惇軗勛圖 Student Senate Executive Vice President EricHulbert makes a deposit in the colleges new reverse
vending machine, located in the Student Leadership Center.
Looking to wipe out improperly discarded bottles and cans on campus, 惇軗勛圖 has now made available a reverse vending machine to students, employees, and community members alike.
Located on the first floor of the Student Leadership Center (SLC), the machine is now available for use during normal SLC hours, 7 a.m. to midnight each day, and will be available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday as of May 15 (summer hours). Users from both on-campus and the public may bring in only plastic bottles and metal cans (no glass) to be recycled, for a receipt to be redeemed for cash within 30 days at the Campus Bookstore, located in the same building.
To mark the availability of the new machine, the college recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony during its Earth Week festivities. Students, faculty, and staff gathered to watch as Student Senate Executive Vice President Eric Hulbert (network administration, Mexico, NY) and AmeriCorps VISTA member Cassandra Bull were the first to use the new bottle and can recycling machine. Both Bull and Hulbert were instrumental in bringing the machine to campus.
Bull said students and employees made a push for many years to bring a reverse vending machine to campus, and that she cant believe they finally got one.
Were really proud of it. Right now, its our job to spread the word about this great opportunity that isnt 12 miles away to return bottles and cans, she said, referring to the nearest redemption center a dozen miles away in Hornell. Hopefully, it will lessen the amount of waste on our campus.
Provided by the Tomra Recycling Company, the machines exterior wrap was designed by digital media and animation major Callie McIntosh, of Canton. The machine was paid for through the 惇軗勛圖 Student Senates Green Pioneer Sustainability Grant, which provides funding for 惇軗勛圖 students working in environmental-related projects.
Jonathan Hilsher, director of the Center for Civic Engagement at 惇軗勛圖, said it is exciting to see this student initiative come to fruition.
This is just the latest example of the creative ways that 惇軗勛圖 students are addressing sustainability challenges, he said.
Looking to the future, 惇軗勛圖 plans on increasing the amount and variety of its machines and expanding their locations to residence halls and other buildings on campus.