Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Dec. 6, 2017, edition 1 / Page 8
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Elon reduces waste by growing its recycling initiative Students, faculty and staff promote sustainablity by grow ing new recycling program Victoria Traxler Elon News Network | @elonnewsnetwork Elon University consistent ly promotes its environmentally conscious initiatives, such as geo thermal heating, compost bins, the BioBus system and recycling. As Elon has been growing as a school, it’s recycling program has been growing in response. David Worden, director of environmen tal services for Physical Plant, has worked with the recycling program for more than thirteen years. “Recycling is important to the Physical Plant because it’s im portant to Elon,” Worden said. “The structures and practices put in place for maintaining a sound recycling program come from the make-up of a caring and passion ate community.” Last month the office of sus tainability initiated a Waste Wednesday campaign active around campus and supported by a social media campaign. “Once a month on a Wednes day, Eco-reps and volunteers are next to waste receptacles in key campus locations to help students and others properly dispose of their waste,” Durr said. The office hopes this program ALEEZA2INNI STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Elon continues to imrpove its recycling program by having blue bins for students to put mixed paper, cardboard and more. will increase awareness as to what needs to go in each bin on cam pus. These bins include recycling, compost and waste. There are also additional bins for materials more difficult to dis pose of such as batteries and small electronics. Durr hopes for additional compost and recycling bins on campus based on further feedback and use. “It is comprehensive and has grown from a student initiative to what it is today,” Durr said. The recycling program collects mixed paper, cardboard, electron ics, batteries, ink cartridges and compostable materials. Residen tial recycling is picked up multi ple times per day Monday-Friday, and once during Saturday and Sunday. “What is unfortunate is to find recyclable material thrown away in trash containers. Though a recycling container and a trash container can be sitting right next to each other, recyclables can be found to have been thrown away,” Worden said. By using colored bags — black for trash and clear for recycling — Physical Plant is able to identift materials by viewing the bags an disposing of them accordingly. Trash and recycling arep4ej up at the same times and carried together to the disposal site For some, this process looks less He recycling and more like waste. “There is a misunderstandint from those viewing this piclc.„p process and thinking Elon doesnl recycle,” Worden said. “Once re cycling is picked up from anylo- cation on campus, whether it is tossed in with trash bags or not will end up in the designated re cycling container.” Worden said all materials ate brought to drop point dumpsters with specific assignments for ei ther trash or recycling. Recycled materials are then brought to a sorting facility. “We will always continue to look for ways to improve.” Worden said. “Whether througli the addition of more containers, better signage or possibly through the addition of a Waste Reduction and Recycling office.” Physical Plant will continue to monitor recycling collection through weight feedback. “As Elon grows, so grows re cycling methods and collection,’ Worden said. Elaine Durr, the director of sustainability, says that waste re duction and recycling is a major part of Elon’s sustainability initia tive and included in the Sustain ability Master Plan. MAKE HEADLINES INTERESTED IN JOINING ELON NEWS NETWORK? WE RE HIRING. OPEN TEAMS: • Reporting - News - Lifestyle - Sports - Opinion writing • Photography • Design • Broadcast Production • Producing • Copy Editing • Social Media • Media Analytics • Advertising/Sales • Web WHY JOIN: L / BEING A PART OF THE EEON NEWS NETWORK IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT ELON. I’VE GOTTEN TO KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE ELON COMMUNITY THROUGH ENN AND LOVE GETTING TO DO SO MUCH HANDS-ON WORK. ” GRACE MORRIS SOPHOMORE GREATEST DECISION I ONLY DID I MAKE ™ENDS. but I LEARNED ABOUT MYSELF AND MY FUTURE IN JOURNALISM. ” ALEX ROAT SOPHOMORE COME TO ASSIGNMENT MEETINGS: TUESDAYS AT 5:30 P.M. MCEWEN 108 EMAiujsi ENN(aELON,EDU
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Dec. 6, 2017, edition 1
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