The Office for Sustainability and Greek Life diverted over 90% of all event waste during Greek Recruitment Week and Bid Day in August 2014. During this time, the Greek Community recycled nearly 1,000 pounds of cardboard, cans and bottles while educating nearly 4,000 students about responsible stewardship and the University of Arkansas’ Zero Waste goals.
Parice Bowser, Director of Greek Life, assisted the Office for Sustainability in providing each sorority house with Clearstream recycling bins. These bins were used throughout the week-long recruitment events. Cardboard was also collected during recruitment week and totaled nearly 500 pounds.
The Office for Sustainability partnered with RazorTemps to make Bid Day at the Chi Omega Greek Theatre the first Zero Waste event at the University of Arkansas. A total of 215 pounds of recyclables were diverted from the landfill, while only four bags of trash were produced. The Office for Sustainability hopes the Clearstream receptacles will be used at other events around campus throughout the year.
Carley Ligett, a member of Alpha Delta Pi, stated, “By implementing a year-round recycling program within the Greek community, not only would it serve as an educational opportunity for these students, but would also encourage the formation of habits towards being mindful of the environment, thus, giving back to our campus, and impacting the community of Northwest Arkansas beyond.”
This October, the OFS will partner with Washington County to conduct a waste audit of the Greek community. Kay Kay DeRossette, an intern with the Office for Sustianability, stated that the OFS has already begun to “collaborate with the City of Fayetteville and Deffenbaugh Industries to increase waste diversion for the Greek community. The audit will help us to better identify the majority of the waste, then through recycling and waste diversion we will be able to obtain zero waste in the near future.”
The OFS was established in 2007 after Chancellor Gearhart signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. In 2009 the Office for Sustainability created the University of Arkansas Climate Action Plan, which outlines the steps necessary to become carbon neutral by 2040. If you are interested in learning more about the progress of recycling in the Greek community please email khdeross@email.uark.edu
Figure: Breakdown of Recyclable Materials
Table: Recruitment and Bid Day Measurements
