Seven members of an MSU environmental group sounded their dissatisfaction with the campus recycling program Friday afternoon by banging on plastic containers, pop cans and using laundry detergent containers as maracas outside of Wells Hall.

Eco members organized a "Debris Drum Squad" to protest the Residence Halls Association student tax they claim is not fulfilling its purpose to help fund an adequate recycling program within residence halls.

RHA recently signed a new one-year recycling contract with MSU's Office of Recycling and Waste Management after ending five years of service with Waste Management. RHA chose not to renew its contract with the national recycling company because of conflicts with terms and concerns about whether materials were being recycled.

Instead of recycling glass, plastics, bottles, cans, newspaper and office paper, as in previous years, MSU only will handle newspaper recycling and printer ink cartridges.

Eco member and physics junior Karl Rohe said he organized the effort to beat recyclable items to draw attention to products that are no longer recycled through MSU's new program.

"We wanted to spread the word and create a demand for increased recycling on campus," Rohe said.

The group wants the recycling program to allow a more products to be recycled. They held a pizza box with "RHA recycle now."

"Hopefully people read our sign and are more conscious of recycling on campus," Rohe said.

RHA spokesman Brian Winters attended the drum circle to answer any questions about MSU's recycling program. He said RHAwill work to improve the program.

Both groups said they will discussion the issue further.

Although many bystanders ignored the drum circle as they walked to their classes, computer science freshman Angella Szynkowski decided to grab two sticks, an old coffee can and join the group, because she thought the cause for the gathering was more than a lot of commotion.

"I know I was affected by people drumming on recyclables and making a lot of noise," she said.