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Let's do better at recycling

On August 16, 2007, Wilson Community College began focusing on expansion of the recycling program. Members of the Sustainability Committee, along with the recycling coordinator, have increased efforts to broaden the availability of the program.

The committee members decided to pilot recycling centers in buildings A, B and C before expanding campus-wide. Although recycling bins are located throughout campus, it was felt recycling lacked the important components of organization and visibility. To increase awareness and practice in recycling, we have developed “Recycling Centers” that will be labeled as such, primarily in key traffic areas in the major hallways. Each center contains the major items the College recycles: aluminum, plastic, and paper along with a bin for waste. Signs have been placed on the bins and lids to increase visibility and hopefully usage.

Additionally, with the assistance of our graphic designer, colorful posters have been made to direct students, faculty, and staff to remember to use the recycling centers.

These posters are 11 x 17 and will be placed in all classrooms. Our goal was to provide recycling sources wherever there was a waste can in order to discourage items being placed in waste cans that could be recycled. Since food and drink are not allowed in classrooms, we did not want to place recycling centers there- only a small waste can for items such as used markers, pencil shavings, Kleenex, etc.

If you have further comments or suggestions for improvement, please contact Trish Holsten at (252) 246-1250 or pholsten@wilsoncc.edu.

We will be keeping track of our efforts by reporting on the amount of recycling that occurs on campus. We plan to rapidly increase the recycling centers across campus. Please help us by modeling the use of these centers. Faculty are an especially important source in these efforts and can help by including a statement in their syllabi about the availability of recycling centers and speaking directly to students (preferably at the beginning of each semester) about the College recycling program and indicating that bins are located in the hallways- discourage the use of waste cans where possible.

Stop! Before you throw that paper, can, or plastic bottle in the trash...

Are you up for a friendly competition? Wilson Community College is participating in RecycleMania, a friendly competition among college and university recycling programs in the United States that provides the campus community with a fun, proactive activity in waste reduction. Over the next 10-week period, campuses are competing in different contests to see which institution can collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or have the highest recycling rate.

The main goal of RecycleMania competition is to increase student awareness of campus recycling and waste minimization. All participating schools report measurements on a weekly basis. In the end, RecycleMania helps all participating colleges and universities make achievements in recycling and waste reduction!

So continue to throw all recyclable products in to our recycle bins, encourage your students to do the same, and help us win the competition!

For more information visit: http://www.recyclemaniacs.org/index.htm.