All Recycling Program

In 2010 University of Cincinnati switched to a new recycling program, known as All Recycling.  Members placed All Recycling containers all throughout campus to promote its new recycling program.  The All Recycling containers located throughout campus carry the following labels to identify their purpose (See below).  Since 2010, UC has seen an increase in the amount of recycling and the number of trashcans located on campus.      

Logo found on recycling bins (Recycling @ UC)

List of recyclable materials (Recycling @ UC) Click for acceptable items for ALL RECYCLE program

In 2010, the University of Cincinnati recycled just over 4,600 tons of material, an increase of about 23 percent over the year before when UC recycled more than 3,700 tons of materials (Recycling @ UC).  We can thank the new All Recycle program for this dramatic increase.   According to Rick Wiggins, director of UC Facilities Management, UC currently diverts 65 percent of its waste stream into recycling, with the goal of taking that figure to 70 percent by 2019 if not sooner (M.B. Reilly).  “I’m anticipating that 2011 should be even better.  The 2010 rise in recycling occurred even though we only had our All Recycling program in place for six months of last year.  So, in 2011, we’ll have our All Recycling program up and running for the entire year.  That should bring even better results,” he stated. 

The overall meaning of this program is so that UC can decrease the amount of waste sent to the landfills.  In the past decade UC has reduced that amount by nearly 50 percent.  In addition to the All Recycling program, UC has a few other programs, one being the Bearcat Recycling program. 

   Bearcat Recycling

Bearcat Recycling is the University of Cincinnati’s program to recycle at special events and athletics games on campus.  This program started in 2007 as “Tailgate Recycling.”  Volunteers’ main focus was to recycle during tailgating at home football games.  By 2008, this program expanded to include recycling during the games and it 2009 it expanded to other large events such as the Sigma Sigma Carnival. 

With help from the new 2010 All Recycling program, the Bearcat Recycling was expanded to include all special events and athletics games on the Uptown Campus.  Most importantly, this was accomplished because of a grant from the ODNR for additional carts and bins and funding from student activity fees with enabled the Office of Sustainability to hire twelve Sustainability Advocates to staff the program (Bearcat Recycling).    

Bearcat Recycling Stats and contact info for recycling at a specific event (Bearcat Recycling)

Interviews

Carlton Brett, University of Cincinnati, Professor of Geology 

After interviewing Carlton Brett, who has been a professor at the university for many years, he was able to shed some light regarding recycling here at the university.  He stated that, "Recycling is a great thing at the university and the All Recycling Program is very beneficial to the campus."  In addition, he said, "people are starting to not use the recycling bins as much as they did in 2010 and 2011."  This made me realize that a new approach should be taken to get people to start using the bins like they once did.  A good idea could be to make the trashcans a fluorescent color to get peoples attention.

Patrick Cullen, University of Cincinnati Geology Student

Patrick Cullen has been a student here at the University for 4 years, and will be graduating this Spring.  The first question that I asked Pat, was if we was aware of the All Recycling program, his response was no, but he did say that he uses the recycling bins every now and then.  He also stated, "I think recycling is a great idea for the university.."   

(Interviewed with Cheyenne Hassan on 3-7-13) 

Work Cited 

"Bearcat Recycling." UC.edu. N.p.. Web. 8 Mar 2013. <http://www.uc.edu/af/pdc/sustainability/campus_initiatives/recycling_and_waste/bearcat_recycling.html>. 

Brett, Carlton, and Patrick Cullen. Personal Interview. 7 3 2013.

"Recycling @ UC." Facilities Management. University of Cincinnati. Web. 8 Mar 2013. <http://www.uc.edu/af/facilities/services/recycling.html>. 

Reilly, M. B. "Recycling Grows at UC – By Tons at a Time." UC News. 20 4 2011: n. page. Print. <http://www.uc.edu/news/NR.aspx?id=13485>.