By Katie Watkins, Catawba News Service (The Pioneer)
For a lengthened period of time, multiple recycling containers purchased by Catawba College students sat in storage. However, a new focus has been placed on reusing Mother Earth's goods, and the containers are being dusted off and put to work.
"It's been the students pushing for it," says David Najarian, Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling. Environmental science students of Catawba sometimes choose as their senior project a recycling program, Najarian continues. They usually begin this in their junior year. When the students ahead of the project graduate, it's the responsibility of the facilities to carry through with the project. Henry Haywood, Director of Facilities Management, entreated Najarian to rise to the challenge and undertake a reinforced focus on the recycling program that seemed to have died down a bit at Catawba.
Recycling bins can be found in various places across campus. Some are just plain cardboard boxes in copying rooms, but some of the nicer, more natural looking containers are placed outside on the grounds. Bins are labeled with indicators such as 'plastic' and' glass.' Containers are also blue. Each dorm room has its own multi-recycling bag. Though one bag per student is preferred, there are approximately 500 bags. Students can empty these bags in drop off locations.
Drop off locations are located outside most dorm buildings. Najarian states they are hoping, through a grant from Coca-Cola, to gain sixty more recycling containers. Another goal is to have two more containers for drop off stations and to have one next to every trashcan.
FacilitiesRecycling doesn't stop at the dorm doors though. Football games are a great opportunity to catch all those soda bottles and cans. At every home football game, there are about 20-25 bins set up for aluminum and plastic. Dr. Karl Hales, retired Professor of Communication Arts, helps out by making announcements about recycling.
But it's not just Catawba students and facilities helping out. Rowan County provides the school with roll carts that are emptied between two and three times a week. Also involved is Waste Management, paper-stock dealer, and Davis'.
So how can you help?
Recycle. Cardboard, mixed paper, brown and clear glass, alumi num, plastic milk and laundry detergent jugs, and soda bottles. Steel cans from the dining hall are also being recycled.
"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out you can make a few changes," says Najarian. He's right, too. For the month of October (up until the 23rd) aluminum cans recycled accumulated to 262lbs, while plastics and scrap metal steered in 600lbs and 840lbs, respectively. Najarian hopes that Catawba will see a change in the amount of money saved by recycling through landfill receipts.
RELATED CONTENT:
-
;
- Office of Recycling & Waste Reducation (OWR&R) ;
- What can be recycled at Catawba? ;
- Green is “the Color“ of Catawba's Future ;
- Catawba Commits to Fight Global Warming ;
- Environmental Science & Studies
