MCC recycling program helps community by expanding
Amanda Teller
As more and more college campuses are turning toward more earth-friendly methods, MCC has expanded its recycling program to better accommodate the campus community. “We’re trying to make it convenient for people to recycle by placing the bins all over campus,” said Steve Bass, geography instructor and former recycling initiator.
MCC was awarded a grant by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality for over $40,000 in 2007, according to Bass. With the grant, the recycling program was able to purchase 50 blue barrels from the City of Mesa and hire recycling coordinator, Tammi Taylor.
“It allowed our program to expand when we partnered up with the City of Mesa,” Bass said.
Bass estimated that MCC recycles over 1,500 pounds of material every month.
“Each of the barrels we estimate as 40 pounds. So if we put out 40 of them, we are looking at 1,600 pounds of recycling. The good news is it all won’t go into the landfill,” Bass said.
“Not only does it save the environment, but it saves the college money,” he added, when referring to the free disposal by the City of Mesa.
The MCC recycling program accepts plastic, glass, aluminum cans, cardboard and mixed paper like newspapers and printed paper.
Since the City of Mesa started accepting category plastics one through seven, it does not accept plastics bags.
“Now we can accept one through seven, which is pretty much anything plastic except plastic bags. The bags clog up the conveyor belt at the recycling center,” said Taylor.
“For the most part, employees and students have been very good with recycling. I see the program expanding and I’d like to see more bins and more barrels in more locations so it’s more convenient,” she added.
