Last month Gossett sent 619 surveys to a randomly selected group of employees; 220 (35 percent) were returned.
"Although the results were pretty much what I had expected, I was surprised by the heavy volume of newspaper on campus," Gossett said. "But it was no surprise that paper in general was one of the most heavily generated products."
Gossett said the survey was crucial in her efforts to get a feel for the recycling needs of the campus and to learn the different recycling and waste disposal characteristics of the various campus buildings. "It was absolutely critical for me to be aware of these kinds of characteristics before we start planning a comprehensive recycling program," she said. "I also hope the survey has generated some interest in recycling among the employees."
The existing Emory Recycles program, created in 1990, includes recycling facilities for white paper located in most campus buildings, as well as several drop-off sites for aluminum, glass and newspaper recycling. A small facility for scrap metal recycling was designated recently in the Facilities Management area.
In addition to her goal of making Emory Recycles more comprehensive and convenient for the Emory community, Gossett also wants to create recycling education programs for faculty, staff and students. With the completion of the survey, she plans to begin work on a plan to achieve those goals. --Dan Treadaway