I worked with the Office of Sustainability during Freshman Move-In Fall 2025 to help divert waste and sort through recycling. Additionally we focused on public outreach and education about why recycling is important, and what is actually recyclable.
Final Project Outcome
This final report is being created as the final step to receive my Green Dragon-Saplings recognition by reflecting on a sustainability leadership experience.
What I did
As a recycling ambassador, I was responsible for making sure that all of the waste from Move-In was diverted by recycling all cardboard, polystyrene, and (approved) plastic film. We got there before Move-In to meet with a representative from Casella. Casella is the company that is responsible for recycling collection here on campus, and the representative explained to us what their facilities do. We then were trained on what materials are recyclable, and which are not. During all days of Freshman Move-In, we worked in teams making sure that we were present at each Freshman building for a portion of the day. We would roam the halls and grab waste, and then sort it in the lobby, making sure to inform families about what we were doing and why recycling is important.
What I learned
I learned that there are certain plastics that can be recycled, and some that cannot. How I explained this to people, and what I learned, is that if you can poke your finger through it, it can be recycled as plastic film. Additionally, I learned that while normally polystyrene cannot be recycled, Casella had a service that would specially recycle polystyrene from Move-In. The whole experience was eye opening to how much waste is produced during Move-In. As pictured on the image to this report, we had an entire room filled to the ceiling full of bags of polystyrene after just two days of Move-In.
What’s next for me
Ever since my Recycling Ambassador experience, I now focus on how I can be more conscious of my own waste produced. I try to educate my friends on which plastics can and cannot be recycled. I will continue to be a part of the Office of Sustainability as an Eco Ambassador, and use my knowledge of this recycling experience to be a leader on recycling based activities.
