The Campus GREEN
UMA Reduces, Reuses, Recycles
Ever wonder what happens to the plastic soda and water bottles you put in the recycle bins? At UMA they are collected by those in the Honors Program and taken to the local redemption center where they are sorted and compacted into large bales for transport to a processing plant. Here they are washed and shredded into flakes so that manufacturers can melt the flakes and incorporate them into an array of items such as carpeting, insulation, decking, and clothing. Imagine! The next bottle you put into the recycling bin may end up in someone's polar fleece vest. There's even an added benefit, you help support Honors Program activities.
Recycling of paper, cardboard, newspaper, and magazines has been part of UMA's recycling program since 1989. These items are recycled through Waste Management in Augusta and Maine Recovery Resource in Bangor. UMA's electronic Message of the Day and the Student ListServ reduce the need for paper communication.
UMA students are offered the opportunity to pick up used computers and occasionally unneeded furniture and office equipment. Other usable items are delivered to the State of Maine Surplus Program or to nonprofit organizations for reuse. Small quantities of oil from grounds equipment get reused by local companies. Even the frying oil, used in the preparation of those lunchtime goodies at the Moose Tracks Café, is recycled into biofuel!
Learn what you can do to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
