Trinity University, a nationally ranked liberal arts institution in San Antonio, Texas, enrolls approximately 2,600 students and maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of roughly 8:1. The university is known for its academic rigor, outstanding alumni outcomes, and beautiful, architecturally significant campus. Trinity consistently ranks among the top liberal arts colleges in the country and holds the distinction of being the number one liberal arts university in Texas.
Within the Dorothy A. and James W. Laurie Auditorium complex lies the Richardson Communications Center, home to the university’s Department of Communication and KRTU-FM (Jazz 91.7). KRTU is a premier jazz and alternative radio station serving the greater Southwest. It is a campus and community hub where media production, learning, and cultural programming intersect.
Laurie Auditorium itself is a 2,700-seat venue that hosts a wide range of events, from academic lectures and commencement ceremonies to public performances, community discussions, and special guest visits. Its high visibility and diverse audience made it an ideal site to explore a new sustainability initiative.
Project goals
The project sought to embed the SPC (Soft Plastic Compactor) in a dynamic, cross-functional environment. This setting includes:
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Faculty, who frequent the break room daily
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Students, particularly those studying communication and media
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KRTU radio staff, DJs, and student volunteers
- Guest speakers, special visitors, and artists who appear in academic or media contexts
- Public guests attending events in Laurie Auditorium
The goal was to explore how the SPC performs when used by multiple overlapping groups. This provided an opportunity to test not just the hardware, but also the cultural framing and communications strategy behind it.
Soft Plastic Compactor solution
An SPC unit was installed in the shared break room within the Communication Department. This space serves as a natural meeting point between academic and media communities, hosting a rotating group of students, professors, radio hosts, station staff, and guests.
Clear and approachable signage on the device explained what the SPC is, why it matters, and how to participate. This messaging aligned with the department’s communication values and allowed people to engage with the unit as part of their normal routine. Whether grabbing coffee before class, prepping for a live radio broadcast, or discussing ideas after a lecture, the SPC became a visible part of daily life in the space.
"We installed the SPC in our Communication/KRTU break room over the summer, where people actually live their day. Seeing wrappers and film get compacted in seconds is cathartic and it quietly normalizes sustainable behavior" - Dr. Althea Delwiche, Professor & Dept Chair, Department of Communication at Trinity University.
SPC use case
Primary use area:
Shared break room in the Communication Department, located inside the Laurie Auditorium complex.
Key user groups:
- Communication faculty and staff
- Students and student workers
- KRTU DJs, station employees, and volunteers
- Guest speakers and program participants
- VIPs visiting Laurie Auditorium for cultural or academic events
Common soft plastic inputs:
- Packaging from media and tech equipment
- Snack wrappers and food-related plastics
- Film wrap and mailers used in station operations
- Plastics from hospitality and visitor-related services
This variety revealed the types of soft plastic generated in an interdisciplinary learning and production environment, while also demonstrating how accessible the SPC is across user types.
Findings and new collaboration perspectives
This pilot at Trinity University’s Department of Communication shows how thoughtful placement of the SPC can drive awareness and adoption in spaces where education, media, and public engagement all converge. We are honored to collaborate with such a respected institution and excited for what’s to come.
We look forward to expanding our presence within Trinity and across additional departments on campus. Beyond this partnership, we are eager to bring the SPC to other distinguished colleges and universities that share a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community impact.
If your institution is ready to lead by example, we would love to hear from you.
