Solid Waste Recycling

Recycling Throughout the Penn Community

Traditional solid waste recycling is the responsibility of Penn Facilities and Real Estate Services (FRES). Penn Business Services, Penn Purchasing Services and FRES have launched successful recycling initiatives.

	TRADITIONAL RECYCLABLES Penn recycles about 31% of its total waste stream and has diverted over 1500 tons of material from landfills each year since 2007. Penn Facilities and Real Estate Services (FRES) is responsible for the collection of municipal waste and recyclables at Penn. Click here to visit the FRES website and learn about what Penn recycles.
	BIGBELLY SOLAR COMPACTORS After a successful 2007 pilot installation at 36th & Chestnut Streets, Penn Facilities and Real Estate Services installed BigBelly solar compactors at 10 high-traffic locations on Walnut and Spruce streets to provide the Penn community with public recycling bins along the campus perimeter and reduce trash pick-ups and vehicle emissions. By using solar panels on top of the unit to power its compaction mechanism, each BigBelly is capable of holding up to four times as much trash as a regular trash can, eliminating the need for Facilities crews to make three or four trips a day to empty overflowing bins.
	CONSTRUCTION WASTE Working with a local construction waste management company, Penn salvages valuable materials from construction project sites, including carpet scraps, metals, ceiling tile, and drywall. When demolition of older buildings is necessary, deconstruction procedures salvage light fixtures, railings, carved stone, and windows for reuse on campus or sale.
	WASTE MINIMIZATION AWARENESS CAMPAIGN Penn engages all the community in a year-round sustainability awarness campaign with the broader goal of source reduction in mind.
	PENNMOVES For the past two years, Penn Business Services has conducted PennMOVES, a move-out recycling and re-use drive, with the goal of reducing waste and preventing usable items from going to landfills. Since 2009, over 90 tons of material have been diverted from landfills and over $60,000 has been raised for West Philadelphia charities from the sale of these items. Click here for more information on PennMOVES.
	BEN'S ATTIC BEN’s Attic, developed by Purchasing Services in 2010, is Penn's new online exchange program that allows faculty and staff to divert University-owned surplus property. All faculty and staff are able to browse the site to see if there are any items they may need. However, posting and purchasing items is limited to TAC (Transaction Authorization Card) holders (or a TAC holder’s designee). Items are listed by category and can be sold or given away at no cost. Click here to visit BEN's Attic and learn more about how you can help your office or department recycle surplus property. If you have personal items that you wish to repurpose, access the West Philly Freecycle™ site at www.freecycle.org. The Freecycle Network is a non-profit organization comprised of various local and regional exchanges in an effort to divert reusable goods from landfills.