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Step 3: Deciding on the Program Scope and Scale
You should not expect to generate sufficient income from the sale of recyclables to operate the program, so you may need to secure support for starting up and maintaining the recycling program. The findings from your research should help you decide whether to contract with an outside company to provide recycling services, or set up a campus-based, self-run system that collects, sorts, processes and markets the materials. Of course, there are "hybrid" programs that include public/private partnerships.

Decide the type of program that will work best for your campus. The most convenient collection system from the point of participation provides bins in classrooms, dorms, dining services, lounges, and other places where students and staff congregate. On the other hand, bins have to be emptied by campus staff, student workers or volunteers. A poorly operated program is the worst public relations for recycling on campus! Its better to start small - with one or two collection points - than to develop something large that cannot be well maintained.

Decide what materials you will collect. This decision should be made based on available markets, quantities of materials generated on campus, ability to handle and process the materials, storage capacity and equipment needs.

Decide who will run the program. If you are not contracting with a local recycler to provide the service, you need to determine if there an existing department or person that can oversee the program, or if you will need to hire a recycling coordinator. Some very successful programs have operated with student labor so don't forget to examine this option. It is not advisable to plan a program based strictly on volunteer efforts. If volunteers are used you will still need a coordinator for the program to keep things running smoothly and to contact if something goes wrong.