Chelsea ColleyEach year, the University of Kentucky celebrates America Recycles Day not just on Nov. 15, but all week by encouraging faculty, staff and students to recycle and learn more about recycling on campus. In past years, UK Recycling has created a variety of displays as a way to engage the UK community in recycling. This year, they plan to do another one.
Two large, plexiglass cubes containing everyday materials that can be put in the general recycling containers around campus will be on display Monday, Nov. 14, through Friday, Nov. 18, outside the Don & Cathy Jacobs Science Building and White Hall Classroom Building.
Everything in these cubes is recyclable through the blue general recycling bins on campus, including shampoo bottles, pizza boxes, plastic cups, plastic bottles, paper, cardboard and aluminum cans.
UK Recycling, in partnership with the Office of Sustainability, is working toward increasing the campus waste diversion rate to 50% by the end of 2022. In 2021, UK reached a 47% waste diversion rate. This means 47% of all waste on UK’s campus was diverted from the landfill. By 2030, UK Recycling aims to be a zero-waste campus, diverting 90% of all waste from the landfill, and one way they intend to achieve that is through increasing the amount of material that’s recycled as well as the types of materials that are recycled.
In addition to the display, UK Recycling will also be tabling next to the cubes all week, weather permitting. Make sure to stop by and learn more about the university’s recycling efforts:
- 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, outside White Hall Classroom Building;
- 11 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Nov. 16, outside Jacobs Science Building; and
- 2-3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, outside White Hall Classroom Building.
On Wednesday, Nov. 16, students will also be able to enter a giveaway to have a chance at winning a bundle of prizes including a tote bag, reusable water bottle, stickers, notebook and a reusable metal straw. In order to enter, students must be following UK Recycling on Instagram and TikTok (@ukyrecycles) and comment under the giveaway post that will be published on Nov. 16.
Join UK in supporting America Recycles Day by recycling more and recycling right. For a full list of what’s recyclable on campus, visit the UK Recycling website.
