The special recycling collection event organized for America Recycles Day on November 15th exceeded the expectations of volunteers and staff who organized it, with higher attendance and material collected than predicted.
The event took place in the Memorial Union Brick Mall on Tuesday at 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
“The purpose of the event was to help the OSU community recycle hard-to-recycle items,” says Andrea Norris, Outreach Coordinator for Campus Recycling. The items collected included Styrofoam, packing peanuts, film plastics, electronic storage media, household batteries, cell phones and electronics. “We also distributed information on how to recycle these items year-round.” Download the handout here.
In addition to recycling collection, passersby and those dropping off materials were encouraged to decorate an OSU “O” made from scrap wood with recyclables. The other side of the “O” was a pledge wall for people to note what they already do, what they pledge to do, and what they wish they could do in regards to reducing waste in their own lives.
People attending the event ranged from a woman who dropped off one partial package of Styrofoam plates that she had been hanging onto for 5-6 years because she did not have the heart to throw them away, to OSU departments with entire truck beds full of material. Many cited an article in the Gazette-Times that morning as their reason for dropping by (the G-T also ran a great recap article as well).
Results
| Material | Amount |
| E-Waste | 2,129 lbs |
| E-Media | 358 lbs |
| Batteries | 483 lbs |
| Styrofoam | 5,000 gallons |
| Packing peanuts | 572 gallons |
| Film plastic | 359 gallons |
In total, we collected nearly 3,000 lbs and 30 cubic yards of material, in just four hours!
The event was planned and staffed by OSU Campus Recycling volunteers. The team will now start working on an event lineup for RecycleMania, a nationwide recycling competition between universities that will be held January 22nd through March 31. “This event has pumped me up for next term. We’re going to have such an awesome RecycleMania lineup,” says Norris.
All are welcome to join the volunteer team, which is meeting this term on Thursdays at 5:00 – 6:00 pm at the OSU Pride Center on 15th & A Ave.
CATEGORIES: Campus Recycling Waste Reduction