Group conducts second recycling drive
Ashton Shurson - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 4/9/07 Section: Metro
Despite the lack of an official recycling program in the UI residence halls, students are still doing their part to protect the environment.
The UI Environmental Coalition hosted the second recycling drive this spring at the Burge Hall lobby to collect anything - cardboard, bottles, paper - that can be reprocessed and reused.
"Recyclables honestly take so long to biodegrade that it doesn't make sense not to recycle when you can," said Julia Mantey, a UI sophomore and the director of the coalition's recycling committee.
During the April 7 event, students collected six trash bags full of different items that they will eventually separate and take to places across town. The non-redeemable items are dropped off at City Carton Recycling, 3 E. Benton St., and the redeemable items are brought to the Iowa City Hy-Vee for cash - which is then donated to Local Foods Connection, a group that donates fresh produce to needy families in southeastern Iowa.
The first drive, on March 3, collected 12 trash bags and, Mantey guesses, $30 worth of redeemable items. This month's drive garnered $10 and mostly soda and water bottles, she said.
"It was fairly slow in the afternoon, but that was poor planning on our part," she said, noting it was a holiday weekend.
Although only 10 to 20 people brought their recyclables to Burge, Mantey said, the number of people who donated compared with the number of students staying in the residence halls illustrated the drive's initial success.
In addition to protecting the environment, the group used the drive as a way to promote recycling.
"Our goal is to have similar functions in each neighborhood," Mantey said, adding she hopes that by next year the program will have spread to Hillcrest Hall and Mayflower Hall.
Despite ongoing initiatives to create a permanent recycling program on campus, Mantey said she and the coalition wanted to get something started in the meantime.
Many students grew up recycling at home, she said, and the UI needs to supply people with a means to meet their greener needs.
The date of the next drive - which she predicts will have a greater turnout - has not been confirmed yet but will probably take place May 5.
E-mail DI reporter Ashton Shurson:
ashton-shurson@uiowa.edu
The UI Environmental Coalition hosted the second recycling drive this spring at the Burge Hall lobby to collect anything - cardboard, bottles, paper - that can be reprocessed and reused.
"Recyclables honestly take so long to biodegrade that it doesn't make sense not to recycle when you can," said Julia Mantey, a UI sophomore and the director of the coalition's recycling committee.
During the April 7 event, students collected six trash bags full of different items that they will eventually separate and take to places across town. The non-redeemable items are dropped off at City Carton Recycling, 3 E. Benton St., and the redeemable items are brought to the Iowa City Hy-Vee for cash - which is then donated to Local Foods Connection, a group that donates fresh produce to needy families in southeastern Iowa.
The first drive, on March 3, collected 12 trash bags and, Mantey guesses, $30 worth of redeemable items. This month's drive garnered $10 and mostly soda and water bottles, she said.
"It was fairly slow in the afternoon, but that was poor planning on our part," she said, noting it was a holiday weekend.
Although only 10 to 20 people brought their recyclables to Burge, Mantey said, the number of people who donated compared with the number of students staying in the residence halls illustrated the drive's initial success.
In addition to protecting the environment, the group used the drive as a way to promote recycling.
"Our goal is to have similar functions in each neighborhood," Mantey said, adding she hopes that by next year the program will have spread to Hillcrest Hall and Mayflower Hall.
Despite ongoing initiatives to create a permanent recycling program on campus, Mantey said she and the coalition wanted to get something started in the meantime.
Many students grew up recycling at home, she said, and the UI needs to supply people with a means to meet their greener needs.
The date of the next drive - which she predicts will have a greater turnout - has not been confirmed yet but will probably take place May 5.
E-mail DI reporter Ashton Shurson:
ashton-shurson@uiowa.edu
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