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SIUE Set to Compete in 2013 RecycleMania Tournament

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While the nationwide competition is a friendly one, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Sustainability Officer Kevin Adkins is hoping that the University will bulk up on its recycling efforts, while slimming down on trash disposal, especially during the 2013 Tournament of RecycleMania.

“In a nutshell, we want to recycle more and consume less,” said Adkins. “RecycleMania is a benchmark tool for colleges and universities that have waste reduction programs. This will be the third year that SIUE has participated.”

RecycleMania begins Feb. 3 and ends March 30. Colleges and universities across North America report the amount of recycling and trash collected each week, for eight weeks, according to Amy Gardiner, treasurer of SIUE’s Student Organization for Sustainability. Schools are ranked according to who recycles the most, based on a per-capita basis.

The competition started in 2001 as a challenge between Ohio University and Miami (Ohio) University. The two schools were looking for ways to encourage their student bodies to recycle more. For more information, visit recyclemaniacs.org.

For the previous years, SIUE has been involved as a benchmark participant, where the school estimated the weight of its trash and recycle items, Adkins said. However this past July, SIUE began weighing its trash and recycling waste. When the school participates in the 2014 RecycleMania Tournament, it will be able to do so as a competitor.

SIUE has made significant inroads in its waste reduction efforts, said Adkins. The University is also well on its way to serving as a model on how to incorporate sustainability into the life, practice and culture of an institution. The sustainability officer referenced two SIUE initiatives: the One Less Cup program, and utilizing refurbished inkjets and toner cartridges. The One Less program is the Morris University Center’s way to encourage everyone to use less waste and part of the UC Green Campaign, said Joseph Pearson, MUC director. Reusable cups, priced at $6 each, are available in the University Book Store. The hot/cold cups may be used at any SIUE coffee and fountain beverage locations, and the cup holder pays only 75 cents for refills. Starbucks and Kaldi’s offer the discount only on their “coffees of the day” and not any specialty drinks.

The other initiative is a State of Illinois contract for refurbished inkjet and toner cartridges. The contract is with TRI Industries, who provides the state with refurbished printer cartridges. By using TRI Industries products, the University community has an opportunity to save money, according to Nancy Ufert Fairless, SIUE director of purchases. For instance, the purchasing department’s bill for a color toner cartridge was 64 percent less than what the department had previously paid to their office supply vendor.

Fairless learned of TRI during a diversity fair at the University. The company is a “State Use Program Workshop,” which employs Illinoisans with significant disabilities.

“These two initiatives illustrate how SIUE is making significant strides in sustainability,” Adkins said. “In addition, Steve Brandenburg (assistant director of Facilities Management) has been very instrumental in the promotion of recycling on campus.”

For more information on the University’s waste reduction efforts, visit siue.edu/sustainability.

 


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