Texas Tech is going “Guns Up, Green Up!” as it participates in Recyclemania for the second year in a row.
Jackie Kimbler, co-unit manager of Go Green, the sustainability branch within Tech Housing Services, said Recyclemania is a national competition where more than 400 colleges participate in recycling everything from paper to cardboard to bed springs.
“The biggest part”, Kimbler said, “is getting the word out that there is a recycling program on campus.”
Kimbler, from Albuquerque, N.M., and her partner Melanie Tatum, from Lubbock, found out about Recyclemania at a conference two years ago.
Melanie Tatum, on the left, and Jackie Kimbler have been partners at Go Green for six years. As Unit Managers in Housing Services, they work to increase sustainability on the Texas Tech campus. Photo by Kaitlin Thogmartin
“We hope with things like Recyclemania,” Tatum said, “it’ll help get the word out that there is a recycling center on campus.”
Kristin Anderson, a junior chemical engineering major from The Woodlands, Texas, said over the past week she has seen signs going up for Recyclemania.
“I have never heard of Recyclemania,” Anderson said, “but I think I’d attend an event for it, it seems like a good cause.”
Tatum said Recyclemania operates on an honor system, with the prize of bragging rights over other universities.
Kimbler said in the coming weeks, events will be held to raise awareness for the competition.
“There is only an eight–week period,” Kimbler said, “that we can actually count the weight towards the Recyclemania.”
Kimbler said in 2013, Tech placed 110th in the Gorilla division, which is the total weight in tons of recyclable material. Kimbler said Tech also competed in the Per Capita division. This is based on weight per student for the entire campus, including the health science center.
Events for Recyclemania:
- Feb. 8: At Texas Tech vs. OSU basketball game to hand out free T-shirts.
- Feb. 12: Will display eco-art in the free speech area.
- March 12: Reusable arts and crafts sale for groups and organizations in the free speech area.
Recycling on campus:
- The recycling station on campus is located behind Housing Services.
- They take paper, though they request that it be separated from other recyclable material, and cardboard.
- They will take all plastic.
- They will also accept miscellaneous items such as bedsprings, empty ink cartridges, and batteries.
- A full list can be found at http://housing.ttu.edu/gogreen/recycle#recyclestation
Texas Tech’s on-site recycling bins are located behind Housing Services and are open 24 hours a day. Go Green’s 10 student sorters go through them every day and separate all the recyclable materials. Photo by Kaitlin Thogmartin
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