Waste Management

Argonne’s waste management strategy focuses on waste minimization, recycling and material substitution. These efforts save money, increase regulatory compliance, improve efficiency and benefit the environment. Waste management initiatives include:

• All-in-one recycling to allow paper, plastic, metal and glass to be comingled in one recycling bin
• Solid waste characterization to identify opportunities for diverting more waste from landfills
• Electronics recycling for all campus e-waste.
• Composting of organic material including cafeteria food scrap, landscape waste and paper towels
• Recycling construction and demolition waste from building, roadway and site improvement projects
• Site-wide programs for recycling batteries, light-bulbs, scrap metal and obsolete equipment
• Water fountain upgrades to reduce plastic waste and promote tap water.
   

Argonne is on track to achieve our goal of 50% waste diversion of non-hazardous material by 2025.

Green Purchasing

Argonne’s works to purchase goods and services that are both cost effective and environmentally sensitive. Our program supports federal green procurement requirements which include purchasing products that are:

• Energy- and water-efficient
• Bio-based
• Contain recycled content
• Environmentally preferable
• Non-ozone depleting
• Non-toxic or less-toxic alternative
   

Argonne actively tracks green purchasing progress and works to improve efforts each year. Our current priorities to improve green purchasing include:

• Implementing new policies, programs, and training that increase staff awareness and accessibility to sustainable products
• Providing resources that make it easy for purchasers to find information about green products and services
• Engaging with our providers of goods and services to increase their availability and communication of offerings that meet our goals