Smithsonian’s Newest Museum Goes GREEN

Nancy J. BechtolDirector, Smithsonian Facilities

Smithsonian Astrophysical ObservatoryAZ & HI

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, MA

Ft. Pierce Marine, FL

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, NYNational Museum of the American Indian, NY

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, MDNMAI – Cultural Research Center, MD

Storage Facility, NJ

Museums & Zoo DCSmithsonian Conservation and Biology Institute, VAStorage Facility, VA

Smithsonian Tropical Research Center, Panama

Storage Facility, PA

Our reach is far & wide

The Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Rooftop solar panels

Porch green roof

History Gallery green roof & lawn irrigation system

Grey water treatment holding tank

Clerestory lighting

Energy efficient exhibit lighting

State of the art restaurant

Eric Hollinger Ph.D.Archaeologist, National Museum of Natural History

Smithsonian Institution Recycling Program

“In view of the great & increasing cost of paper, and of the large quantity of the article required in the operations of the Institution, I request that a basket be kept in each room of the building, into which all pieces of waste paper may be thrown during the day and afterwards emptied into a common receptacle to be preserved for sale.” Secretary Joseph Henry, 1862.

Smithsonian Recycling Since 1862

Interior exit

Paper Recycling

Cardboard Recycling

Paper and Cardboard Recycling Facility

Georgetown Paper Stock

Bottle & Can RecyclingCommingled containers Plastics resin codes 1 through 5 Glass AluminumBi-metal cans

Still better bins

2007- <1 ton2008- 6 tons2009- 15.3 tons2010- 26.7 tons2011- 30.9 tons2012- 42.9 tons2013- 49 tons2014- 51 tons2015- 40.1 tons

Commingle increase at the National History Museum

Montgomery Co. Recycling Facility

Recycling commingle (bottles and cans)

Wood pallets

Electronics make up a growing portion of the Smithsonian’s recycling efforts.

05/01/2023

Scrap Metal Recycling

Joseph Smith and Sons

The Natural History Museum partners with Whole Foods to send #5 plastic laboratory

waste to Preserve for recycling

The NMNH molecular lab,Laboratories of Analytical Biology,generates tons of clean #5 plastic waste

Preserve is a company that recycles #5 plastic into consumer products. www.preserveproducts.com

Acrylic from shop and exhibit displays

Bulky Debris Recycling

Recycle One Facility

Smithsonian Banner Bags

Banner tote bags sold to buy LED bulbs

Broken fossils from gift shop used as garden decoration

Elephant Manure >600 tons per yr

National Zoo

Composting food waste in 3 museum restaurants

Equipment at Western Branch Composting Facility

Contaminated Organics

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Staff Picnic Pilot 2012

The Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival Composted or Recycled 74% of its Waste in 2013

The Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival Composted or Recycled 93% of its Waste in both 2014 and 2015

The Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival Composted or Recycled 96% in 2016

Percentage of SI’s Solid Waste Diverted from Landfills