In planning for the future the next generation isn’t just talking. It’s doing. Texas Tech student housing last year recycled more than 700 tons.
This 24-hour recycling center isn’t just helping the environment, it’s supporting Tech students.
Assistant Director of Sustainability Melanie Tatum said she and her colleague started the center in 2009 during move-in weekend.
“So each year we started putting bins in the halls and then we started collecting the construction recycling, rather than it going to the contractors,” she said. “And then we opened this up to the community. When we first started that we had like four of those little white bins, and then, you know, it just grew and grew and grew.”
The City of Lubbock has several locations to recycle, but the city doesn’t take glass or styrofoam.
“I think the fact that we take the styrofoam and the glass helps people also. Because they have a place to take that.
If they go to the city they don’t have that option. So, they’re kind of like if i’m going to bring it, i might as well bring all of it,” Tatum said.
The Housing Department purchased its own densifier machine to tackle all the styrofoam students produce during move-in.
Tatum said all the fund raised from selling these recyclables goes towards 35 student scholarships.
“The application has like three questions on it that have to do with sustainability.
You know, what are you doing to be sustainable, what can the university to do be sustainable. And then we score it,” she said.
$30,000 will go to students who live on campus and an additional $15,000 to off campus students.
The recycling center will choose recipients next month. Each one has to show passion for sustainability.
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