Recycling Drive Collects More Than 10,000 Pounds Of Cardboard

August 29, 2008

Bowling Green, Ky. - Housing and Residence Life, Department of Facilities Management and GreenToppers have partnered to make residence hall move-out and move-in events a little greener at Western Kentucky University.
During move-in week, WKU Recycling and GreenToppers, with help from the Campus Grounds Crew and Gardeners, diverted more than 10,000 pounds of recyclable cardboard from dumpsters in the Second Annual Move-In Cardboard Drive. 

Volunteers helped students and parents break down boxes and stack them in designated recycling areas near move-in dumpsters. Nearly 7,000 pounds were collected during the weekend, when most students were moving in, and WKU Restaurant & Catering helped keep the cardboard crew going with pizzas. Students and their parents seemed happy to do their part to make sure their cardboard was recycled.

“It’s a great way to greet new students and their parents and let them know about recycling options at WKU,” said Christian Ryan-Downing, WKU Sustainability Coordinator.

In Fall 2007, GreenToppers and WKU Recycling launched the first M.A.S.T.E.R Plan Move-In Cardboard Drive, diverting more than 7,000 pounds of recyclable cardboard from landfills. 

Another new initiative, “Lighten Your Load” focuses on reuse. Last May, students moving out of residence halls placed gently used unwanted items in collection bins in hall lobbies, rather than in move-out dumpsters. The drive resulted in the collection of thousands of items including clothes, lamps, televisions, computer components, irons, shoes, bulletin boards and area rugs. The clothes were donated to the Bowling Green International Center, which reported that the dollar value of the donation was about $14,000.

Other items were sold during M.A.S.T.E.R Plan move-in weekend at a yard sale on the South Lawn. Many students and parents took advantage of the bargains at the yard sale, and proceeds will be used by the Housing and Residence Life Student Sustainability Committee to fund other sustainability initiatives, such as “Reduce Your Use!” the residence hall energy conservation competition coming this fall.

“It was awesome to see parents come and find things they forgot and buy them on the spot – the little things, like Ethernet cables and outlet strips – and then get excited to find out that the items had been collected from students last spring,” said student Sara Ferguson, chair of the Housing and Residence Life Student Sustainability Committee.
               
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For information, contact Christian Ryan-Downing at (270) 745-2508.