The days of deciding whether that yogurt cup goes in the garbage can or recycling bin are over at U-M.
Single-stream recycling officially launched Aug. 30 in residence halls on campus and at Michigan Stadium at this season’s first football game on Sept. 4. Under the new program, paper and container recyclables are collected in the same bin making it easier for consumers to recycle and more efficient for operations staff.
“This is the first major change to our recycling program since 1995,” says Tracy Artley, recycling coordinator at U-M. “It will take some getting used to, but once people learn how easy this is the benefits such as avoided landfill costs and garbage cost offsets will be great.”
Artley also expects the program to increase the campuswide recycling rate, currently about 30 percent. The City of Ann Arbor went to single-stream recycling in July and has experienced great results so far.
“We’ve seen excellent response in the short time the program has been in place,” says Nancy Stone, communications liaison for the City of Ann Arbor. “Single-stream recycling is a one-stop, more convenient way for people to recycle.”
The schedule calls for the rest of campus to be converted to single-stream recycling during the 2010-11 academic year. As home to the largest stadium recycling program in the country, Artley believes the new program will quickly be embraced given the long-standing commitment at U-M to “reduce, reuse and recycle.”
“Research shows that single-stream recycling equates to higher participation because it’s easier for people to understand,” Artley says. “U-M has been a leader in its commitment to recycling, and single stream will make our program even stronger.”
