(Photo provided by Valparaiso University)
(Photo provided by Valparaiso University)
Valparaiso University says the inaugural year for recyclable material collection during move-in weekend was an enormous success, noting in the news release that thanks to the efforts of Residential Life, mail services, and volunteers from Valpo’s fraternities and sororities, over 2,000 pounds of cardboard and 180 pounds of plastic film and foam were kept out of the environment.
(Photo provided by Valparaiso University)
The university also said the addition of over 1,000 recycling bins in resident halls has made a tremendous difference in the amount of waste generated on a daily basis. According to Tyler Kuss ’25, energy and sustainability intern, the addition of these bins has resulted in a significant increase in recycled material and a notable decrease in the amount of garbage generated.
“During the campus-wide waste audit conducted in the spring of 2022, we found that less than 5 percent of the waste produced in our residence halls was being recycled,” said Kuss. “ So far this school year, we have seen an increase in our recycling rate at these buildings to at least 40-50 percent.”
Student workers and volunteers from the Office of Sustainability will continue to make a difference at this year’s home football games as tailgaters will be given bags to dispose of all recyclable materials to be collected after the game, the university said.
In addition to this year’s efforts, the 2022 campus-wide waste audit was submitted to the national Waste to Zero Waste case study contest, where it was recognized as the first-place entry. To learn more about green initiatives at Valpo, click here .
