Diversion Excursion CSU, Chico

1. Diversion Excursion CSU, Chico A Joint ‘Move-Out’ program: University Housing and Food Service Grounds Department (UHFS) Associated Students Recycling Department (ASR)

2. What is Diversion Excursion? • DE is designed to divert reusable and recyclable materials from the landfill and educate residents. We collect the following: • Clothes, linens, food, detergent, computers, appliances, dishes, clean furniture, office and school supplies, recycling and more! • During DE, nine tables are set up outside of the following residence halls: • Shasta, Lassen, Whitney, Esken, Mechoopda and off campus at University Village • Konkow Hall is small so it is set up with a ‘self serve drop off station’ • Volunteers work a two hour shift at the tables and collect materials from the residents as they move out of their rooms.  • What is trash to one resident is reusable or recyclable in the eyes of our volunteers.

3. History • Diversion method prior to DE • Grounds staff would salvage what they could, but the volume was too great • Dumpster divers at night • Fall 2000 Student Interest-Annie Sherman • One very passionate and determined person! • Partnership Created • University Housing and Food Service Grounds Department • Associated Students Recycling Department • DE started May 2001 • We improve our efficiency annually

4. Players • University Housing and Food Service Grounds Department • Associated Students Recycling Department • Risk Management • Provides Waiver of liability form • Professors • Some offer class credit • Allow time for Class talks for recruitment • Student Involvement • Two paid student interns • Over 100 Volunteers • Funding from student organizations • Other • City of Chico Nor Cal Waste Management Charities • Northern Star Mills Campus Conservation Committee

5. DE Collection Table Locations • 5 Residence Halls- On Campus • Whitney Hall, 272 rooms/544 students • Shasta Hall, 110 rooms/210 students • Lassen Hall, 110 rooms/210 students • Esken Hall, 60 rooms/112 students • Mechoopda Hall, 64 rooms/120 students • Self Serve table @ Konkow hall 90 residents (no volunteers) Approximately 1286 residents • University Village Apt. Complex– Off campus • 25 buildings, 614 residents 1900 TOTAL residents served

6. When is DE? • Pre-planning • Hire interns in mid-December • Begin funding application process in January • Begin weekly meetings Jan/Feb • Create a durable Program notebook for both staff members, interns, shop locations and each collection table (15 notebooks) • Actual Event • Last 2 days of spring semester finals week in May • Thursday and Friday 10-6 • Early move out toters placed in each lobby one week prior and emptied daily by the grounds staff who sort and deliver when enough donations are collected (approximately 7 early truck deliveries)

7. PR Elements • Paper advertising • Posters, 11x17 – Same design each year, only the dates change • Table Tents for dining tables • Hand made posters on cardboard, tri-fold display and sandwich boards • Tee-shirts - Organic • Same design each year • Information Tables • In the BMU lobby, GreenDance Film Festival, Eco-fest • Word of Mouth • Live-in staff and other volunteers • Print Media • campus paper, Thank you ad in local city paper • Meetings • Weekly for DE staff, two volunteer meetings, class talks

8. What is Accepted? • Clean & Not Broken • Everything we can find a resource for: • Non-perishable food, partially used toiletries (detergents, soap, shampoo) linen, clothing, shoes, stationary • Text books, office supplies, books, school supplies, binders, paper • Household items, accessories, furniture, electronics, bikes, sports gear, stuffed animals, toys, dishes, feminine supplies, hair bobbles, first aid kits, back packs, picnic supplies, shower caddies • Foam bed pads • construction materials – cinder blocks, shelving • Computers and computer components • Magazines, used paper, aluminum, glass, plastic

9. Who Gets the Goods? Local Charities • ARC Thrift Store – They provide 2 large vans for both days! • Assists disabled citizens • Esplanade House • Transitional Housing organization • Torres Homeless shelter • Provides some food and over night sleeping quarters • Computers to Classrooms • Refurbishes and recycles all computer components • Square Deal Mattress Factory This is not a ‘free thing’ program; volunteers are discouraged from keeping items that are destined for these charities.

10. Diversion • Difficult to Track without a scale • In 2006 we were able to weigh each truck load at a local feed store prior to deliver • Including the 2 ARC vans after each pick up • All deliveries are tracked for weight and location • Total weights diverted since • 2006 – 16,566 pounds • 2007 – 17,372.6 pounds

11. Program Costs • One Time Costs: $2,150 • 3 Shade tents -$500 • 9 Vinyl Banners -$1,000 • Collection bins -$2,150 – (48) medium sized crates • Re-usable laminated labels, $100 • Annual Costs: $4516.33 • Two student interns: $907.50 • 55 hours each at $8.25/hr • PR Materials: $2701.33 • Graphics including Organic Tee shirts - Ad in city paper - $1623.00 • Refreshments: $325.00 • 2 volunteer pizza meetings and snacks on two days of actual event ** periodic other expenses are incurred such as additional shade tents or crates

12. Funding Sources • University Housing & Food Service • Intern wages, some printing and laminating • Gloves, string, tape, markers, cutters and other supplies for each table • Associated Students Recycling Department • Some printing • Storage and organization of laminated signs and crates • Nor Cal Waste Management Systems • Donates 30 large toters for early move out and for additional recycling • ARC Thrift Store • Donates the use of two large vans • Campus Student Organizations and other • A.S. Activity Fee Council • UHFS Residence Hall Association • Campus Conservation Committee – oversees AB 75 • City of Chico pays for thank you ad in local paper

13. Key Elements! • Administrative Support • Full time staff means you don’t re-write the book annually • Department agrees to fill in financial blanks • Student & Staff Enthusiasm • Instrumental for volunteer recruitment • Catchy Name & Theme • Allows for name recognition for recruiting sophomores (previous residence) • Name notoriety increases Intern applicants! • Student Interns • Essential for completing small details, class talks and recruiting volunteers • EARLY organization and planning! • Start early and plan each detail thoroughly for two smooth running days • Create enough DE MANUALS for each area – durable and reusable • Good Communication • Decision making is shared through meetings and emails • Fun • You will be exhausted and have a very content feeling once it is over!

14. Back of Lassen Hall

15. Back of Shasta; notice some sites are more organized than others

16. Whitney hall serves as the main sign in station for all campus volunteers*Class credit, volunteer sign in sheets, and T-shirts

17. Beautiful signs attract attentionThese are kept year after year unless damaged

18. Main entrance Whitney Hallvery organized and tidy

19. University VillageTennis court station- Head table for volunteer sign-in and T-shirts

20. Mechoopda front entrancenotice the Tri-fold display board 2007 – There was one for each location

21. Signage and toters for early Move-out collections. Signs improve each year!

22. Friday morning chaos in the ground shop.Getting ready to set up all over again!

23. Grounds shop on an ‘Early Move-Out’ morning. Everything will be delivered once the lobby toters are emptied.

24. Very cluttered! In 2006 the grounds shop was gutted of tools to make room for DE

25. One full truck load!

26. Off to Computers to Classrooms

27. The ARC Thrift store van mid-day

28. A small load of foam pads!

29. Contact Luisa Garza Lead Grounds Worker C.S.U Chico University Housing and Food Service 530-898-4039 lgarza@csuchico.edu Robyn DiFalco AS Recycling Coordinator C.S.U. Chico Associated Students 530-898-5033 Rdifalco@csuchico.edu