Throughout the school year, various initiatives have been working to increase efforts for recycling on campus. Emily Tucci, who teaches Environmental Science says, “I have definitely noticed an increased awareness campus-wide with regards to sustainability. We are in the midst of the Green Cup Challenge, so students are hearing about energy saving updates during chapel and family style dinners.” In addition, Tucci adds, “Slade Mead and a group of students are spearheading the CLYNK recycling effort to benefit Relay for Life.”
The CLYNK program is through Hannaford grocery store and has been a “game changer” according to Slade Mead. “We purchase pre-labeled bags at $.16 each, which we then fill with glass bottles, cans, and plastics, and CLYNK does all the sorting,” Mead explains. “We deliver the bag to Hannaford, zap in the bar code on the bag and put the bag down a shoot. About a week later our Relay for Life account gets credited for the returnables in that bag. If a non-deposit item was in the bag, although we do not get credit, the item is still recycled.” Tucci adds, “Because so many students are now involved with the removal of these bags of recycling, they are able to see first-hand how much plastic we as a society and community are using on a daily basis, while having the reassurance that it will all be recycled and go to an amazing cause.” Scott Stensrud ‘19, who is one of many students emptying bins says, “Using the CLYNK bags is a smart and efficient way to attack pollution. It is an instant way that everyone can be involved. Our goal is to raise for Relay for Life over $1000 by recycling our trash!”
Mead concludes, “I believe that it is a slow, steady learning process. People are so accustomed to throwing things away that they do so without thinking, so we need to keep reminding everyone to use them—recycle, recycle, recycle!”