UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Starting this month, the Penn State Office of Physical Plant (OPP) will begin installing updated signage on the University Park campus’ composting and recycling collection bins to reflect recent operational changes. This change is part of the University’s implementation of the Penn State Waste Stream Task Force recommendations — a collaboration of faculty, staff and students.  

To minimize the amount of waste that gets sent to a landfill, the University relies on the campus population to separate recyclable and compostable materials from trash. Recyclable materials collected on campus are sold by the Centre County Refuse & Recycling Authority (CCRRA) to processors who can make new products out of the discarded materials. For example, aluminum cans and plastic jars can be made into new cans and jars. Compostable materials go to the University’s own compost facility — the Organic Materials Processing and Education Center (OMPEC), located adjacent to Innovation Park. In recent years there have been drastic changes in the markets for recyclable materials and the number of compostable products available. These changes have made it necessary to re-examine the strategy for waste collection at the University and focus on collecting materials in a way that ensures they will be recycled or composted and made into new products after collection.  

Composting – Food Waste Only 

The University will move to a “food waste only” approach with University Park’s compost collection. In recent years, the rise of compostable products such as flatware, drinkware and bags have led to operational challenges at OMPEC. From food scraps to landscaping debris, the site annually processes approximately 1,500 tons of organic matter and returns most of that compost, along with wood chips and mulch, back into the campus landscaping. Finished compost is also sold to the public through Lion Surplus.   

“Items marketed as compostable can be a challenge to successfully compost in certain conditions or with some equipment,” said Ayodeji Oluwalana, Penn State’s waste reduction and recycling program manager. “We regularly audit the campus’ various waste streams, including the compost collected across campus. When screening the organic material, we find a lot of non-compostable or hard-to-compost products like wax-lined plates, plastic eating utensils and straws, and miscellaneous plastics. Even items that are labeled as compostable may be very difficult for our facility to successfully compost, depending on what they are made from. On top of this, the compostable and non-compostable version of many consumable goods often look identical, leading to confusion and ultimately, contamination.”   

In partnership with Penn State’s Sustainability Institute, the Office of Physical Plant is currently seeking funding for a facility upgrade at OMPEC, which would improve composting capabilities and contribute positively to Penn State’s overall commitment to advancing sustainability progress. This could potentially lead to a return to collecting additional compostable materials in the future.  

Plastic Recycling – Bottles and Jugs Only 

Another forthcoming change is updated signage regarding the University’s discontinuation of collecting miscellaneous plastics. With volatility in the plastics market, coupled with increased contamination in the plastics waste stream, the University’s signage at the plastic recycling bins will better reflect the items now being collected, namely plastic bottles and jugs only. This change will improve overall recycling rates.  

“At first, it may seem counterintuitive to reduce the total volume of plastic recycled, but it’s better to collect fewer products that end up being successfully processed at the recycling facility than it is to collect a largely contaminated waste stream,” said Oluwalana. “The change in plastic recycling will help us move closer to achieving our goals of reducing waste, increasing participation and lowering our contamination rates.”  

“Wishcycling” and “wishcomposting,” which is when consumer behavior directs waste to facilities that aren't equipped to dispose of them properly, can lead to batch contamination and lower a facility’s overall ability to recycle or compost waste effectively. Confusing product labeling and mixed-material products add to the level of contamination, noted Oluwalana.  

“Operationally, a clean waste stream is critical to increasing the success of our campus compost and recycling efforts,” said Meghan Hoskins, director of operations and partnerships at the Penn State Sustainability Institute “We continually work hard to identify long-term solutions to reducing the University’s dependence on landfills and appreciate the University community’s help and interest in this important effort.”