Recycling
Yosemite Community College District (YCCD) collects all recyclable materials in the blue or marked recycling containers around campus. The recycling process involves a series of activities, including collecting the recyclables, and taking them to the District holding station to be sorted then taken to a local recycling center for processing. These recyclable materials are turned into raw materials such as fibers, and materials to manufacture new products. Recycling helps to keep our campuses clean as well as minimize our carbon footprint.
YCCD works in conjunction with Modesto Junior College and the Sustainability Committee at Columbia College. Both Modesto and Columbia Facilities Operations offices have participated in and received a Cal Recycling Grant, which paid for Recycling Stations and Holding Stations. The stations can be found on the interior and exterior of the campuses. 22 stations were placed around Columbia College and 104 recycling stations were placed on the MJC East and West campuses for recycling of aluminum, plastic, and glass. The money from the recycling is placed back into a fund to self-sustain the program.
Types of recycling that take place on the campuses are:
Recycling:
- Ash
- Batteries
- Cardboard
- Concrete
- Shredding
- Copier/Toner Cartridges
- CRV Beverage Containers
- Newspaper
- Office Paper (White)
- Office Paper (Mixed)
- Scrap Metal
- Tires
- Wood Pallets
- Wood Waste
Material Exchange:
- Nonprofit/Donations – Students donate books to Books for Africa
- Internal Property Utilization
- Used Book Buybacks
- Employee Supply Exchange
- Auction
Organics Recycling:
- Xeriscaping
- Grasscycling
- Greenwaste Commercial pickup
- Onsite Composting
Waste Prevention/Reuse:
- Paper Forms Reduction
- Bulletin Boards
- Reusable Boxes
- Reusable Pallets
- Electronic Document Storage
- Double-sided Copies
- Email vs. Paper Memos
- Laundered Shop Rags
- Retreaded/Recapped Tires
- Firewood Sales
The Facilities Planning & Operations Department continuously looks for ways to improve recycling efforts by participating in webinars, posting signage and correct labeling of all the recycle bins and locations, reading publications with new ideas for recycling, and attending and participating in environmental fairs.
The District encourages carpooling and zero emissions cars by allocating parking spaces for the individuals that participate in the program.
Assembly Bill 75 is mandated by the California Integrated Waste Management Board to divert 50% of its solid waste from the landfill starting in 2004. YCCD submits annual reports to the CIWMB on the tonnage of solid waste generated by the campuses, and the percentage diverted from landfill by recycling, reuse, and resale. As per Assembly Bill 1016 in 2008, the CIWMB changed the reporting methodology, and will track waste generated on a per capita basis. The requirement for at least 50% diversion from landfill is still in effect.
