sustainability at southern

Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling

Southern's recycling program has grown significantly in the past three years under the direction of Heather Stearns, the recycling coordinator. The program includes:

• Blue cans located in buildings and outdoors throughout campus for plastic, glass, and paper recyclables.
• Large dumpster size containers for recycling located outside each dorm.
• Annual participation in Recyclemania, a national competition between college and university campuses to recycle the most solid waste.
• Collection of cardboard, fluorescent bulbs, batteries, scrap metal, oil, leaves, and tires. 
• Recycling drives throughout the year: a denim drive (old jeans are converted to insulation).
• Cell phone collection: unwanted cell phones are restored and distributed to victims of domestic violence. Collection boxes are located in the entry of Adanti Student Center and at the Women's Center in Schwartz Hall.
• The campus bookstore buys back used books from students.
  

Reduction of paper waste is critical to reducing Southern's environmental footprint. Paper reduction initiatives already underway are described under Purchasing and Curriculum. Future plans also include paper reduction in computer labs.

Described in further detail under the Food and Food Services heading, eliminating trays in Connecticut Hall reduced solid waste there by 30%.

To learn more about recycling at Southern, click here.