The recycling pilot program in Oklahoma United Methodist Hall dormitory might expand, depending on feedback.
Recycling bins were distributed in January to all of the rooms in Methodist as part of the Student Government Association’s Blue Initiative, a three-part plan to make the campus more environmentally friendly. The recycling pilot program is the first part of the plan.
Teddy Edgar, music theater/vocal performance sophomore, is the recycling facilitator, a work study position responsible for emptying the recycling bins. Chazz Miceli, guitar performance junior, is the other recycling facilitator.
Edgar said officials will consider the success of the pilot program to see if they will expand it.
“The housing staff lives in Methodist, so they’re going to try it there and see how it works,” he said. “How this semester goes will dictate what will happen in years to come.”
Students can only recycle paper and cardboard in the bins.
Austin Gipson-Black, religion/political science junior and Student Senate president, said they plan to include other recycling options like glass or plastic.
Gipson-Black said including glass or plastic as recycling options would involve another bin in each room.
“We weren’t sure if the work studies would be able to do that,” Gipson-Black said. “But we are definitely looking forward to doing that later on, probably next semester.”
The next recycling program will either be in Banning Hall dormitory or Walker Hall dormitory, Gipson-Black said. He said officials will either gauge freshman interest in recycling programs or just introduce recycling as a part of OCU’s culture.
The work study positions are what will make the program stable, Gipson-Black said.
“As long as we have the bins, which aren’t going anywhere, and as long as we have someone to pick up the bins, it’s going to stay and be pretty sustainable,” he said.
The schedule for emptying current bins in Methodist Hall is:
– fourth floor on Mondays,
– third floor on Tuesdays,
– second floor on Wednesdays, and
– first floor on Thursdays.
Recycling facilitators start emptying bins at 7 p.m.
Items that have come into contact with food should be cleaned before placed in the bins to prevent dirtying the bins and contaminating recyclables, officials said.
Bins should be brought back inside the room when not waiting for emptying to prevent odor in the hallways, Edgar said.
Any damage made to bins is the resident’s responsibility, though no exact fine has been established yet. RAs and housing staff will report any items in the bins that are against housing rules.
The materials in the bins are put in a recycling dumpster behind Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center. The dumpster fills quickly, so program directors are considering investing in another one, Edgar said.
“We weren’t really expecting it to be that successful,” he said. “We thought a few people would do it. It exceeded everything that we thought would happen.”
Students showing interest and sharing ideas with the facilitators is important for the success of the program, Edgar said.
He said students have told him that the recycling program is “the best thing that’s ever happened at OCU” and they’ve been waiting for the program.
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