He Doesn’t Take “No” For an Answer: 

How a Facilities Manager Guides Radcliffe Institute to a 72% Recycling Rate

by Dan Ruben
WasteCap of Massachusetts

Changing behavior patterns of people and institutions is the greatest challenge facing anyone trying to reduce our environmental impact. The best change agents succeed because they know what motivates their organizations, customers, and suppliers; they seek guidance and input from others; they approach problems with creativity; and they are relentless in the pursuit of success.

Scott Sandberg, Facilities Assistant at Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, employs these qualities to transform Radcliffe’s waste management program. Under his guidance, Radcliffe’s recycling rate has rocketed from 25% to 72% in only eighteen months.

As a university environmental manager, Sandberg faces particular challenges. The high student turnover rate makes it necessary to hold frequent training sessions and to develop a waste management system that can be learned quickly. Also, managers must prepare for the periodic purging of students’ possessions that accompany their frequent moves.

Sandberg started by identifying a mentor, Robert Gogan, waste manager for Harvard Facilities Maintenance Operations, who provided Sandberg with information and advice. He also prepared by analyzing Radcliffe’s waste stream and by talking about recycling with students and staff. Sandberg discovered that most of what Radcliffe discarded had value and could be recycled. Also, he learned that his institution was not fully taking advantage of opportunities and systems that Gogan had established for Harvard.

Changing behavior by changing bins

One of Sandberg’s first observations was that it was convenient to discard materials in the trash, but inconvenient to recycle.  Large trashcans were sited at every desk, but a special effort was required to find recycling bins and carry materials to them.

One midnight, when nobody was around to complain, Sandberg replaced the large trash cans with recycling bins that had tiny wastebasket attachments. He also deployed recycling containers for paper, and bottles and cans to every common area.  The containers’ restricted lids and labels make it easy to recognize what materials are acceptable.

Sandberg next educated students and staff about the invigorated recycling program and the importance of effective waste management.  The heart of this campaign is the personal “desk to desk” training sessions that Sandberg conducts.  His strategy also includes attractive signs, presentations at staff meetings, a web site (www.radcliffe.edu/facilities/recycling), and humorous email messages.

Special ed for slackers

The placement of the recycling bins and the education campaign proved successful--Radcliffe’s recycling rate soared.  However, Sandberg realized that there was room for improvement.  Some people still placed recyclables in the trashcans, and trash in the recycling bins. Sandberg developed a special strategy for them. First, he identifies offenders and drops a “tip sheet” on their desks. If this approach doesn’t get their attention, Sandberg instructs the cleaning crew to stop picking up the offenders’ trash. The only way they can restart this service is to contact Sandberg for a special tutorial and his authorization. 

New programs

With the basic program in place, and participation rates very high, Sandberg addressed special issues associated with Radcliffe’ s waste stream.  He improved and expanded the food waste composting system, added batteries and diskettes to the list of recyclable materials, and established programs to donate used clothing and furniture to charities.  Now, Sandberg is expanding the solid waste program to include the purchase of recycled products.  Already he has influenced Radcliffe to purchase recycled copy paper and other environmentally friendly office products.

The recycling program’s success has earned Radcliffe an award for “Environmentally Desirable Practices” from the city of Cambridge. Still, Sandberg continues to bring forward new ideas that will benefit the environment and the university. Undaunted, Scott says, “We are not even close to being finished.”

Dan Ruben

WasteCap of Massachusetts

Email: ruben@wastecap.org

Phone: 617-236-7715