New recycling bins collect e-waste

The need and desire for recycling on campus has grown so much that two "E-cycler" bins have been placed on campus in the Student Union.

These bins, however, aren't just regular recycling bins; they are for electronics such as ink cartridges, personal cell phones and any kind of rechargeable battery up to five pounds.

These new bins are located in two strategic places, one is located in the Student Union on the main floor and the other is on the second floor of the library.

Sponsored by the ASU Facilities Management Recycling Department, these bins cost about $800.

Helen McCoy, the recycling/waste manager for ASU, said the bins were put in place because they realized they had E-cycler bins for the faculty and staff, but none for the students.

Since the government does not fund these projects and the state mandated that all state agencies must have a recycling program in 1991, the Waste Management program has a few partners to help keep this project going.

MARCK Recycling and WW Recycling are two of their partners who both furnish large containers at the waste management facility to put materials in and then pick them up.

McCoy said the idea for getting these bins came from looking for recycling ideas from items that would be convenient to the students.

"I attended a conference in Atlanta and spotted these at the trade show. When I inquired, I was informed that I could label this bin to accept whatever I wanted," she said.

McCoy said she wants the students to have convenient access to these bins, but also wants students to learn that these items can and are being recycled.

There are only two bins out currently, but if the need for more bins should arise, the department will put out more.

"I would definitely use these bins to recycle all the batteries and ink cartridges I go through," Jamie Fleming, a senior history major of Ashdown said.

"Recycling is important period. Whether it be paper, bottles, glasses, old cell phones or anything that you can reuse," Brea Smith, a sophomore physical education major of Sarasota, Fla., said.

"Since we're college students, electronics are a major part of our everyday life, so it gives us a chance to just be able to use the recycling bins for something good instead of throwing those things out where they could be harmful," Smith said.