Even though you may be an avid recycler, that doesn’t mean that your whole campus is. One of the best ways to get your college campus involved in recycling is to start a recycling program. A good recycling program that incorporates the entire college community can clean up your campus and have a positive effect on other campuses across the world.

Here are some steps you can take to start an on-campus recycling program:

Step One: Get Support

The first step in starting an on-campus recycling program is to gather a committee to help with your efforts. This recycling services committee should be interested in recycling efforts and should consist of fellow students, faculty members, administration and operations members.

Step Two: Do Your Research

This is a huge part of your recycling program. Ask yourself these questions:

• What are my campus’ waste policies?
• Have there been any previous recycling efforts on campus?
• What will be recycled?
• Where will the recycling locations be?
• What equipment is necessary for the recycling program?
• Who is going to run the program?
• Who will be responsible for picking up the recycled products?
• How will we get the campus informed about the program?

Step Three: Decide on the Best Type of Recycling Program

Depending on what you find in your research, you might want to either start a small, self-running recycling program on campus or contact a larger outside company to provide recycling services. If you decide to start small, offer your recycling services in a small area on campus such as a few classrooms or a residence hall. If you decide to start big you will need to research what recycling centers offer their services in your area.

Step Four: Propose Your Plan

Once you have gone through every detail of your recycling program plan, then you need to develop a proposal to present to the student government or the school administration. You should always list your goals, the overall costs and the importance of having the recycling program. If you do this correctly, then you should have no problem getting the recycling program approved!

It might take a while to get your recycling program up and running, but in the end all of your hard work will benefit a great cause. If you need help find out more about recycling programs and other recycling information you can check out some of these sites:

Apple Recycling Program

Program created by the makers of Apple products that gives you information on recycling your old Apple equipment.

Campus Zero Waste

Helps students and community members find web-based information on waste reduction and recycling.

Global Recycling Network

Free-access public site that offers information about recycling.

Hands On Recycling

Program that collects old cell phones and inkjet/laser cartridges to raise money for educational organizations and to save the environment.

National Recycling Coalition

Advocacy group with members from all regions of the country that supports waste reduction, reuse and recycling in North America.

The Recycler’s Exchange

A worldwide exchange program for people and groups that want to buy, sell or trade their recycled products.

Recycle Now

Campaign designed to encourage people to recycle.

Recycler’s World

A worldwide trading site for recycled products.

Resource Recycling

North America’s recycling and composting journal.

Waste Wise

EPA partnership program that helps U.S. organizations eliminate solid waste.