UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Office of Physical Plant recently named Ayodeji "Ayo" Oluwalana as the first University-wide waste reduction and recycling program manager — an important role in increasing Penn State’s recycling efforts and reducing its overall waste output.
Oluwalana joined Penn State after serving as the recycling program manager at Iowa State University. Prior to that, he worked in campus sustainability positions at Western Colorado University, and other higher education roles at Covenant University in Ota, Nigeria.
“I am thrilled for the opportunity to join Penn State and look forward to collaborating with various units and colleges across the campus to find innovative solutions to our waste reduction and recycling program challenges,” said Oluwalana.
The development of this new position stems from recommendations made by the Penn State Waste Stream Task Force, which formed in spring 2018 and charged to “create fiscally, environmentally, and socially responsible goals and principles to guide the University’s procurement, operational, and solid waste management decisions” as well as academic engagement opportunities.
According to Phillip Melnick, senior director of buildings and grounds in OPP and co-chair of the Waste Steam Task Force, the team made great progress in 2019 and began presenting its recommendations to University leadership in 2020, until the COVID-19 pandemic slowed these efforts.
Since returning to full on-site capacity in the fall of 2021, OPP has been championing efforts to implement task force recommendations to reduce overall campus waste and increase recycling initiatives, including conducting a national search for the waste reduction and recycling program manager position.
“One key thing that excites me about this position is the amazing groundwork the Waste Stream Task Force has accomplished," said Oluwalana. “They ‘tilled the soil’ and provided me the platform upon which seeds can be planted. The task force recommendations are a vast springboard for me to begin and I look forward to systematically implementing them as I start.”
Erik Cagle, head of custodial services at Penn State, sees Oluwalana’s role as a vital component to increasing operational and educational opportunities across Penn State.
“As an institution, we’ve made significant progress over the years when it comes increasing our campus composting and recycling efforts, but there is still a lot of work ahead of us, particularly when it comes to reducing contamination in the recycling waste stream,” Cagle said.
According to Cagle, all Penn State University Park recycling goes to the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority (CCRRA) but once there, staff at the center check for contamination in the recycling bags. If a bag is contaminated with too many nonrecyclables, the University is charged an extra contamination fee and the bag may end in the landfill.
“We all must work together to ensure recycling efforts are successful. OPP will do our part of separating contamination before the bags get to CCRRA, but we ask that everyone on campus do their best to reduce contamination of recycled material,” Cagle said.
In his role as the University’s waste reduction and recycling program manager, Oluwalana will provide direction and guidance on reducing such contamination in the waste stream, as well as implement educational and outreach initiatives to reduce campus waste and increase overall recycling efforts.
“From looking at how we can reduce single-use plastic on campus to finding ways to increase our composting capacity, Ayo will bring a creative and innovative approach to furthering Penn State’s sustainability goals, particularly in the areas of waste reduction and recycling,” Melnick said.
Oluwalana earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental management and toxicology and a master’s degree in environmental management. He is a trained Climate Reality Leader as well as a board member of the College and University Recycling Coalition.