The document discusses the University of San Diego's e-waste recycling program. It began in 2011 as a way to address the growing problem of e-waste and provide environmental education. Since then, the program has collected nearly 200,000 pounds of e-waste, helping to keep hazardous materials out of landfills while generating revenue through resale of usable items. The program provides hands-on learning for students and helps promote sustainability on campus and in the local community.

1. Creating a Socially
Responsible
Revenue Stream
for Sustainability
University of
San Diego
Michael Catanzaro
Paula Morreale

2. 2
• Catholic Private University founded in 1949
• Campus Size: 180 Acres; 84 Buildings
• Total Students: 7,832
• 369 full-time faculty and 432 part-time; over 60 degree
offerings
• 10:1 student to faculty ratio
University of San Diego

3. How many of
you have old
electronics at
your house?
QuestionHow many of you have old electronics at your house?

4. How many
pounds of e-
waste is
disposed of
each year in
the U.S.?
Question• 330,000 tons
• 3.3 million tons
• 33 million tons

5. What
percentage of
e-waste is
recycled?
Question• 20%
• 33%
• 50%

6. How many cell
phones are
replaced
worldwide each
month?
What
percentage are
recycled?
Question• 5 million
• 50 million
• 500 million

7. How many
different
iPods are
there?
Question

8. • 2001- 2010: 275 million iPods
sold
• More than 20 different iPods
since 2001

9. Agenda
 E-Waste in the US and the World
 What we’ve done (why we’ve done it)
 Operational Details of USD E-Waste
 Considerations of Partners
 Lessons Learned
 Call to Action

10. We want to tell you our story…
 We saw a problem and an opportunity
 E-waste was piling up in people’s homes, they
didn’t know what to do with it or worse
throwing it away
 We wanted to fix this problem
 This is better than fixing the problem- we are
educating USD students and the community
 Since we started, resources available in
community have increased exponentially
 Connects to USD’s values in every way
 Here’s our story…

11. What is electronic waste?
 Obsolete electronic products
• Known as:
 e-waste
 end of life
electronics (EOL)
 waste electronic
and electrical
equipment (WEEE)
(pikeresearch.com

12. How much e-waste is there?
 E-waste is the fastest growing municipal
waste stream in the US
 Approximately 2.37 million tons of electronics
were ready for end-of-life management,
representing an increase of more than a
120% compared to 1999 and there is still no
mandated solution for e-waste
 In 2008 the number of connected devices
equaled the number of people on the planet
Data from epa.gov

13. Problem
 People do not typically throw their e-waste away
because they know it’s bad for the environment
 Approximately 70% of all electronics produced in
the last 10 years are sitting in people’s homes,
garages and drawers
 When it is disposed of incorrectly it creates
pollution, plastics can leech
 There are international repercussions from
improperly disposed of e-waste that ends up in
China and then becomes a social justice and
health issue
Data from epa.gov

14. FULL STORY: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5274959n
60 Minutes (China)

15. Traditional Waste Disposal
 Linear process
 75% of e-waste is processed this way
 Problematic
 Hazardous

16. Why is e-waste different?
 Contains both valuable and hazardous
materials

17. E-Waste Recycling
Product
Collection
Reusable?
Sellable?
Dismantling
Process…
Recycling
Hazardous Materials

18.  One metric ton of electronic scrap from personal c
omputers contains more gold than that recovered
from mining 17 metric tons of gold ore
(USGS, 2001)
Environmental
Considerations
=
17 tons
1 ton

19. Current Trends: Volume Generation
 Why?
Quantity of EOL Electronics in the U.S.
(US EPA, 2009)

21. Unregulated flow of e-waste
Market Condition
Cont’d

22. A call to action USD
student

24. Solution?

25. Mission Statement
The University of San Diego supports recycling
and re-using electronic waste, which limits
pollution and reduces the need to mine for raw
material. Our E-Waste Collection Center
provides a socially and environmentally
sustainable service to our community. Our
nonprofit organization strives to keep all e-
waste in California as it is recycled safely,
securely, and responsibly. All proceeds from this
collection center go back to the office of
sustainability to promote sustainability.
USD E-Waste
Center

26.  Created a free drop-off location for San Diego
residents and businesses to utilize to dispose
of electronic waste in an environmentally and
socially responsible way
 This center is a service to the community and
connects to the growing changemaker values of
Ashoka and the social entrepreneurial movement
on campus
What has USD Done?

27.  We had no idea what we were getting into!
 Second major “business” that was collecting
 City collected but only once or twice a month
 Only e-waste collection center open more than
once a week in San Diego.
 Since we’ve been open there are at least 6 other
significant competitors
When we opened

29. Accomplishments to Date
 Opened first full-time collection center on a
college campus in the nation
 June 2011 front page of Union Tribune
 Almost 200,000 pounds collected
 More than 2,000 visitors in 17 months of
operation
 Started local business pick-ups (Summer
2012)
 Deemed an Approved Collector (October 2012)

31.  $120,000 per month of free advertising
 Connection to the classroom
 Real experience for business students
 Measureable results

32. The USD Difference:
 We collect ALL e-waste
 Computers, cell phones, tv’s, etc. (EASY)
 Easily sold/repurposed- creates revenue
 Batteries, toner, light bulbs (NOT SO EASY)
 Hazardous materials that can cost as much as
$4.00 per pound to dispose of

33. The USD Difference:
 Sell usable e-waste to give products
second life
 Life cycle energy use of a computer is dominated by pro
duction (81%) as opposed to operation (19%)
(Environmental Science & Technology, 2004)
 Microsoft Refurbish Program
 Classroom Connection

34. E-Waste Learning
Laboratory
 Slides from this presentation borrowed from
senior environmental studies student who helped
found the center- she made this her senior thesis
project (all the technical stuff)
 Industrial Engineering completed a
comprehensive efficiency study to help us
understand how to maximize our ROI
 Communication class developed our mission
statement and commercials for the web
 Social Entrepreneur Course provided inputs on
potential business opportunities
 First full-time employee from this class

35. Triple Bottom Line
 Economic
 Revenue generator
 Environmental
 Responsible disposal
 Social

36. Social
 TRACE Program
 Interaction with the San Diego Community
 Engagement with local high schools
 Coming soon? Partnerships with Industry
 Recycling it the proper way and not
endangering people’s health

37. Operational Snapshot
 1 full-time employee (hired in June)
 6-9 part-time student employees
 5% of Michael’s time
 15% of Paula’s time
 1 unpaid intern each semester

38. Financial Break-down
Past 4 months (June – Sept) Current Projected (if
business as usual)
Operation Cost per month $4,000 $1,900
Average Income per
month (recycling and
reselling)
$2,379 $2,379
Average pounds collected
per month
11,714 11,714
Average income per
pound
$0.17 $0.17
Net Income -$1,621 + $479

39. Traffic
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AUG.'11 SEPT.'11 OCT.'11 NOV.'11 DEC.'11 JAN.'12 FEB.'12 MAR.'12 APR.'12 MAY'12 JUNE'12 JULY'12 AUG.'12 SEPT.'12

40. Product Collection
 We need to double the amount of e-waste we
collect or get more business pick-ups if we
want to start making a profit (and keep a full-
time staff person)
 Targeted Marketing
 Business Partnerships
 Collection events with local schools
 Re-sell e-waste to give second life and get
more then just recycling

41. Not just Recycle: Re-sell or
Reuse
 Potential opportunities
 Craigslist/E-Bay
 Cell phones – sell at low price to non-profits
 When we’re profitable we’ll be able to give away
 Put useable computers back in classrooms:
 Lower income schools in local area
 Schools abroad (Jamaica)
 Sell to new and returning students

42. Recycler necessities
 All e-waste kept domestically
 Recycler certifications:
 R2/RIOS
 ISO
 E-Steward
 Follow NAID or D of D standards for hard drive
wiping
 Recycler is willing to have random
audits/visits to make sure they are following
proper standards

43. Steps you can take
Find a space on campus to open a full time
collection center
Find a recycler with proper certifications
willing to help you set up the collection
center
Register with the DTSC and any state
certifications
Work with IT, Procurement, EHS
departments

44. Steps you can take
 Reach out to local community
 Businesses
 Schools
 Residents
 Educate and promote
 Get students on campus involved and be
cheerleaders for e-waste center
 Work with Residential areas to collect e-waste at
move-out
 If you build it, they will come

45. Discussion
 What is your level of interest in starting your
own program?
 Are there other questions about topics we
couldn’t cover?
 Would there be interest in starting a coalition
amongst universities?

46. Contact info:
University of San Diego
E-Waste Collection Center
Michael Catanzaro
Michael5@sandiego.edu
Paula Morreale
paula-09@sandiego.edu
www.sandiego.edu/ewaste