Zero Waste
The Sustainability Office strives to engage the campus community and beyond in zero waste initiatives. Macalester currently uses the definition of zero waste as prescribed by the Zero Waste International Alliance. According to this definition, Macalester will be considered Zero Waste when the college regularly diverts 90% of all waste from a landfill or incinerator. Since implementing campus-wide composting in 2014, our campus diversion rates have improved from a 19.1% diversion rate in 2007 to a high of just over 80% in 2015 and 2016. The following is a list of current efforts the campus is doing to strive towards the goal of zero waste:
Ramsey County Zero Waste A to Z Green Guide
How Macalester College is Building A Waste Free Campus
To divert waste from landfills and contribute to environmental justice, Macalester sets the goal of being a zero-waste campus. There are so many ways to reduce, reuse, and properly sort your waste on campus, and Ella DeMay ’24 and Jenna Hawkes ’25 are here to show you how to stay sustainable at Macalester.
How Macalester College is Building A Waste Free Campus
To divert waste from landfills and contribute to environmental justice, Macalester sets the goal of being a zero-waste campus. There are so many ways to reduce, reuse, and properly sort your waste on campus, and Ella DeMay ’24 and Jenna Hawkes ’25 are here to show you how to stay sustainable at Macalester.
Waste Reduction Resources
Steps Taken Toward Zero Waste
- Implementing campus-wide composting
- Switching to compostable dishware and utensils for single-use needs
- Offering specialty recycling for items such as styrofoam, e-waste, padded mailing envelopes, plastic bags, and rechargeable batteries
- Creating the Mac Free Swap
- Producing a Zero Waste Event Guide
- Starting the SustainaCup program, providing free menstrual cups to all students who request one
- Supporting food recovery from our dining services
- Offering Sustainable Scot Training to all incoming students during Orientation to introduce them to zero waste and other sustainability and environmental justice efforts on campus
- Collaborating with the Post Landfill Action Network to create a new zero waste strategic plan that moves beyond diversion rates toward broader systems change needed for true sustainability and environmental justice
- Sponsoring Macalester students for the Zero Waste Atlas Fellowship
- Partnering with mutual aid organizations in the Twin Cities to find new homes for items donated during Move-Out
- Partnering with Facilities Services and Bon Appétit to implement a reusable take-out container program in Café Mac