University Sustainability Initiatives
Grant Supports Campus Recycling
A $12,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is supporting the construction of more recycling sheds on campus, the construction of mobile recycling stations in the dorms, and an awareness campaign to increase the amount of recycling on campus.
"We want to greatly reduce the amount of stuff we're sending to the landfill," says Mark Stimson, campus sustainability coordinator. "It's kind of shocking, actually, how much trash we produce."
After surveying the content of the dumpsters, Mr. Stimson estimates that 60-80% of it could be recycled. And the grant will make that easier.
Five new recycling sheds are being built to add to the seven already located around campus. "We want to have more so that people don't have to walk as far to get to a recycling station," Mr. Stimson said.
The sheds have bins for plastic, clear glass, colored glass, aluminum, white paper, colored paper, newspaper, and glossy paper, as well as an area for cardboard.
The mobile stations for dorms will be dollies with recycling bins stacked three high. When they're full, residents will be able to simply wheel them out of the building for pickup.
The educational campaign will cover the value of recycling — for the environment and for saving the University a large amount of money.
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