METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction

This research has been undertaken as a case study, to evaluate zero waste management process at Turitea campus, Massey University. Underpinning this project is the idea that implementing routine waste and recycling auditing should be part of evaluating existing and designing new development in zero waste management at Massey. This project provided an opportunity to trial a waste and recycling auditing procedure which had been specifically developed for the Massey University context and to then use the findings to make recommendations about how the recycling collection infrastructure and programme as a whole might be improved. Trial I of this research operated as a pilot trial after which a number of improvements were made which are described in the results chapter. In addition to this a number of other minor changes were made during Trial II and III in order ensure that the best possible data would be collected. Trial IV focused on the location of the student hostels in order to provide a clear picture to RFM about how effectively the recycling facilities were functioning.

As a result of the collaboration with RFM a brief report of the research findings was created in order to provide them with information in relation to the Turitea campus and the student hostels (see Appendix I). The briefing report was based upon two parts. Part I describes the basic waste and recycling infrastructure across the campus, alongside the key findings from auditing the waste and recycling programme. This baseline report was presented in a meeting with Massey’s Facilities Management staff. As a result of the discussion and feedback, further research questions were identified and additional work was undertaken. This second body of work forms Part II and presents the key findings from the audit of the recycling and waste in the student hostels, as well as addressing the required volumetric component for this project. It was also requested that this report be presented to the Massey Sustainable Development steering committee, as it is an input into the redevelopment of the current waste and recycling infrastruture at Turitea campus.

Waste and recycling auditing involves physically sorting and classifying heterogeneous mixture of recyclable, unrecyclable, and organic materials. This provides quantification of: a- the recyclables in the solid waste stream, and b- the waste and other contamination in the recycling stream. For the first, this would involve materials that should be in recycling bins being disposed of in waste bins that go to landfill. Alternatively contamination of recyclables can involve the wrong category of recyclable or non-recyclable materials being placed in the bin. These findings shed light of the awareness levels and nature of participation of the university community in on-campus recycling (Timlett & Williams, 2008).

3.2 Location of Study

The study was undertaken at Turitea campus, Massey University. This study focused on certain places within the university campus namely the concourse area, in between library, the student-dining hall, staff common room for trials I, II and III; and student accommodation or hostels for trial IV (see Figure 3 below).

In the sample area, the waste audit could then be undertaken. The audit consisted of the selection of the many waste bins located on the campus. The location chosen for the study (the concourse and dining hall) was identified because it is recognised as a high use area (an area of high waste and recycling production generated by the university community), and is also high profile in terms of demonstrating the recycling bin cluster system. Following is Figure 6, an aerial photograph map that provides an overview of the area from where the sample bins were selected.

Figure 6, Site location of study.

3.3 Survey Period

The process of conducting waste auditing in this study consists of four trials. Each trial consisted of a one week period of time. Furthermore, each trial represents a comparable point during semester one and two where all students are around on campus and during summer school where there are few students. The survey periods for this study were selected in order to deal with the pattern of waste disposal which is directly related to the number of students and staff present on campus throughout the year. It was necessary to consider this pattern to be ‘seasonal’ as it varies throughout the year but stays the same when considered on a year to year basis. The survey periods selected aim to give a representation of a typical year with this seasonal pattern in mind. This also allows for the data collected to show an accurate representation of what can be expected at high-generation periods, which is an important consideration when redesigning existing waste and recycling disposal systems. Concourse & Dining hall Massey University, Turitea Campus, Palmerston North Student Hostels

The waste audit took place:

Trial I – 25th – 29th January, 2010; summer semester = decreased student density.

Trial II – 13th -17th September, 2010; second semester = high student density. Trial III – 29th November – 3rd December 2010; summer semester = decreased student density.

Trial IV – 7th – 11th March 2011; first semester = high student density.

3.4 Research Method

Conducting a waste and recycling audit is a useful way to investigate the effectiveness of the waste management systems in an institution (McCartney 2003; Smyth, Fredeen et al. 2010). The process of undertaking a waste audit in this study consisted of several steps. The following is a detailed description of the steps and process of conducting waste audit in this study.

3.4.1 Waste Auditing

The method of conducting waste audit in this study is comprised of several steps. The steps are as follow;

1. Scoping or choosing the site location.

2. Selecting the sample bins based on the high production of waste and systematic random sampling.

3. Consultation with key staff at Massey.

4. Identifying the equipment required to undertake the waste audit. 5. The quantification of waste material.

6. Analysing data.

Following is a detailed elaboration of each of the above steps.

3.4.1.1 The Locations, Types and Sizes of the Bin Codes

Prior to undertaking the recycling and waste audit process at Massey’s Turitea campus, there were several factors which needed to be taken into consideration with regards to planning. The key planning considerations were determining the site location; the size of the bin used for the audit process; talking to everyone involved to

find out the necessary information; finding a place to sort the materials; finding out how often rubbish bins were emptied and making sure that the bins were not emptied prior to doing the audit.

At present Massey uses a variety of different types of bins around the campus. Each bin is designed for a different purpose and this is reflected in the characteristics and size of each bin. This diverse variety of bins also reflects that the overall systam has been expanded in a number of phases, as need required it. These bins range from rather small to extremely large (see Figure 7). These bin types and their locations are described in the following section.

Figure 7, Samples of bins audited in this study.

B