Florida State University
IN-48: Innovation B

FSU’s Sustainability Action Plan identifies Waste Minimization as a strategic initiative to reduce our overall footprint and build a University-wide culture of environmental care.

In 2020, FSU’s Community Waste Station program was implemented to transition the Tallahassee campus from desk-side servicing of waste to self-sorting of waste. Each community waste station consists of a set of three labeled bins (including paper recycling, bottles and cans recycling, and landfill waste) to help community members separate trash items into their respective waste streams.

This change was made because research shows that self-sorting waste increases recycling rates and decreases the total amount of waste generated while desk-side servicing leads to higher contamination rates and more landfill waste.

Having a single decision point for disposal has been demonstrated to make it easier for individuals to make the best choice for their waste. Community waste stations also reduce the number of plastic bags needed for the thousands of bins across campus, which results in less plastic waste and significant cost savings. Other colleges and universities that have implemented similar programs have seen a recycling rate increase of 15-55% and have diverted hundreds of tons from the landfill.

FSU’s Community Waste Station program resulted in operational changes, specifically the removal of deskside bin service and the creation of standardized waste collection stations across campus. The program also increased outreach and educational endeavors to foster personal responsibility and participation in managing our campus waste streams.

In addition, the program helped the university take aggressive steps to prevent the spread of disease, such as COVID-19, by minimizing individual interactions while also enhancing existing cleaning and disinfection practices. Community waste stations allowed for reduced contact between individuals and increased time spent disinfecting shared spaces.