Skidmore College Case Study

The Challenge

• Private institute of higher education with 2,500 students and 1,100 employees
• Established goal to reach a 40% recycling rate by the end of 2014
• Lack of proper staff training and communication, difficulty in accessing relevant data, and unattractive, ineffective signage led to low recycling rate of 16%

The Solution

• Casella spent time with management becoming familiar with the institution and its operations, while involving all stakeholders and participants in the conversation and program processes
• Efficiently implemented Zero-Sort® recycling around campus, including the provision of clear, monthly data reports essential to strategic planning
• Increased sustainability awareness through in-house designed co-branded signage, special presentations for faculty and staff, and regular waste audits performed with students and faculty

The Results

• Increase in recycling rate to 28% over the past year, with 40% monthly recycling rates in May and June 2014
• Able to both appropriately capture and divert increased volumes during move-out periods
• Quarterly meetings and routine site visits and reviews aimed toward constant improvement and goal achievement