August 28, 2008
Recycling Update January 2008
The College began a focused effort to increase recycling in mid August 2007. Trips made to the recycling center have not been on a regular schedule, so some data may be inconsistent. Efforts are underway to establish consistent recycling trips to assure more accurate data collection in the future.
As part of the President’s Climate Commitment (PCC), the PCC Task Force has chosen two areas to meet the PCC challenges. One area is waste minimization. Every effort with recycling helps us to meet our goals for waste minimization.
We are planning to complete the recycling centers located throughout the campus with the purchase of additional recycling bins and signs highlighting these recycling centers. Plans are to remove unnecessary waste cans in classrooms and around campus that are not connected to the centers. Recycling appears to increase when waste cans are next to recycling bins and not in isolation (although it will be necessary to occasionally have a waste can away from recycling bins). Long-term plans include recycling centers outside buildings.
*A special note to faculty: please continue your efforts to help increase campus recycling. The Sustainability Committee suggests ways to influence students including: an announcement in class at least twice a semester, a statement in course syllabi, and serving as a role model for recycling. The more detailed the communication about recycling expectations, the better. For example, instead of saying, “please recycle”; you may want to say, “Please separate your trash at the recycling centers into plastic, paper and aluminum—other materials should go in the waste can.” Additionally, thank students ahead of time for their contributions to reducing the harmful effects of waste.
If you have noticed effective recycling efforts in your area or have ideas and/or comments on how to improve our recycling efforts, please contact Trish at pholsten@wilsoncc.edu.
Recycled Collection Data December 2006 - Current
Table 1. Paper
Table 2. Aluminum
| Date | Pounds | Earned |
|---|---|---|
| February 2008 | 60 | $30.00 |
| January 2008 | 80 | $40.00 |
| December 2007 | 0 | $0.00 |
| *November 2007 | 60 | $30.00 |
| *October 2007 | 60 | $30.00 |
| *September 2007 | 45 | $27.00 |
| *August 2007 | 45 | $27.00 |
| *July 2007 | 30 | $15.00 |
| *June 2007 | 30 | $15.00 |
| May 2007 | 0 | $0.00 |
| *April 2007 | 90 | $45.00 |
| *March 2007 | 90 | $45.00 |
| February 2007 | 0 | $0.00 |
| January 2007 | 95 | $48.00 |
| December 2006 | 132 | $66.00 |
Table 3. Plastic
| Date | Pounds | Earned |
|---|---|---|
| February 2008 | 420 | N/A |
| January 2008 | 220 | N/A |
| December 2007 | 0 | N/A |
| November 2007 | 200 | N/A |
| October 2007 | 280 | N/A |
| September 2007 | 420 | N/A |
| August 2007 | 580 | N/A |
| *July 2007 | 110 | N/A |
| *June 2007 | 110 | N/A |
| *May 2007 | 33 | N/A |
| *April 2007 | 33 | N/A |
| *March 2007 | 34 | N/A |
| *February 2007 | 130 | N/A |
| *January 2007 | 130 | N/A |
| December 2006 | 0 | N/A |
