David Smith, waste reduction coordinator for MSU, empties garbage bins Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, at the MSU Main Library. MSU recently was named one of Enviance’s “Sustainable 16,” part of the Second Annual Environmental March Madness tournament, which highlights university efforts to become a more sustainable campus. State News File Photo
While emptying trash cans at the Main Library yesterday, MSU’s Waste Reduction Coordinator Dave Smith was shocked by the number of recyclable items he found in the garbage.
“I’ve been pulling trash cans today at the library, and it’s amazing how many recyclable items are in the trash,” Smith said. “We take so many things now that the vast majority of things on campus are recyclable.”
Smith is trying to improve recycling as part of the 13th-annual RecycleMania, which kicked off last Sunday and will run until March 30.
This will be the third year MSU participates in the event, which pits more than 500 colleges in a recycling race against each other.
The competition ranges across multiple categories that look at the most paper, cardboard, cans, bottles and food waste on a per-capita basis, produce the lowest amount of waste and recycle the largest percent of materials.
The winners of each category receive a traveling trophy as well as a recycled-glass award to keep.
MSU did not win the challenge last year, but was among 605 colleges that participated.
“RecycleMania is ultimately a tool for recycling and sustainability managers to use to engage students around campus in recycling,” RecycleMania Program Manager Alec Cooley said. “(The competition) can be a catalyst to improve and grow their recycling programs in general.”
To continue to improve recycling and awareness, Smith encourages students to continue normal recycling patterns on campus and take interest in new recycling events being held each week, such as Waste Awareness Week, set to begin Feb. 11.
In past years, recycling rates increase during the competition at participating campuses as awareness spreads, Cooley said.
Hospitality business sophomore Caroline Milne regularly recycles but is wary of whether or not RecycleMania will improve recycling on campus.
“I feel like not that many students know about (it),” Milne said. “If they maybe did more advertising or Facebook stuff, then I feel like it could push students to recycle more because MSU students are pretty competitive.”
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