ASU’s Zero Waste department is a team of seven working with the aim of making the University zero waste by 2025, providing ASU with a holistic approach to waste management through promoting proper refusal, reduction and recycling of waste. To achieve this goal, the Zero Waste department has implemented recycling and composting programs that aid the community in proper disposal of materials in an environmentally conscious manner. Generally, zero waste refers to the effort to divert waste from landfills and to ethically reduce volume and toxicity of waste.
“Our role is to guide and inform the University’s strategy toward zero waste and advise stakeholders who have scope of authority over their space,” said Kendon Jung, a program manager within the Zero Waste department who oversees marketing and communications. There are two main components within the department: a heavy operations team and an engagement team. The heavy operations team oversees the day-to-day operations, such as compost and recycling collection. The engagement team deals in large-scale projects and consults on how to reduce waste, including special events like Green Games.
Zero Waste oversees waste management across ASU’s campuses along with specialty collection sites on each campus that the operation team services. Waste collection includes compost, hard-to-recycle items, bulk cardboard and soft plastics. The collected wastes are put into a centralization point where a vendor will pick it up or the team will take to the vendor.