Listen to the podcast.

Green Campus Profile: University of Oregon Recycles

THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON CAMPUS RECYCLING PROGRAM BEGAN MORE THAN FIFTEEN YEARS AGO AS A STUDENT GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN.  LEARN HOW IT’S GROWN ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

TODAY, THE PROGRAM HAS FORTY-TWO STUDENT EMPLOYEES WHO HANDLE RECYCLING COLLECTIONS AND SORTING, STAFF A REUSABLE OFFICE SUPPLY CENTER, AND CONDUCT OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS TO ENCOURAGE THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY TO REDUCE WASTE.  KARYN KAPLAN, THE UNIVERSITY’S ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE AND RECYCLING MANAGER, SAYS THE NUMBER OF STUDENT EMPLOYEES IS WHAT MAKES THE PROGRAM SO SUCCESSFUL.

KAPLYN: MOST COLLEGE CAMPUSES HAVE FULL-TIME STAFF WHO ARE DOING THE RECYCLING END OF IT.

KAPLYN SAYS THE STUDENTS’ INVOLVEMENT GIVES THEM A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES AND TEACHES THEM THAT THEIR SMALL ACTIONS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

KAPLAN: INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS AND ESPECIALLY STUDENTS HAVE HUGE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO GREAT THINGS THAT WILL LEAVE A LEGACY.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM.      

For more information on the University of Oregon Recycling program, visit their website.

For tips on how and where to recycle anything, visit http://earth911.org/recycling/

Learn how to recycle at home and how to be active in community recycling at http://www.recyclenow.com/

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org