Case Study: "Race to Recycle" Competition
Case Study: "Race to Recycle" Competition 8-week Competition Enhanced Recycling and Increased Waste Diversion Background The generation and disposal of solid waste represents one of the largest environmental impacts from office buildings. GSA and EPA New England teamed up to help reduce the environmental footprint of the John F. Kennedy and Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Federal Buildings by launching an eight-week Race to Recycle competition.
Results As a result of this partnership, the JFK building increased their waste diversion rate by 15% while the O'Neill increased their rate by 7%. The total amount of waste diverted from landfills during the race was 29 tons. This equals an almost 3 ton improvement over the established baseline.
Timeframe
Results
Strategies for Success Participants attribute their success to a combination of factors:
April 22 to June 16, 2016
Infrastructure: The event helped spearhead the redesign of recycling bin placement, labeling, and signage.
John F. Kennedy Federal Building: 15% increase in waste diversion rate Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Federal Building: 7% increase in waste diversion rate Improved signage, outreach, and vendor contact helped improve rates
Education: The competition provided a great opportunity to spread the word to all building tenants that the annual recycling rates in both buildings are approximately 46%, and there are many materials which can still be diverted from waste streams.
Communication: The planning for this event improved communications between property managers, building tenants, and recycling vendors, which helped to uncover opportunities for improved recycling and data tracking.
Facilities at a Glance
Partnerships: EPA and GSA forged a productive partnership, each adding their expertise and resources to help plan the event. On the ground, the building’s property managers and Green Team Councils provided the organizational support to address critical details and maintain momentum throughout the competition.
http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/130126
GSA-owned property in downtown Boston Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Federal Building: GSA-owned property downtown Boston Building occupancy: 1939 people John F. Kennedy Federal Building GSA-owned property downtown Boston
Case Study: "Race to Recycle" Competition Process GSA and EPA promoted the recycling program through joint outreach communications at green team meetings, an Earth Day information table, regional email campaigns, fliers, social media posts (Facebook and Twitter) and an awards ceremony. View communications examples here. Agency organizers met for about five hours over several months at green team council and planning meetings in order to organize event communications and logistics before the competition began. Property managers forwarded email message templates to tenant agency leaders in order to announce the competition, and several informational messages after to forward to staff in an effort to build a culture of recycling and generate enthusiasm for the race. Managers also posted fliers in common areas such as lobbies, elevator hallways and cafeterias, and shadow boxes were hung above cafeteria recycling centers.
Fliers were also distributed to tenant agency contacts, who were responsible for posting information in their own offices.
Challenges The most significant challenges to the recycling program include the following: Lack of funding for the project Increasing participation from building occupants Obtaining outside vendor recycling information from the many tenant agencies (Note: Obtaining information such as tons of shredded paper was a critical component to successful data tracking.)
Summary Both GSA and EPA hope to continue its success by working with occupants to encourage recycling in each building, and is evaluating methods to improve rates in the future. Competitions such as this one could help meet or exceed the 50% waste diversion rate set by the recent Executive Order 13693 “Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade.”
About the Federal Green Challenge The Federal Green Challenge, part of EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management Program, is designed to challenge federal agencies throughout the country to lead by example in reducing the federal government's environmental impact. It helps agencies meet obligations under Executive Order 13693. In 2012, nearly 300 federal agencies, representing more than 500,000 employees participated in the Federal Green Challenge. Their combined efforts resulted in an estimated cost savings of more than $31 million to U.S. taxpayers.
For More Information Race to Recycle Competition contacts: Robert Guillemin 617.918.1814 [email protected] Margie Brenner 617.565.6266 [email protected] Anne Fenn 603.512.0284 [email protected]
Federal Green Challenge: http://epa.gov/fgc U.S. General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service, New England Region, Energy and Utilities Branch September 2016
Results As a result of this partnership, the JFK building increased their waste diversion rate by 15% while the O'Neill increased their rate by 7%. The total amount of waste diverted from landfills during the race was 29 tons. This equals an almost 3 ton improvement over the established baseline.
Timeframe
Results
Strategies for Success Participants attribute their success to a combination of factors:
April 22 to June 16, 2016
Infrastructure: The event helped spearhead the redesign of recycling bin placement, labeling, and signage.
John F. Kennedy Federal Building: 15% increase in waste diversion rate Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Federal Building: 7% increase in waste diversion rate Improved signage, outreach, and vendor contact helped improve rates
Education: The competition provided a great opportunity to spread the word to all building tenants that the annual recycling rates in both buildings are approximately 46%, and there are many materials which can still be diverted from waste streams.
Communication: The planning for this event improved communications between property managers, building tenants, and recycling vendors, which helped to uncover opportunities for improved recycling and data tracking.
Facilities at a Glance
Partnerships: EPA and GSA forged a productive partnership, each adding their expertise and resources to help plan the event. On the ground, the building’s property managers and Green Team Councils provided the organizational support to address critical details and maintain momentum throughout the competition.
http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/130126
GSA-owned property in downtown Boston Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Federal Building: GSA-owned property downtown Boston Building occupancy: 1939 people John F. Kennedy Federal Building GSA-owned property downtown Boston
Case Study: "Race to Recycle" Competition Process GSA and EPA promoted the recycling program through joint outreach communications at green team meetings, an Earth Day information table, regional email campaigns, fliers, social media posts (Facebook and Twitter) and an awards ceremony. View communications examples here. Agency organizers met for about five hours over several months at green team council and planning meetings in order to organize event communications and logistics before the competition began. Property managers forwarded email message templates to tenant agency leaders in order to announce the competition, and several informational messages after to forward to staff in an effort to build a culture of recycling and generate enthusiasm for the race. Managers also posted fliers in common areas such as lobbies, elevator hallways and cafeterias, and shadow boxes were hung above cafeteria recycling centers.
Fliers were also distributed to tenant agency contacts, who were responsible for posting information in their own offices.
Challenges The most significant challenges to the recycling program include the following: Lack of funding for the project Increasing participation from building occupants Obtaining outside vendor recycling information from the many tenant agencies (Note: Obtaining information such as tons of shredded paper was a critical component to successful data tracking.)
Summary Both GSA and EPA hope to continue its success by working with occupants to encourage recycling in each building, and is evaluating methods to improve rates in the future. Competitions such as this one could help meet or exceed the 50% waste diversion rate set by the recent Executive Order 13693 “Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade.”
About the Federal Green Challenge The Federal Green Challenge, part of EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management Program, is designed to challenge federal agencies throughout the country to lead by example in reducing the federal government's environmental impact. It helps agencies meet obligations under Executive Order 13693. In 2012, nearly 300 federal agencies, representing more than 500,000 employees participated in the Federal Green Challenge. Their combined efforts resulted in an estimated cost savings of more than $31 million to U.S. taxpayers.
For More Information Race to Recycle Competition contacts: Robert Guillemin 617.918.1814 [email protected] Margie Brenner 617.565.6266 [email protected] Anne Fenn 603.512.0284 [email protected]
Federal Green Challenge: http://epa.gov/fgc U.S. General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service, New England Region, Energy and Utilities Branch September 2016
