Berea College is transitioning to solar powered trash compactors and eliminating many dumpsters on campus.
Three solar-powered trash compactors will allow the college to remove 40 dumpsters. This will both beautify the college as well as reduce the environmental harm caused by waste removal.
Instead of collecting waste every 3-5 days from traditional dumpsters, compacted waste can be hauled away every 3-4 weeks. This reduces the fossil fuels used in transport and reduces costs for the college. The units also allow waste to be weighed and recorded, giving the college data to explore further ways to reduce and eliminate waste.
This project affirms the college’s commitment to “maintain a residential campus and to encourage in all member of the community a way of life characterized by plain living…” as stated in the college’s Great Commitments, a mission statement. The college’s contemporary expression of this commitment is evident in numerous ecologically friendly and sustainable projects, including the construction of a new 42,000 square foot “Deep Green” residence hall, adjacent to Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant and monitoring energy usage on campus to meet the ACUPCC (American College & University President’s Climate Commitment) goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from campus operations and to promote sustainability as a role model for the community as well as students.