Joan Morrison, assistant professor of biology, and a group of 20 students will launch a new campus-wide recycling effort in residence halls this month. The group, made up largely of members of the Green Campus Group, a sub-group of the College’s Connpirg group, will launch a high-profile campaign revolving around the theme of the “Recycling Bantam” to raise people’s awareness of this new initiative. 

The recycling initiative will begin with a pilot program in the Jones, Vernon, and Summit Suites residence halls. 

Each dorm room will be provided its own blue recycling box. Individual boxes will be collected in a large “recycling center” bin, contributed to this effort by the office of buildings and grounds.

“Environmental issues are at the top of a lot of students’ agendas and interests,” says Morrison. “We have found the interest in this program is very high and growing very quickly.”

Morrison says the recycling initiative is part of a long-term plan for student-driven conservation initiatives at the College. There will likely be future initiatives connected to the curriculum, as more students become involved in the College’s new environmental sciences major. However, she stresses that the group of students taking the lead with the “Recycling Bantam” campaign draws its strength in part from the varied ages and majors of its members.

“The fact that it’s not just environmental science majors indicates that this is of interest and concern all over campus and among students from all kinds of fields,” she says. “That’s good, because if everybody gets on the bandwagon, then it’s not just a ‘green thing’ or an ‘environmentalist thing.’ It becomes something that everybody has a responsibility for and will take part in.”