Students Initiate Recycling Program at the University of Alabama

 SGA president Jeremiah Arsenault came up with the recycling campaign last summer. Arsenault said that his plan reflected the importance of keeping UA's campus clean. 

“We have such a beautiful campus,” said Arsenault. “We really need to keep it that way.” 

The SGA has already placed 12 recycling tri-bins around campus. The bins consist of three separate bins for paper, plastic and aluminum. The SGA plans to place 12 more bins on the Quad to encourage students to recycle.  

Arsenault said he hopes the bins will be on campus for a long time and that students will maintain an interest in conserving resources. 

“We’re placing them near trash cans so it makes it convenient," said Arsenault. "It serves as a reminder to recycle." 

Interim President Barry Mason chartered the Environmental Management Council for the purpose of bringing people together throughout the university to institute programs to support recycling. When the EMC had its first meeting on Jan. 16, they identified potential environmental issues on campus. 

The EMC is taking an interest in several issues, such as increasing student involvement, reducing waste paper in computer labs, encouraging students to sell back books and moving toward a pedestrian campus. 

As EMC meetings continue they will prioritize issues and focus on possibilities for environmental improvement on campus and in the community. 

The campaign began last month with a student-wide contest for a recycling slogan. The SGA received a large response from students, and they decided on the slogan “Recycle for a Tide-y campus” to be put on posters all over campus. 

Along with the addition of the new recycling bins and posters around campus, the SGA will be handing out 3,000 reusable mugs that can be used at the Ferguson Center for a 20 cents discount on fountain drinks. The mugs will be given out at the SGA open house that will take place in the SGA office March 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Arsenault hopes for recycling efforts to take place in university buildings, as well. He wants buildings to be equipped with recycling bins to make it easy for students and faculty to recycle. 

Over 25,000 canned drinks were sold on campus last year, and the SGA believes that students will be more likely to recycle if the tri-bins are made readily available around campus. 

Organizations on campus are getting involved in the recycling trend by adopting one tri-bin for a two-week period to monitor and empty. The SGA hopes this will encourage student support for their recycling effort. 

Freshman Angela Gay is excited that the university is finally taking an interest and initiative in recycling. 

“Recycling is something everyone should do, especially on campus. We need to preserve our resources,” said Gay. “If everyone recycled we would make the world a better place for future generations.” 

Tim Hebson, director of the office of student judicial affairs, is also taking a part in helping university students get involved with recycling. Some students with community service hours will take part in emptying the recycling tri-bins.   – Dateline Alabama