Northwestern Celebrates Earth Day with Mount Trashmore

Anyone strolling Northwestern's campus on April 22 was in for an unusual sight: an eight-foot mountain of garbage piled in front of Lunt Hall and a man in a skin-tight green suit.

This seemingly strange display was actually an Earth Day demonstration known as Mount Trashmore. For the second year in a row, Facilities Management and several environmental student groups joined forces to erect a mountain of trash representing how much garbage is generated on campus every six hours and raising awareness about campus recycling programs.

Thanks to newly instituted recycling efforts, the mountain is seven percent smaller than it was last year, said Julie Cahillane, manager of recycling and refuse.

Students were also encouraged to sign sustainability pledges outlining specific actions they could take to "go green" on campus.

Full story: http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2009/05/earthday.html

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Northwestern
• environment
• ecology
• recycling
• green
• campus

[anoniab]

I would agree it should be perhaps be recycled, but I have a better idea. When cooking a meal the night before, make enough to pack your lunch for the next day. This was done for many years for even large families. It only takes a few minutes. If one uses plastic sandwich keepers as opposed to baggies or saran wrap, there is no waste except for the renewable napkin.

[ADDCollaborations]

I have to agree with you, but would you recommend for the people that do eat out due to a busy schedule, to make a concerted effort to recycle those materials?

[anoniab]

Want to cut down on paper and styrofoam waste? Stop eating take out: No more pizza boxes, paper/styrofoam cups/hamburger holders, paper bags and fry holders.