Johns Hopkins University Is a Leader in Many Ways: Add to That List, "A Leader in Recycling and Sustainability" During the past year the question regarding Johns Hopkins University's recycling program has changed from, "Does Johns Hopkins really recycle?" to "What has Johns Hopkins done to place it at the forefront of institutional recycling in Maryland?" The university has made many changes to the recycling program since the arrival of its environmental and recycling specialist, Richard Abraham in May 2007. Many of the initial changes were fundamental, and the university is continuing to make program enhancements, and to raise the bar on its own recycling performance. The old program is but a shadow of the university's new, robust recycling enterprise. To appreciate where the university is as a Maryland leader in recycling, it is important to understand where the university recycling program was less than a year ago. Observers of the old program saw that: - The program was staffed with employees who lacked sufficient training
- The recycling process and procedures for collecting, transporting and handling recyclables were inefficient
- The university lacked the equipment it needed to run the program professionally
- The process of handling recyclables and trash included placing it in plastic bags on the ground outside campus buildings for pick up
Steadily over the past year the university has made significant improvements to its recycling program. The following are some key areas where the recycling program has progressed: - All recycling and waste handlers have been extensively trained on our recycling mission, the process, and safe handling of recycling and solid waste; training is continuing
- The process of collecting, transporting and handling recycling and trash has been significantly improved
- One central campus recycling location and two central campus trash locations have been established with state-of-the-art compaction, baling, and lifting equipment to efficiently and safely handle the university's recycling and waste streams
- Gradually, the university is moving toward placing all recycling and trash bags into wheeled containers with lids (called toters) in lieu of placing bags on the ground. This is an aesthetic improvement to our campus
- Several large campus buildings that were not following a formal recycling program a year ago are now fully involved in recycling programs
- The university has changed recycling companies and is receiving top dollar for its recyclables, which is being used to expand the recycling program even further
- Richard Abraham, our environmetal and recycling specialist is visiting his colleagues at other major institutions to both learn and teach in a free exchange of ideas in our pursuit of recycling best practices
We are proud of the ways our university recycling program has grown, and the improvements we have achieved. We will continue to keep you informed on our progress toward our goal of becoming a national recycling leader among institutions of higher learning. 
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