Stevenson University participated in America Recycles Day this year on November 15 in a unique way. During Campus Sustainability week, residential students were offered the opportunity to rent their own recycling bins at the Residence Life desk in the Ratcliffe Center.  The goal of this initiative was to get students to recycle more in hopes of contributing to the national movement.

The “Rent your Recycling Bin” event is designed to encourage students to recycle more in their residence halls.  Since students are not provided with recycling bins in their dorms or on-campus apartments, they can now participate in America Recycles Day, which includes the initiative to Keep America Beautiful. The recycling bins proved to be a success, as the bins were quickly rented and the goal of increasing on-campus recycling efforts was reached.

The mission of America Recycles Day is to increase America’s recycling rate each year. For the last 30 years, the recycling rate in the United States has gradually improved.  On the website, anyone can register to host an event to further participate in the movement, and the steps for participation are all outlined on the web page.  This year, Stevenson decided to get involved in the national movement.

The recycling bin distribution is a result of several Stevenson organizations working together. The Stevenson Center for Environmental Stewardship and the Office of Residence Life and Housing collaborated to make this event possible for residents. Since America Recycles Day falls during Campus Sustainability Week, Stevenson hoped more students would want to get involved.

The personal recycling bins provide students with an easy way to transport recyclables to the trash rooms.  With the hashtag #reduceyourhoofprint, Stevenson found that students wanted to take part in the efforts to maximize recycling. Clean recycling bins should be returned to Residence Life by May 7.

This effort allowed the Stevenson community to show their support for America Recycles Day.  The movement is sure to assist in the on-going increase of recycling in America, and it provides students with an efficient way to make recycling a habit throughout the residential Stevenson community.