Thiel College Environmental Club puts plans in motion to improve campus recycling program

Posted April 24, 2021 Print

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- The Thiel College Environmental Club has revamped the current campus recycling program to reach more students, improve efficiency, and transfer the responsibility for recycled materials to a fully student-led initiative.

The College’s previous recycling program collected recycled materials from the academic buildings and some dormitory buildings, and housekeeping staff move these materials to a larger recycling bin on campus. The new program is an expansion of that program; more buildings will be provided with recycling bins, and rather than housekeeping staff being responsible for disposing properly of recycled materials, student workers will be hired into work study positions to take care of these materials and will receive compensation for their efforts in helping the program run correctly and efficiently. The club is currently working to get approval for the purchase of recycling bins, bags, and gloves.

“Recycling bins will now be located on each dormitory floor as well as the lobby and kitchen areas,” Environmental Club President Chad Pakozdi ’21 said. “It will also expand into theme houses, townhouses, and sports fields.”

Pakozdi said the club created maps to note the locations of all recycling bins on campus, and recycled items will also be sorted so that trash may be removed. Aluminum cans will be recycled separately as well, and any funds raised from the aluminum recycling will go to benefit the club’s Earth Day activities.