Baylor's Recycling Program Receives Award From Keep Waco Beautiful

May 2, 2008

In recognition of Baylor University's recently enhanced sustainability initiatives, the university has received a Partners in Pride award from Keep Waco Beautiful for the university's new Go Green Recycling program. The award honors local individuals, businesses or schools that help make the community a cleaner, safer, healthier and more beautiful place to live and work.

"This award shows that when faculty, staff and students take the initiative, it makes a difference in the quality of our city's environment," said Pattie Orr, vice president for information technology and dean of university libraries at Baylor, who acts as the University Sustainability committee coordinator. "We need to be good stewards of the resources we have been given. It makes no sense to put material in a landfill when we can send the same material to the recycling facility."

Every member of the University Sustainability committee received an award at a banquet held in Waco. In all, 17 different awards were given to local community members, businesses and schools.

On Feb. 1, Baylor started a major new recycling initiative. The initial phase placed 145 blue recycling containers in every campus residence hall that will take nearly every recyclable item, such as paper, colored paper, plastics, aluminum and tin. The containers are "single stream," meaning students do not have to sort the different items. The sorting is completed at Sunbright Disposal Services, a local processing plant.

As the recycling initiative expands, recycle bins will be placed in Baylor offices and public places around campus like the libraries, Bill Daniel Student Center and the McLane Student Life Center. Estimates show that Baylor could triple the amount it currently recycles, from 160 tons per year to more than 500 tons, once all the recycle bins are in place.

The new recycling initiative also will impact Baylor's bottom line. If the projected recycling numbers are met after all the bins have been placed, Baylor will save approximately $1,200 per month on landfill fees. In addition, Sunbright will pay Baylor about $1,100 per month for its recycled goods, meaning total savings could be nearly $2,500 per month, or more than $27,000 per year.

For more information, contact Pattie Orr at (254) 710-3200.