Waste cans removed from EPB classrooms to encourage recycling
January 31, 2012
University of Iowa and Waste Management Announce Pilot Program to Eliminate Waste Containers and Increase Recycling on Campus
New Phase of Campus Recycling Program is Part of Vision 2020 Goal
Waste Management and the University of Iowa have announced a new phase of the campus-wide single-stream recycling program, which started last fall. Beginning with the start of the spring semester, the UI began a pilot program to remove waste containers from all classrooms in the English-Philosophy Building. The move is designed to encourage students, faculty and staff to recycle as many items as possible. Recycling containers have been placed near the building’s east and west stairwells, along with waste containers for any items that cannot be recycled.
The new pilot program is designed to help the university divert more waste, recycle more items and exceed the Vision 2020 goal to divert 60 percent of the waste generated on campus by 2020. The program could be expanded to other buildings later in the year.
“We have seen an increase in recycled content when waste containers are removed from key areas,” said Carrie Spencer, Waste Management spokesperson. “As a company, we manage 10 million tons of recyclables a year, and when your best option is to recycle items, you often change behavior.”
While the new single-stream program has been on campus since September, this new component gives everyone the ability to maximize the amount they recycle. The program, also called sort-free recycling, allows students, faculty, staff and others to easily recycle paper, plastics, cardboard, tin and aluminum in one receptacle. In addition to the pilot program in the English and Philosophy Building, recycling containers are available in all buildings across the UI.
“Recycling is a key UI sustainability initiative now and for the future,” said Bart Knox, UI recycling coordinator. “By pioneering this program on campus, we hope everyone will recycle more, and choose more reusable containers to help limit the amount of waste generated campus-wide.”
During the first three days of spring semester classes, UI Facilities Management and Office of Sustainability staff conducted an education program in the lobby of the English-Philosophy Building to increase awareness among students, faculty and staff. This was part of an ongoing educational effort across campus to promote the new recycling program.
The UI will be tracking the amount of recycled material collected in the English-Philosophy Building to compare it to amounts collected during the fall semester as well as previous years. University officials will also be surveying students, faculty and the custodial staff to see if removing classroom waste containers should become a campus-wide program.
A full list of what can and cannot be recycled on campus is available at http://sustainability.uiowa.edu/sort-free-recycling/.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Waste Management of Iowa
Carrie Spencer
515-480-9117
University of Iowa Office of Sustainability
Liz Christiansen
319-335-5516
