Thanks to a collaboration between Mississippi State University and several outside companies, students can now recycle their trash in new recycle bins have been placed in the Union, thanks to a partnership of the Environmental Collaborative Office, Union administrators and three companies.
ECO director Jeremiah Dumas said the Union’s bins are part of a larger recycling trial on campus.
“There are three companies conducting the trial,” he said. “The bins and the recycling services are being provided in-kind by the recycling companies.”
Dumas said he believes the new bins are greatly helping students, faculty and staff recycle more.
“It is important that we continue to change the waste management culture on this campus,” he said.
Dumas said the goal is to recycle as much as possible and reduce Mississippi State University’s contributions in landfills.
“We are hoping that this trial will spread awareness about recycling as well as help us, the university, devise a broader plan for a comprehensive campus wide recycling effort,” he said.
Lydia Stegall, senior communication major, said she uses the recycle bins in the Junction on football game days and will use the recycle bins in the Union.
“They [bins] are there. The ECO gave the effort to put them in; we should give the effort to use them,” she said.
Kelsey Marx, sophomore English major, said she did not know there were bins in the Union but plans on using them now.
“Students do not recycle enough. Maybe if the university held a recycling seminar to bring awareness to the importance of recycling, then more students would want to recycle,” Marx said.
Dumas said one reason most people do not recycle is because they grew up in households where recycling was not practiced.
“Convenience is the main reason most people don’t recycle, so it is important that we make it as convenient as possible,” he said.
Stegall said she thinks if the City of Starkville was to help out more and make recycling in Starkville a bigger deal, then students on and off campus would be more able to recycle.
“Some people may not know how to go about recycling in Starkville or find it too much of a hassle,” she said. “Perhaps if recycled items would be picked up from everywhere in Starkville people would find recycling easier to do.”
Sophomore elementary education major Becca Yelverton said more recycling bins around campus would better promote environmentally-friendly actions.
“For example, if there were [more] recycling bins inside the stadium on game days instead of just in the Junction, people would be able to recycle more.”
Marx said she thinks the food services in the Union could help to contribute to eliminating the large amounts of waste by making their containers more environmentally friendly.
Dumas said there is much which can be done to help the environment. Most of it comes down to personal decisions.
“They [students, faculty and staff] can help in the overall effort by reducing their personal waste. Drink coffee and water in reusable containers,” he said. “Bring their lunch to work or school in reusable containers. Walk more, carpool, use the shuttle, ride a bike. Print double-sided and print less often.”
Dumas said all recycling efforts have a major impact on the environment.