Recycling becomes campus wide

The University of Northern Iowa is becoming increasingly more eco-friendly and green.

    This year, recycling efforts in the dorms on campus were expanded to include in-room recycling and recycling center in the residence halls. The massive increase of indoor recycling has increased desire for outdoor recycling as well.  So far six three -unit recycling bins have been purchased. According to Eric O'Brien, UNI Sustainability Coordinator, one of these units has been placed by the west entrance to the Wellness and Recreation Center. Others will be installed at the Schindler Education Center plaza, the McLeod Center and at the Maucker Union plaza. Two more prospective locations are the Kamerick courtyard and the UNI-Dome.

    In addition to these recycling bins, six solar-powered trash compactors are  being installed around campus. One has already been installed on the south plaza of the McLeod Center. The compactors will reduce the number of times trash has to be collected and by doing so will lessen the amount of fossil fuels being burnt and harmful emissions being released  into the atmosphere.

    "I think it's good that they have it (recycling bins) on campus," said Jerica Crawford, a junior communications major.

    The overall goal is not to have several different systems at once, but an overall unit. If all the residence halls, centers and leaders work together to create a recycling infrastructure,  UNI can have an infinite amount of information on how much is being recycled and saved, and possibly on what could be reused. It is information like this that helps us create more efficient energy sources, save money ,and, in the long run, help the planet.

    The compactors and the recycling bins will be open to both the campus and the community.  The program believes that it's a short- term goal to divert waste from the landfills, but a long- term goal to change the way we think about recycling and our perception of the things we buy.

    "We certainly have a finite amount of landfill space, but we're trying to create a culture where we divert as many materials as we can to conserve that space and make a more sustainable and greener UNI," said O'Brien.