the new msu Surplus store and recycling center

In January 2008, the MSU Board of Trustees authorized the creation of a new recycling facility to be located west of Farm Lane in the service district, which will triple the amount of materials currently being recycled. A new comprehensive recycling program, coupled with the new facility, will allow the university to expand recycling collection in all buildings. Currently 14 percent of the white and mixed office paper, newspaper, cardboard and plastics are diverted from the landfill through the recycling program and the capture rate of these five materials is projected to double by 2010.

Currently, MSU ships all of the recycled material it collects in loose boxes that have to be processed by whoever recieves them. The new facility will enable materials to be sorted and shipped in bulk. By processing the materials at MSU, they can be sold at a higher price to recycling facilities.

Find out more from the New Facility FAQ, including a map of where the facility is located.

Latest Pictures

The new facility is scheduled to open in the summer of 2009. Here are some of the latest pictures of the facility as it is being built:

ARTIST's RENDERING of completed project

How big is it?
The new facility will be 70,000 square feet. The building will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified, and will include a truck scale; exterior storage areas for compost, concrete and metal scrap; and space for roll-off and semi-trailer storage containers.

How much will it cost?
The new Surplus Store/Recycling Center will cost approximately $13.3 million Surplus Store/Recycling Center and will pay for itself in 12 years.

What’s going to be included?
The new facility will be home to the Surplus Store, the Recycling offices, an Education Center, as well as storage.

What will the facility recycle?
The facility will accommodate three times the amount of materials the current center handles and is expected to divert 28 percent of the five key materials (white, mixed, and newspaper, #1 & #2 plastics, and cardboard) from trash landfills by 2010, which is double the current output.

Will there be a public drop-off?
There will be a public drop-off for MSU employees and students when the facility is up and running.