Greenwaste

CSULB is situated on 324 acres of property that requires year-round attention to the landscaped grounds. Recycling programs are in place to recover the trimmings that are generated during maintenance efforts.

Sixty acres of turf are maintained throughout the campus, ranging from large athletic fields to small pockets of grass in between buildings. The vast majority of turf is grasscycled (cuttings are left directly on the lawn to breakdown), leaving nearly 400 tons of grass clippings in place annually that do not have to be collected.

Tree trimmings, leaves, brush, and street sweepings are brought to a central location at the field house and loaded into roll-off containers for offsite recycling. Some tree trimmings and branches are shredded and used onsite as mulch.

Where Does It Go?

Greenwaste from CSULB is taken to a local processor where it is shredded in a tub grinder and used for a variety of uses, including fuel for power plants (50%), alternative daily cover at landfills (40%), and compost (10%).

Did You Know?

Lawns can generate 300 pounds of grass clippings per 1000 square feet annually - as much as 6 1/2 tons per acre each year. Grass clippings are too valuable to throw away, as they add beneficial organic matter to the soil, providing a natural fertilizer to produce healthy green lawns. Grasscycling also reduces mowing time since the bagging and disposal of clippings is eliminated.
Source: CalRecycle