The of Catawba College’s two largest residence halls – Woodson and Salisbury-Rowan – now have new recycling and trash receptacles, thanks to a grant from the college’s Green Revolving Fund, a method of funding sustainable projects that takes the savings from lower utility bills and other resource reduction programs and uses it to reinvest in more projects that reduce the college’s ecological footprint.
Roughly 12 trash receptacles were eliminated from the freshman residence halls when the recycling bins were installed over the college’s spring break.
The total cost of the project was about $22,300, an amount the college projects will be paid back in about three years from savings on landfill costs and increased recycling income.
“We have already noticed an increase in recycling,” says David Najarian, director of environmental services and a 1997 graduate of Catawba, because the additional stations make it easier for students to recycle. He submitted the proposal to the GRF Committee and oversees the project.
“We hope to see recycling continue to grow throughout the rest of this academic year and into next year when the Residence Life staff will have a full year to provide programming on recycling,” he says. “We also hope to be able to add the same stations to Stanback Residence Hall this summer while the building undergoes some upgrades.”
Najarian notes that the buildings have become more aesthetically pleasing inside and out as a result of the recycling stations as well.
“We have received plenty of positive feedback from students and recent graduates,” he says.