Members of Kappa Kappa Gamma recycling with ClearStream receptacles from the Office for Sustainability.
For Panhellenic formal recruitment 2015 the Office for Sustainability and Greek Life collaborated to expand upon the recycling program initiated in 2014. This year the recycling program was extended to spirit week, the week before the potential new members go through the recruitment process. Additionally, this year each sorority chapter designated a member to serve as sustainability chair for the recruitment process. Each sustainability chair was responsible for maintaining communication between the Office for Sustainability (OFS) and the chapters.
The program provided each sorority with two ClearStream receptacles for plastic and aluminum recyclables, and the sororities were informed that any additional recyclable materials, such as cardboard, could be collected by the OFS as well. The OFS collected the recyclable materials as needed by the chapters and weighed the recycling in order to determine the amount of waste diverted from the landfill in pounds. The primary materials recycled were cardboard, plastic, and aluminum.
Phi Mu used reusable glassware for refreshments throughout the recruitment process.
Some sororities generated more recycling than others. Kappa Kappa Gamma produced a large amount of cardboard, as their lunches often came in recyclable cardboard boxes. Phi Mu used recyclable plastic water bottles at lunch and reusable glassware for all of their refreshments during the two weeks. Every chapter was able to divert some waste that would have otherwise gone to the landfill. In total, 924 lbs. of recycling were collected including the 77 lbs. of plastic water bottles generated at bid day.
Recruitment Recycling Details 
The recycling program was a great success, diverting more waste than the previous year. The bid day diversion amount was lower, but the weather was much milder, meaning that fewer water bottles were needed. Next year, the OFS hopes to explore working with the chapters to do food recovery for any leftover food at the meals they serve. The Office for Sustainability hopes to continue to work with Greek Life at other events throughout this upcoming academic year and at next year’s formal recruitment.