By Jennie Burroughs

After many years work and many failed attempts, the Environmental Club and the solid waste management class are making plans to bring comprehensive recycling to Glenville State College and the surrounding community. The groups presented ideas for Zero Waste Recycling on campus at an event held on November 13. Dr. Allyson Degrassi, faculty organizer and professor for the solid waste management class, initiated the project. Junior students Layfield, president of the Environmental Club, worked with Degrassi to restart the club last year.

The two groups focused their presentation on encouraging people to get more involved in the community of Gilmer County and on Glenville State College’s campus. One of the proposals that the groups are working on, is the re-location of the recycling building. Right now, it currently resides behind Pickens Hall, where the recycling trucks are unable to reach it. They are hoping for a new building near the Goodwin Hall bus shelter.

Degrassi stated that one of the big goals the Environmental Club is working on getting Aramark, head of Mollohan services, to use recyclable materials instead of plastic cups, plates, and silverware. They also hope to get maps printed out of where recycling bins are around campus. While many proposals were discussed, the groups need approval from college administration to get them started.

The groups are also working with the existing recycling program at Glenville State College. Currently, Sara Rollins volunteers and is in charge of the recycling center. She now has a student worker to help her take care of campus. Rollins is also the Department Secretary for the 

Department of Business. Her journey with being in charge of recycling started when she began working at Glenville State College. She noticed there was no place to recycle cardboard or glass around campus and got in contact with the recycling committee at Glenville. She soon found out that the committee was in desperate need of help. The committee asked her if she would like to be in charge of recycling, and she agreed. Rollins strongly urges anyone that has an interest in helping with recycling, to get involved.

The groups also cleaned out the recycling bin behind Perkins Hall and hope to use the old bus house as a new recycling spot. As of now, the Robert Kidd Library has a paper recycling container. The third floor of the AB building also has recycling bins for any unused papers. Recyclable items that can be added to the recycling bins around campus include paper, cans, and plastic.

Although the group has used posters to help would-be recyclers, they are hoping for more visibility through the campus website, this newspaper, and other media willing to help the cause.