Nationwide contest encourages students to recycle
Bryant is participating in RecycleMania to raise awareness of the importance of recycling.
For the first time, Bryant is competing in RecycleMania, a nationwide contest for colleges and universities that measures who can reduce, reuse, and recycle the most campus wastes. Bryant’s involvement in the competition, which began at the start of the spring semester and runs until the end of March, is part of the University’s continuing efforts to go green. (Learn more about RecycleMania.)
Bryant is one of 510 schools competing in what is the largest RecycleMania contest to date.
Ken Person, Bryant’s director of campus and environmental planning, says the goal at Bryant this year is to increase awareness of recycling, foster teamwork, and build a foundation for future initiatives aimed at reducing waste.
“The ultimate goal at Bryant is be a resource conservation manager,” says Person. “This happens by minimizing our wastes and reducing our consumption of resources such as water, electricity, and gas.”
A little effort goes a long way
Students can do their part to help by separating their wastes into three categories:
Plastic/metal/glass containers (with caps removed)
Paper/cardboard
Other/trash
“Recycling is easier than students realize,” says Brittany Glenn ’11 (Easthampton, MA), who got involved in the project through her Management 200 course. “Taking the time to recycle will benefit not only our generation but our children’s generation.”
Individual bins for paper, bottles/cans, and trash are outside of each classroom in the Unistructure, and students can make the same commitment in their townhouses and residence halls without little additional effort.
“Keep three containers or bags in your room for paper and cardboard; bottles and cans; and trash,” suggests Dhara Shah ’12 (Lincoln, RI), who is part of the Student Senate’s committee on going green.
It is important for students to be vigilant in their recycling efforts because if unrecyclable products such as food remnants get into a recycling bin, the materials become contaminated and can no longer be recycled.
Sound business
For Cassidy Rydberg ’11 (Holderness, NH) recycling is a simple dollars-and-cents issue. She points out that Bryant pays by the pound for trash removal but not for recyclables. Students can save their own money by purchasing a Brita water filter and a reusable water bottle instead of buying individual water bottles that often end up taking up space in a landfill.
“It is not just the responsible thing to do – it’s the profitable thing to do,” adds Person. “If you can minimize wastes, you can maximize your profits.”
Person says it is critical for colleges and universities to be leaders in the go green movement. “Our country’s future leaders are right here,” he says. “If they are aware and sensitive to these issues, they are going to bring this to their careers.”
Green passion
In the past, members of Bryant’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) have sponsored recycling education programs, and this year the Student Senate adopted going green as one of three main goals. The newly-created Emerging Green Leaders is the latest group of dedicated students spearheading grassroots projects to educate the campus community.
“It is crucial to understand and become aware of the benefits of recycling,” says Ami Shah ’12 (Lincoln, RI), a co-chair of the Student Senate's go green committee. “If you have something to throw away, find the proper place for it.”
Person thinks Bryant can be a force to be reckoned with in RecycleMania as the campus community becomes more aware of the benefits of recycling.
“I see us doing this every year and being the perennial champions,” says Person.
Bryant is one of 510 schools competing in what is the largest RecycleMania contest to date.
Ken Person, Bryant’s director of campus and environmental planning, says the goal at Bryant this year is to increase awareness of recycling, foster teamwork, and build a foundation for future initiatives aimed at reducing waste.
“The ultimate goal at Bryant is be a resource conservation manager,” says Person. “This happens by minimizing our wastes and reducing our consumption of resources such as water, electricity, and gas.”
A little effort goes a long way
Students can do their part to help by separating their wastes into three categories:
Plastic/metal/glass containers (with caps removed)
Paper/cardboard
Other/trash
“Recycling is easier than students realize,” says Brittany Glenn ’11 (Easthampton, MA), who got involved in the project through her Management 200 course. “Taking the time to recycle will benefit not only our generation but our children’s generation.”
Individual bins for paper, bottles/cans, and trash are outside of each classroom in the Unistructure, and students can make the same commitment in their townhouses and residence halls without little additional effort.
“Keep three containers or bags in your room for paper and cardboard; bottles and cans; and trash,” suggests Dhara Shah ’12 (Lincoln, RI), who is part of the Student Senate’s committee on going green.
It is important for students to be vigilant in their recycling efforts because if unrecyclable products such as food remnants get into a recycling bin, the materials become contaminated and can no longer be recycled.
Sound business
For Cassidy Rydberg ’11 (Holderness, NH) recycling is a simple dollars-and-cents issue. She points out that Bryant pays by the pound for trash removal but not for recyclables. Students can save their own money by purchasing a Brita water filter and a reusable water bottle instead of buying individual water bottles that often end up taking up space in a landfill.
“It is not just the responsible thing to do – it’s the profitable thing to do,” adds Person. “If you can minimize wastes, you can maximize your profits.”
Person says it is critical for colleges and universities to be leaders in the go green movement. “Our country’s future leaders are right here,” he says. “If they are aware and sensitive to these issues, they are going to bring this to their careers.”
Green passion
In the past, members of Bryant’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) have sponsored recycling education programs, and this year the Student Senate adopted going green as one of three main goals. The newly-created Emerging Green Leaders is the latest group of dedicated students spearheading grassroots projects to educate the campus community.
“It is crucial to understand and become aware of the benefits of recycling,” says Ami Shah ’12 (Lincoln, RI), a co-chair of the Student Senate's go green committee. “If you have something to throw away, find the proper place for it.”
Person thinks Bryant can be a force to be reckoned with in RecycleMania as the campus community becomes more aware of the benefits of recycling.
“I see us doing this every year and being the perennial champions,” says Person.
