Resource Recovery at UT-Austin

2023-2024: Did you know you can compost your pizza boxes? 🍕💥

This week, we’re highlighting the 2023–2024 cohort of the Resource Recovery Internship Program! This was the year students helped expand campus composting efforts through the pizza box composting pilot and by providing free shredded paper compost bags to faculty and staff. Stay tuned for BIG updates on pizza box composting, and reach out if you’re interested in starting shredded paper composting in your office!

As part of our 10-year celebration, we’re sharing the milestones and stories from each cohort to show the impact more than 350 interns have made on campus and the value of the experience for them. Celebrate with us!

2022-2023: Paper Towels Only ✅

This week, we’re highlighting the 2022–2023 cohort of the Resource Recovery Internship Program! This was the year our paper towel compost program was fully rolled out on campus. This is valuable because paper towels make up on average 10% by weight of waste leaving buildings and play an important role in the composting process by helping balance pH levels. Please be mindful about what you put into restroom bins, as only paper towels can go in.

As part of our 10-year celebration, we’re sharing the milestones and stories from each cohort to show the impact more than 350 interns have made on campus and the value of the experience for them. Celebrate with us!

Notice any changes to the ETC? ♻️ 🔬

We have just added one more building to our Zero Waste Building System! Over the course of two weeks, we optimized waste allocation by adding mini landfill cans to deskside recycling bins, which can be transported to central stations throughout the building! Longhorns are adapting to the future, with increased access to recycling and more efficient, convenient sorting!

Stay tuned for our next project, and reach out with any questions on the new waste collection

2019-2020: Zero Waste Hero Launches 🦹🚀🤩

This week, we’re highlighting the 2019-2020 cohort of the Resource Recovery Internship Program! This was the year students had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of zero waste at UT, our zero waste events team was piloted, and UT began hauling its own compost.

As part of our 10-year celebration, we’re sharing the milestones and stories from each cohort to show the impact more than 350 interns have made on campus and the value of the experience for them. Celebrate with us!

Ever wondered where your donations go? 👀

We toured a local Goodwill Distribution Center to see what actually happens to items after drop-off. Donations that don’t sell at stores move to the outlet to be sold by the pound - $2.19/lb!

Don’t avoid dropping off any single shoes you may have, as Goodwill and its partners around the world work hard to find size, style, and color matches to expand each item’s lifetime! Goodwill maximizes the value of what is donated by operating job and school programs in the Austin community.

We are grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the organization that supports several campus reuse programs, including Surplus ReUse, T2T, and the Campus Computer Store E-waste collection!

2017–2018: Resource Recovery Expands🛍️🗣️

This week, we’re highlighting the 2017–2018 cohort of the Resource Recovery Internship Program! This was the year the Surplus REuse Store was piloted, creating a space for UT and the community to engage directly in waste reduction. Interns also expanded outreach through tabling and presentations, building awareness and participation across campus while launching new composting efforts, including restroom paper towel and breakroom composting.

As part of our 10-year celebration, we’re sharing the milestones and stories from each cohort to show the impact more than 350 interns have made on campus and the value of the experience for them. Celebrate with us!