Reductions to come in Academic Custodial Services

August 17, 2009

To the campus community:

As you know, everyone on campus is facing budget reductions. Academic Custodial Services also has been affected and must reduce annual custodial expenses by 8 percent, or $165,000, for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

Because of that, starting Sept. 1, Academic Custodial Services will be reducing state-funded custodial services within academic buildings on campus. These reductions are intended to maximize available resources and also to align with university sustainability goals.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we make these changes, which include:

  • Office trash removal for typical faculty/staff offices will be eliminated. This service was previously provided twice per week, on average.
    • Office occupants will be asked to use centralized trash containers, which will be strategically placed throughout campus. While these locations may change over time, the intent is to move toward a zero-waste program that will maximize recycling and composting while minimizing landfill materials. On average, only 15 percent of the waste that leaves campus is non-recyclable or non-compostable.
    • Food and wet trash should be taken to centralized trash containers.
    • Trash liners will no longer be supplied to individual offices.
  • Main departmental offices, main administrative offices and reception areas will have trash removal and vacuuming twice a week. This was previously provided up to four times per week, on average.
  • In restrooms where there are available hand blowers, paper towels will no longer be supplied.

See Academic Custodial Services - Facilities Management at Western Washington University for a complete listing of the impacted buildings, the centralized trash container locations and the routine cleaning services provided.

Use the Western Facilities Forum (Viking Village) online to join the discussion with your input regarding these cleaning service reductions.

Please join us for brown bag lunch discussions at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 19, and on Wednesday, Aug. 26, in Science Lecture Hall Room 110 to discuss these reductions and any academic building cleaning issues you may have.

-Tim Wynn
Director, Facilities Management