Communication junior Latesha McKee and interior design sophomore Marley Aalto pose in demonstration of their recycling duties at maintenance student supervisors for the Akers/Hubbard Complex.
The phrase “Go Green” has always been heard around the MSU campus. But this year, the phrase “Be Spartan Green” has become the slogan for students helping the environment.
“Incoming freshmen are given information about recycling on campus and energy-efficient stuff, such as light bulbs,” said Terry Link, director of the Office of Campus Sustainability.
Students living in dorms most likely have noticed the “Why Waste” yellow lightbulb stickers next to every light switch. The stickers were put up in 2002 to emphasize using less electricity, Link said.
“Don’t leave your stuff on, like lights or your computer,” he said.
It’s hard to walk around campus and not notice all the opportunities students have to help the environment, said Michael Mitchner, operations manager for the Office of Recycling and Waste Management.
“Every dorm has recycling containers for the five basic materials: white paper, mixed paper, cardboard, plastic and newspaper,” Mitchner said.
Students who don’t want to go through the hassle of heading to the recycling containers every day don’t have to.
“I know the university hands out the mesh bags that you can put your bottles, paper and all sorts of stuff in,” mechanical engineering senior Tom Theisen said. “Then you can take them to the recycling center in each dorm.”
Recycling in dorms makes going green easier.
“I think if people have to take all their recyclable material to another place then they probably won’t do it,” interior design sophomore Marley Aalto said.
Students living off campus are given a welcome packet from the city of East Lansing when they move in. The packet includes recycling instructions for various items.
Students can buy a curbside recycling bin from the East Lansing Department of Public Works for $5.50. Although some previous residents leave their bins behind, many of them are taken home or are broken.
“The biggest hurdle in getting students to recycle is making it easy,” said David Smith, the department’s environmental specialist.
“It doesn’t get much easier than a curbside collection program.”
The easiest way to help the environment is to consume less, Link said.
“Just remember the three R’s: Reduce, reuse, recycle,” he said.
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