Analysis of the University Recycling Program

Analysis of the University Recycling Program
Executive summary
Recycling is a social responsibility that should be taken by each institution or organization. We created this program to fulfill this obligation and facilitate recycling throughout the entirety of our University. The key purposes of this business report are to address the current awareness of our University’s recycling program as well as develop and commend specific methods through which more participation can be achieved in the program.
We assessed the University’s recycling habit by conducting a survey. We also used this survey to determine the participation of individuals in the current recycling program. A questionnaire was conducted involving 150 students to collect data for the survey. During this study, only glass, plastic, and paper were covered as they are the only ones in the University’s recycling program.
Findings and ConclusionsAmong those who participated in the survey, a higher percentage confirmed of being actively involved with recycling glass, plastic, and paper both at the University and their respective homes. Additionally, most of them confirmed that they are acquainted with the significance of recycling. Nonetheless, most of these participants affirmed that they were neither informed nor conversant with the University’s recycling program. Many lacked awareness of where bins were located while others acknowledged their dissatisfaction with the locations of the bins. Results from this study confirm that efforts to amplify the involvement in the recycling program are a necessity in the University.

RecommendationsTo boost participation; more advertisement should be conducted; bins should be relocated to convenient places; incentive programs should be developed, and on-campus presentations for issues related to recycling should be established.
Table of Contents
TOC o “1-3” h z u Executive summary PAGEREF _Toc468130279 h 1Findings and Conclusions PAGEREF _Toc468130280 h 1Recommendations PAGEREF _Toc468130281 h 21 Introduction PAGEREF _Toc468130282 h 41.1The University’s Recycling Program PAGEREF _Toc468130283 h 41.2Purpose of this study PAGEREF _Toc468130284 h 41.3Scope of this study PAGEREF _Toc468130285 h 51.4Sources and methods PAGEREF _Toc468130286 h 52.Conclusions PAGEREF _Toc468130287 h 53.Recommendations PAGEREF _Toc468130288 h 64.Findings and discussion PAGEREF _Toc468130289 h 64.1Recycling behaviors of the participants PAGEREF _Toc468130290 h 74.2Active participation in the University recycling program PAGEREF _Toc468130291 h 74.2.1Awareness and the usage of the current bins PAGEREF _Toc468130292 h 84.2.2 Details for not participating PAGEREF _Toc468130293 h 84.2.3Location of recycling bins PAGEREF _Toc468130294 h 9
1 Introduction
Our society has largely been attributed with throwing away things (Cahan, 116). Approximately 14 billion tons of waste are thrown away annually. Approximately 0.2 billion tons of this waste originates from businesses and homes (Holusha). These two areas can be curbed through recycling. More than 70 percent of companies have established waste reduction programs (Schneider). However, this has not completely terminated the problem as yet more than 8 billion tons of plastic are thrown away per year. This amount is enough to produce over 100 million plastic benches (Joldine, 45). The annual volumes have been consistently growing posing a possible threat whereby more than three-quarters of landfills will get filled soon (De Blanc, 33).
Many legislations are being enacted to assist in curbing this problem. For instance, people are being required to separate various waste materials to enhance recycling (Schneider). Product bans and packaging obligations can also be embraced to help in reducing the waste problem (Holusha).
The University’s Recycling Program
Since last year, our University adopted a recycling program aimed at reducing waste disposal through recycling. Bins are strategically placed all around the University to expedite the disposal of the wastes. To make awareness about the program, advertisements and promotions are usually conducted. The program is controlled and regulated by the University’s Students Council.
Purpose of this study
More participation is projected that surpasses all the previous levels of participation. The results emanating from recycling programs becomes evident starting from the first year of operation (De Blanc, 35). Although the recycling program has been running for one year, no significant results have been achieved. As a result, this study was approved to assess how the University community have been using the recycling program and evaluated their awareness. Recommendations constructed from the results of the study will be made.
Scope of this study
The study examines the following:
The attitude of participants towards recycling.
The level of awareness regarding the program.
The willingness of the respondents to recycle.
The apparent positioning suitability of the bins.
The study will focus on plastics, paper, and glass only. No costs were considered in the study as relevance to Steelman, Desmond, and Johnson assertion that the financial benefit of a recycling program is typically recognized after the first year.
Sources and methods
To gather information, we researched on periodicals and newspapers to get an insight of ways in which organizations are encouraging participation in recycling programs. A questionnaire on recycling behaviors was after that created to survey 150 individuals. The questionnaire was self-administered.
Conclusions
Based on the survey findings of the respondents from the University, the conclusions stated below were drawn.
A large percentage of the University’s community practice recycling at their households.
Most of the participants recycle paper and plastic regularly but does not often recycle glass.
A high percentage of the individuals are willing to participate in the recycling program. However, most of these want their participation limited to the University alone.
The rate of awareness is low as only approximately a quarter of the participants were fully aware of the recycling program with only a few having used the recycling bins.
Most of the participants attributed their lack of participation to the inconvenient placement of bins.
Recommendations
In respect to the findings and conclusions gathered from the study, we have come up with a list of recommendations that can be applied towards refining the processes and efficiency of the University recycling program.
Designing of a thrilling and attention-grabbing logo to be used in advertising and promotions to expedite more awareness.
Each bin to be labeled accordingly and placed conveniently around the University.
Acquisition of more bins and their placement in more convenient locations such as the vending machine zones.
Recruitment and training of students to give educational talks to promote participation.
Developing appropriate incentive programs towards achieving the program’s goals.
Findings and discussion
The findings will be put forward in two ways.
Recycling behaviors of the participants.
Active participation in the University recycling program.
Recycling behaviors of the participantsAccording to the research, it was found that most of the participants are agreeable with being involved with recycling voluntarily. More than three-quarters of the participants affirmed that they engage in recycling plastics and papers. Approximately a half of the respondents also indicated they recycle glass. More than 45 percent of the members specified that they regularly recycle all the three types of waste.
From these results, it is very clear and evident that the University participants are familiar with recycling the target wastes constituted in the University program. Additionally, the respondents required ranking each of the three materials by their perceived order of importance. The highest percentage of the participants ranked plastics as being the most important, followed by paper and lastly glasses. The participants were also required to name the materials they recycled in their orders of frequency. Plastics were ranked first, followed by papers and lastly glass.
The participants were asked to tick relevantly on how likely they were to make an extra effort to find the appropriate bin for a specific material. More than 50 percent ticked “somewhat likely,” and only 5 percent choose “not likely.” It shows that the participants are willing to make the effort of finding the specific bin to discard their material.
Active participation in the University recycling programAccording to De Blanc (34), there are certain factors that are crucial in any recycling program. These are:
The bins should be placed in convenient zones.
The users must be made aware of the locations of bins.
The users must be educated on how to use the bins.
We integrated these factors in our study and included some questions in the questionnaires to examine awareness and use of the bins in the University. The study also assessed the causes making users not to participate in the program and issues relating to the perceived suitability of the bins’ sites.
Awareness and the usage of the current bins
During the survey, the participants were inquired regarding their awareness of the bins. Most of the members responded that they were not completely conscious of the recycle bins. The results also showed that the usage of the recycle bins was unsatisfactory. In the cafeterias, only 30 out of a hundred of the persons had utilized the containers, the percentage further reduced to 26 percent for those who had used the bins in the management block. The usage of recycle bins was at its lowest in the classrooms where it was only 8 percent. Even though the recycle bins outside the cafeteria were clearly visible, only 25 percent of the participants had used them. The results indicate that there exists low awareness among the participants regarding the existence of the recycling program. More still, most of the participants have a low tendency of using the bins hence low participations.
4.2.2 Details for not participatingThe participants had varied reasons on why they failed to partake in the University program. Approximately a half of the participants asserted that the containers were not suitable, while 28 percent specified they didn’t even recognize where the recycle baskets were situated. A quarter of the participants affirmed they were not into the idea of recycling.
Location of recycling bins
The participants were asked to rate the convenience of the recycle bins. More than a half specified that the baskets were not suitably situated. Only 10 percent rated that the current location of bins was extremely convenient. During the survey, most of the students preferred that the bins should be located inside the cafeteria.

Works Cited
Cahan, Vicky. “Waste Not, Want Not? Not Necessarily”. Business Week 2008: 116. Print.
De Blanc, S. Paper Recycling: How to Make It Effective. 1st Ed. The Office, 2009. Print.
Holusha, John. “Economic Scene; Mixed Benefits from Recycling.” Nytimes.com. N.p., 2010.Web. 28 Nov. 2016.
Joldine, L and J Davis. The Environment and Canada’s Future. 1st ed. Waterloo, Ontario:Turnaround Decade Ecological Communications. 2016. Print.
Schneider, Keith. “Ideas & Trends; As Recycling Becomes A Growth Industry, Its ParadoxesAlso Multiply.” Nytimes.com. N.p., 2008. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.
Steelman, J.W., S Desmond, and L Johnson. Facing Global Limitations. 1st Ed. New York, NY:Rockford Press. 2008. Print.