From March 16-20, the University of Central Missouri’s Housing Office sent emails highlighting different ways students can reduce their environmental footprint, with each day focusing on a new sustainability topic. The initiative was part of Sustainability Week, a weeklong effort aimed at keeping sustainability visible and practical for students living on campus, breaking it down into simple actions that can be built into everyday routines.
“As far as campus [recycling] goes, they are doing a good job. They’ve got cans all over the place and they are properly labeled” said freshman Sawyer Hayes.
One major focus of Sustainability Week was improving recycling habits in the residence halls. UCM Housing regularly promotes waste-reduction practices as part of its mission to help students learn and develop skills to learn how to be part of their communities. This is aided by the use of recycling locations on campus that are intended to make it more convenient and accessible for students.
“The university has a contract with GFL [Green For Life] to remove trash and provide recycling containers,” said Brenda Moeder, Senior Director of Housing. “There are two large recycling dumpsters located just south of Fitzgerald Hall and on the back side of South Ellis.”
In 2024, GFL helped fund recycling efforts and education among students by donating to the college. During that time, representatives of GFL Environmental, Inc., presented University of Central Missouri President Roger Best with a $10,000 check to fund campus community education on recycling, according to UCM Integrated Marketing Communications.
“I don’t really think there are enough recycling bins on campus,” said Ayden Christensen, a dual theater arts and cybersecurity major. “As someone who lives in Nickerson, none are found inside the building or even outside next to the dumpster.”
Another initiative highlighted during the week was reducing plastic waste through a tote bag exchange program. This effort aligns with the current housing efforts of helping students develop life skills through simple choices in daily routines. Students can drop off five plastic bags at the Ellis Housing office to receive one black tote bag with a housing logo on it.
“The goal was to provide one recyclable tote per student for the first 100 students who dropped off five plastic bags,” said Moeder.
Distribution of the tote bags will continue through the end of the spring semester or until UCM Housing runs out of bags, encouraging students to participate while supplies last.
“We turned in approximately 150 plastic bags for reuse [and] we do still have totes available for pick up at University Housing,” said Moeder, as of April 1.
