Recycling Soft-Launch Case Study
USC Upstate launched a recycling soft-launch pilot program to gain deeper insights into campus recycling behaviors, with a specific focus on identifying and reducing recycling contamination. By deploying Topper Stopper™ units, retrofitted to existing recycling bins, in select locations, the university began tracking item-level collections and assessing material quality to understand where non-recyclable waste enters the stream. Early observations from this pilot, spanning late 2025, indicate the collection of 602 clean recyclable items, providing a baseline for data collection on material types, location-specific activity, and estimated environmental savings. This ongoing initiative aims to build a clearer, data-driven picture of recycling effectiveness and inform future sustainability strategies to ensure a cleaner, more efficient waste stream on campus. The pilot soft-launch serves as the springboard for additional elements of the program, including user engagement and chain of custody for improved recycling effectiveness.
Stop Guessing, Start Scaling
The interactive data above highlights the success of the USC Upstate recycling pilot soft-launch, where the primary goal was to move beyond “guessing” and start measuring. By focusing on recycling contamination and data collection, the university achieved a 0% contamination rate across 602 items collected in just 46 days.
Key Takeaways for Sustainability Leaders:
- Eliminating Contamination: The pilot soft-launch proved that Topper Stopper™ units effectively prevent non-recyclable waste from entering the stream, ensuring 100% material quality.
- Actionable Data Collection: Through TS Analytics™, USC Upstate now has a baseline of campus recycling behavior, identifying high-traffic hubs like the Gymnasium and Library as primary drivers for participation.
- Verified Environmental Impact: This recycling case study quantifies the “win”, diverting these items saved 1,480 gallons of water and avoided 102 lbs of CO₂ emissions, providing the university with credible metrics for their sustainability reports.
Scale Your Impact
This soft-launch serves as a blueprint for any organization looking to solve the recycling contamination crisis with a data-first approach. By combining smart hardware with item-level analytics, we turn recycling from a cost center into a transparent, high-performing sustainability asset.