Case Study on White Paper Recycling at Oklahoma State University

Abstract

This study describes the state of the paper recycling program at OSU, Stillwater campus. A waste stream analysis was conducted for 3 buildings on campus that represented distinct areas of waste generation (academic, administrative, mixed-use buildings). In addition, this study includes a survey of recycling knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of campus personnel. Chi-square goodness-of-fit analyses were used to test the relationship between demographic variables and recycling knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. The percentages of white paper found in the waste stream were as follows: 32.53% of academic waste, 40.63% of administrative waste, and 8.1% of mixed-use waste. The percentages of all recyclable paper products in the representative waste stream were as follows: 55.5% of the academic building waste, 59% in the administrative building waste, and 25.8% of the mixed-use building waste. Eight survey questions regarding respondents' current recycling knowledge, attitudes and behaviors versus their educational level produced valid responses.