Auburn University’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Department works hard to manage waste contracts on campus and provide recycling services to the community. They offer recycling for materials such as paper, plastic, and cardboard to construction and demolition waste. Recycling bins are also available throughout campus as well as at residence halls and dining facilities.
Recycling not only creates a healthier environment by eliminating pollution and improving appearances, but it helps the economy. Materials that would have become waste are turned into valuable resources. The community also benefits because there are more job opportunities at the processing facility.
“Know that we’re here and working hard, but we can’t do it alone” -Joan Hicken, Manager at Waste Reduction & Recycling Department
The Waste Reduction and Recycling Department and the Office of Sustainability partnered together to find a way to deal with the high level of batteries the university uses. Interns at the Office of Sustainability collect batteries from bins across campus and record the weight. The batteries are then taken to the RMS’ Environmental Health and Safety Building and are shipped to various vendors to be recycled.
Because Auburn is always trying to improve, we do a lot of construction. The Waste Reduction and Recycling Department recycles the materials left from demolition, like bricks, cement, rock, dirt, limbs, and metal. This is done in partnership with the Planning, Design, and Construction Department. Photo from plainsman
“We need to pull everyone together if we want to see change”
The number one thing students can do to help is to demand better from our institution. Less waste from vendors and more recycling opportunities would have a strong impact. Individually, students can use a reusable water bottle and go paperless, as well as choosing to bike or walk instead of driving. Take advantage of the Tiger Transit!
Students can get involved is volunteering with the Waste Reduction and Recycling Program with the Game Day Recycling Program. Students hand out recycling bags to tailgaters before the game. Volunteers may receive a complementary student pass for the game they volunteered for.
