Chico State recycling program diverts 200 tons from landfills

By KATRINA CAMERON-Staff Writer

Posted: 07/14/2013 12:11:24 AM PDT

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CHICO - The Associated Students' recycling program at Chico State University was able to divert more than 400,000 pounds of waste from landfills during the 2013 spring semester.

A.S. Recycling collects anything from bottles, cans, paper, cardboard and compost that has been generated from Chico State University, said Jesus Torres, operations coordinator at A.S. Recycling. The program's three biggest sources of recycling are compost, paper and cardboard.

The program was founded by students in 1996, and has expanded its services since then. A.S. Recycling currently has more than 1,800 recycling bins on campus, free school supplies and a free Reuse Store.

Student employees of the program collect recycling around campus in shifts between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the school week, said Travis Snyder, safety and operations supervisor at A.S. Recycling. The program also accepts public donations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays at their location at 417 Cherry St.

The campus recycling program finished off the academic year last May with a total of 756,113 pounds of recycling and compost, Torres said. That is a 16 percent increase from the previous academic year.

"It's quite a bit, and I'm proud of it," he said. "It's been a big jump from past years."

The program has doubled the amount it recycles within the past three years.

"In three years or less, we have easily doubled what we're recycling, so I think it's a huge accomplishment," Snyder said.

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students and faculty on Chico State University's campus are recycling, he said.

"There are a lot more bins out, as far as paper bins and other bins that give people the opportunity to recycle and I think people have been receptive to it," Snyder said.

Collecting thousands of pounds of recycling goods hasn't been a simple task for these students, but they look forward to the future of the program.

"It hasn't been easy, but we've done it," Snyder said. "Hopefully we keep growing and people keep supporting us because we do have pretty big plans in the works right now. It's looking like a bright future for A.S. Recycling."

Reach Katrina Cameron at 896-7759, kcameron@chicoer.com, or on Twitter at @KatCameron91.