Waste Diversion Projects
A few examples of zero-waste and recycling programs offered at Purchase:
- Betterworld Books Partnership
- Campus Race to Zero Waste (formerly Recyclemania)
- Composting
- Reuse: FreeNew
- Reuse: FreeStore
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Reusables: Hydration Stations
Betterworld Books Partnership
Since 2008, Purchase has partnered with Betterworld Books for their Discards and Donations program. It is estimated that Purchase has been able to donate over 23,000 books, giving these books a new home and diverting them from the landfill or recycling center.
Campus Race to Zero Waste
Purchase participated in CRTZW during the 2023-2024 school year. Campus Race to Zero Waste is a nationwide initiative to reduce the amount of usable or recyclable material from entering landfills through friendly competition on college campuses. The College tracked recycling rates and weight over the course of eight weeks through February and March. We placed 2nd in the Per Capita category out of 107 total participants.
Composting
Starting in September of 2024, most of our food waste will be picked up by Suburban Carting and taken to Sustainable Materials Management in Cortland Manor for composting.
The Rocket, located behind Campus Center North, is an on-campus composting system that will be composting food waste from residence halls. The Compost Master for the 2024-2025 school year is Robin Graygor. Keep an eye out for information about how you can compost your food waste in your dorm or apartment.
Reuse: FreeNew
At the end of the semester, rather than throwing away electronics, supplies, and other miscellaneous items, students can now donate their unwanted possessions to incoming students for the next academic year. These items are secured in 3 sheds, each measuring 20x8x8, which have been filled to capacity each year. The sheds can be found near the residential housing areas. The student-run FreeNew coordinators manage the sheds and handle the dispensation of items to incoming students at the beginning of each semester.
Reuse: FreeStore
During the semester when FreeNew is on break, students can still donate their salvageable items to FreeStore located on the second floor of the main dining hall. FreeStore is open year round and houses all items from housewares to clothing to art supplies. All items are free to all students. You can find their hours and additional information on their Instagram (@freestorefreenew). The 2023-2024 FreeStore DIrector is Maura Vanderputten.
Reusables: Hydration Stations
Twenty-two hydration stations have been installed across various locations on campus. These hydration stations offer filtered and chilled water to the campus community at no cost. With the installation of these stations thousands of plastic, single-use water bottles have been saved from entering our waste system. This map shows the locations of all the present stations.