Going green sometimes seems like a difficult task, but at USC, it may be easier than you think. Recycling, in particular, is a simple way to reduce waste.
All around Russell House are “Big Bellies,” the newest trash and recycling compactors on campus — eight were installed on campus in the spring.
The Big Bellies use solar power to run compactors, which allows each to handle the same amount of garbage as five regular trashcans. The garbage can is situated alongside the recycling bin on the Big Bellies, which makes it easier for students to separate their waste.
“They’re really visible, so people have been asking about them a lot," said Margaret Bounds, USC's coordinator for environmental sustainability for University Housing Facilities Operations. "It’s neat to see people thinking about trashcans. A lot of times, trash and recycling are an afterthought."
USC is working on a five-year plan to change the university’s recycling bins to single-stream recycling bins, like the receptacles in Thomas Cooper Library.
Single-stream recycling (sometimes called mixed recycling) allows for all recyclable materials like cans, plastic and paper to go into the same bin, further simplifying the recycling process.
All residence halls have a recycling system, and Residence Mentors can point students in the right direction if they don't know where to find it, Bounds said.
Bounds and her coworkers are now working on a mini-dispenser project for faculty at USC. The dispensers feature large, single-stream recycling bins with small garbage cans attached. This is ideal for offices , where there is typically more paper waste than food waste.
The mini-dispensers have already been introduced to faculty offices in Patterson and have showed great promise.
“We saw a 15 percent increase in recycling just by adding them," Bounds said. "They definitely make a big difference."