Michigan State University is turning waste into insight through a recent campus-wide audit that revealed clear opportunities to strengthen recycling efforts and reduce landfill waste. 

Led by the MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center (SSRC), with support from the Division of Residential and Hospitality Services’ Sustainability and Culinary Services, the first waste sort was held March 6 and brought together staff, students, and volunteers to examine more than 2,800 pounds of trash collected from residence halls and Brody neighborhood bins. The outcome: over 1,298 pounds of material sorted, with nearly 49% diverted from the landfill through recycling or composting. 

“The experience overall was an extremely positive one with staff,” says Assistant Dining Services Manager Gregory Petrone. “I saw a lot of possibly recycled items in the trash. The employees took from this where we can better hone our messaging on what is and is not recyclable.” 

A Collaborative Effort with Growing Impact 
The March 6 waste sort marked the start of a larger audit initiative designed to track waste trends, uncover diversion opportunities and guide future outreach. The event ran from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with volunteers sharing a pizza lunch as they worked. Julia Haidler, Lead Supervisor at the MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center, coordinated the event with support from her student team. It was a collaborative effort that also included SLE Sustainability and Culinary Services. 

Staff contributors included Carla Iansiti, Bill McConnell and Gregory Petrone. The team successfully sorted 10 yards of waste, uncovering a significant volume of recyclable and compostable materials mistakenly thrown away — highlighting the need for continued education on proper disposal practices. 

The March sort was the first in a series of waste audits, followed by sessions on May 29, June 5 and June 12. Each built on the last, offering deeper insight into campus waste behaviors and helping shape data-informed sustainability strategies.  

The success of these efforts was made possible thanks to the dedication of MSU’s Eco-Ambassadors and Eco Rep students, who helped with sorting, data collection and educational outreach. 

Eco-Ambassadors: Dani Aldrink, Lavender Bewersdorff, Gage Dunel, Brian Frye, Ericka Grover, Jalecia Hattaway, Marlon Lewis and Casey Scutt 

Eco Rep Students: Steven Hodges and Marabeth Nobis 

From Waste to Awareness 
The audit identified several commonly misdirected materials: 

• Cardboard and boxboard
• Plastics #1, 2 and 5
• Aluminum cans and assorted metals
• Compostable food and paper waste 

 “A large number of items were packaging from takeout, delivery services and personal food items,” says Petrone. “About 60% of these items were in fact recyclable, which was a stark image for me. It helped me and my staff identify where we can better focus our education on recyclable materials.” 

In total, 641 pounds of recyclables were found in the trash alongside more than 950 pounds of landfill-bound material. Rather than discouraging, these numbers revealed a valuable opportunity to educate and empower the campus community. 

“In the past we focused on the reduction of single-use items, but it seems that post-COVID these items have only increased in popularity,” says Petrone. “Instead of focusing solely on how we can reduce use, we can also increase our messaging on what can be and cannot be recycled.” 

Supporting a University-Wide Sustainability Vision 
The waste sort supports the work of MSU’s Eco-Ambassador Program, which trains Culinary Services employees to serve as sustainability advocates in their units and help close the gap between information and daily action. 

“We strive to have the university population be as informed as we can on product recyclability while also doing our best to provide easy access points to recycling stations,” says Petrone. 

These efforts align with the university’s Strategic Plan for Stewardship and Sustainability, which aims to integrate sustainable practices throughout campus operations. Through the SSRC’s 2024–27 Strategic Plan, MSU will expand recycling education, improve signage and establish a Solid Waste Advisory Group to guide future waste initiatives. 

“The most important takeaway that everyone learned was how we can better message what can be recycled,” says Petrone. “There is a lot of misinformation and greenwashing when it comes to sustainability nowadays for product optics. We can work with our residential life partners to better hone our signage, talking points and better focus our eco-ambassadors' efforts.” 

Every Spartan Can Make a Difference 
As MSU moves forward, students, faculty and staff all have a role to play in creating a more sustainable campus. Whether it is sorting materials correctly, choosing reusable items or simply pausing to read recycling signs, small changes add up. 

“We strive to have an educated student and staff population, so my personal hopes are that this becomes more visible to them,” says Petrone. “See where the products end up after you just throw them away and the real impact on recycling systems on every recycling decision.” 

Here are ways to get involved:  

• Review what items are accepted in MSU’s recycling streams.
• Utilize the labeled bins located throughout campus.
• Ask questions and share recycling knowledge with others. 

To explore recycling guidelines, the university’s sustainability goals, or to get involved with future audits or programs, visit msurecycling.com or strategicplan.msu.edu. 

Author: Dani Del Castillo