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| * Purdue University Residences |
October 5, 2007
Purdue University Residences expands recycling efforts
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - |
More than 800 recycling bins are placed throughout the residence halls in central areas, on individual floors and at loading docks. Each dining court has a larger recycling trailer parked in the rear, as do all but one of the residences.
"We are always concerned with increasing quality of life, not just on campus, but in the community at-large in which we are all rooted," said Barbara Frazee, executive director of University Residences. "Conserving resources and preserving the environment is one of the broadest impacts we can have."
University Residences recycles nearly twice as much material as it did a decade ago. The Purdue Village apartment complex tops 40,000 pounds in recycling annually. Among residence halls, those with dining courts recycle the most materials. Hillenbrand, Earhart and Windsor halls each average about 15,000 pounds of recycling per year, much of it processed by kitchen and support staff.
Each week University Residences invests more than $3,000 of personnel time into its recycling program. By recycling, the university saves more than $13,000 a year in landfill tipping fees, and recyclable materials are sold. Aluminum is currently worth $1,200 a ton, and corrugated cardboard brings $75 a ton.
"There is always more we can do in the area of recycling," said Terry Ashlock, University Residences' director of facilities. "We are looking for new ways to get students even more involved in recycling and raise participation in our residences."
In a recent poll, Earhart Hall residents expressed an interest in increased recycling efforts. Resident Hall Association student leaders and University Residences and Earhart Hall staffers met with Purdue Student Government leaders on Wednesday (Oct. 3) to discuss the possibility of launching a pilot program that would place recycling bins in each student room in addition to the centrally located collection points.
"We can try to make recycling as convenient as possible, but the bottom line is that it takes student and staff effort to recycle consistently," Ashlock said. "Purdue Student Government leaders have made recycling a priority, and we encourage finding ways to increase participation among their peers."Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu
Sources: Barbara Frazee, (765) 494-1000, bjfrazee@purdue,edu
Terry Ashlock, (765) 494-1006, ashlock@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
PHOTO CAPTION:
Hillenbrand Hall Dining Court head cook Marita Jarvis recycles cans and bottles into a trailer at the rear of the residence hall. Purdue University Residences recycles more than 400 tons of material annually. (Purdue News Service photo/Jim Schenke)
A publication-quality photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2007/reshalls-recycle.jpg
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