Michigan State University awarded for recycling, surplus reuse efforts

May 20, 2010

Free Press Staff

Michigan State University said today its Surplus Store and Recycling Center earned the Recycler of the Year award from the Michigan Recycling Coalition.

Opened in 2009, the $13 million, 74,000-square-foot center houses the MSU Surplus Store; recycling operations, offices and education center; storage areas for MSU departmental use, compost and metal scrap; a truck scale and space for roll-off and semi-trailer storage containers.

In a news release, MSU said that the center contains recycled green glass mixed in the concrete around the building; rainwater collection that provides 60 percent of filtered water for toilets, urinals and power washers; and rooftop solar panels that produce 10% of the building’s electricity.

MSU’s environmental goals by 2015 include reducing waste by 30%, energy consumption by 15% and greenhouse gas emissions by 15%.