person the opportunity to recycle every time they disposed of any waste, the containers offer a convenient and effective method for disposing waste. The results of the pilot study showed that 95 percent of recyclable materials were placed in the correct compartment. Due to the success of this study, the concept of the SMART system was continued indoors with the Quad system. |
The Results |
| Recovery levels increased dramatically for each recyclable material. Approximately two months after implementation, surveys were distributed to monitor the reactions of the University's employees to the SMART system. Nearly all respondants believed recycling to be an important endeavor, with over half believing that with the SMART system, they were recycling more; and overall, 86 percent felt positively towards recycling with the SMART system. |
The Program Costs |
| Five-thousand sets of containers, a total number of twenty-thousand 23-gallon containers were purchased. The expected cost of the containers was approximately $250,000, but the payback period for the expenditure was estimated at 2.8 years. Within three years, the money saved because of an increase in revenue, avoided disposal fees, and reduction in custodial labor to manage the system would have paid for the containers. |
The Problems |
| The initiation of this program encountered some limitations, especially in the laboratory areas of the campus. Due to the high number of individuals who work in common lab areas, waste cannot be be "owned" by anyone and therefore is not disposed by any one person. As a result, custodians continued to service trash containers. Other limitations included the elimination of certain containers of the quads. For example, in the labs, food is not permitted, so the bottles and cans container is not necessary. Because the containers are not conveniently located near the others, recovery rates dropped in those areas. |
The Conclusion |
| The SMART System did not mandate behavior change, rather, it facilitated it. The concept is that the very act of waste disposal is an opportunity to recycle. Furthermore, the SMART System encouraged waste reduction at the source; the individuals. Finally, University employees believed they were more aware of the amount of waste each produced and became more interested in innovative methods of waste reduction. |
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