Students push recycling plan

Plastic bottles, cans, newspapers and paper can be recycled on a daily basis if students and staff take the time to deposit these items in their proper place. That's the message the Residence Hall Association is using to help expand their on-campus recycling program.

"It doesn't take a special gifted person to do this; every person can do it," said accounting junior Wesley Crick, who is also co-recycling coordinator for RHA.

"There are those students who are really into recycling and then there are those who do not understand what we are doing."

Crick and hospitality management sophomore Marsha Overstreet hope to expand the current recycling program, which was established in 1993 by former UK student Scott Razzino.

The program has been gaining more momentum since its inception, but the progress has been slow. Although response has been mostly positive, the organizers said the hardest part is getting large numbers of people involved.

A plan is being developed by RHA to promote recycling to a wider audience in the residence halls.

Crick and Overstreet are the only students who currently are involved in the program.

Crick oversees the north side of campus and Overstreet keeps a close eye on the south side of campus.

"We need help," Overstreet said. "It takes more than two people to do this project."

Crick and Overstreet hope that new students will get involved to help their expansion efforts.

"Our school is a good place to start because it could affect us in the real world," Crick said.

For Crick, the decision to become involved in the program was an easy one.

Crick said he became involved in the program because he has always had an interest in the environment and the improvement of the quality of life.

Overstreet said recycling had always been a part of her family life and this seemed like a perfect fit.

She got involved with the recycling program because everyone back home recycles.

"It's important to recycle," Overstreet said, "because even though it may not seem like much, you're saving the environment."

Students interested in becoming involved with recycling in the residence halls can contact the RHA office at 323-1919.