Accessibility and more visible recycling bins are the next step toward improving Ball State's recycling program. Facilities and Planning and Management placed 25 new recycling bins throughout the university this week, Michael Planton, superintendent of grounds, said.
"We have a very extensive recycling program," Planton said. "It's just not as visible as it needs to be."
The new bins are in the Architecture Building, Whitinger Business Building, Bracken Library, Art and Journalism Building, Irving Gym, West Quad, Lucina Hall, L.A. Pittenger Student Center, North Quad and Cooper Physical Science Building. The university plans to add more throughout the year, while monitoring material collecting in the containers and go from there.
"We tried to hit as many high traffic areas as possible and make them highly visible," Planton said.
The previous bin locations were initially aimed at areas that generate the most waste and recyclables, mainly in academic offices. The system is set up for offices to have two containers: one small bin for trash and a larger bin for recycling. The recyclable materials are then picked up from the outside containers by Republic Industries and brought to a recycling center in Muncie, John Vann, an associate professor in marketing, said.
"It is our responsibility as consumers to take the initiative to separate our garbage into the waste or recycling container," Vann said.
To start the program, Student Government Association President Ben Tietz met the individuals from Facilities Planning and Management to discuss the university's recycling program. Tietz said the sustainability of the environment on campus and the issues surrounding it are important to SGA. In January, the Student Senate passed legislation describing steps to be made to aid in the program.
"They recognized the importance of the issue and were willing to do it," Tietz said. "We are working to standardize, expand and improve the recycling system."
Unlike the older containers, the new bins are readily identifiable and have signs listing what can and cannot be recycled. This is in conjunction with a pronounced marketing program that will encourage people to recycle, Planton said.
"We're trying to make recycling a part of the social norm," Tietz said. "Letting people know that you can recycle instead of just throwing everything away."
The recycling will expand to the outside of buildings. The university is looking into ways to convert some existing trash cans to recycling bins with a green logo on the side. This may take longer because of the logo stenciling, but students should see them by the fall, he said. Ball State plans to eliminate the cardboard recycling boxes for the new vinyl-coated metal containers.
"I look at everything to see if we can recycle it, and if we can't use, then find someone else who can," Planton said. "The best way is to look for reusable products that can be recycled in the cheapest, fastest method possible."
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