University of North Florida
ER-2: Student Sustainability Outreach Campaign

Garbage on the Green is a campus recycling event during which 100-150 student volunteers perform a campus waste audit. The waste audits results are compared with previous audit results to demonstrate improvement or the need for improvement with our waste and refuse program. The event also serves as an environmental exhibition for local environmental organizations, including community partners such as the Sierra Club, City of Jacksonville Dept. of Environmental Protection, as well as environmentally oriented student clubs and UNF departments. Recyclemania is a program that creates a friendly competition between colleges and universities and aims to promote waste reduction. UNF has participated in Recyclemania for the past couple of years and has added an inter-dormitory competition to enhance student participation in the event. Student volunteers collect and weigh recycling collected at each dormitory and results are kept on the Environmental Center's webpage.

Data from Garbage on the Green is collected each year and compiled into a readable report. From this report we can evaluate where recycling bins are being utilized and where they are not, thus allowing us to improve the efficiency. Furthermore, the data shows by category (plastic, paper, etc.) what we as a university community are throwing away and presents opportunities for waste reduction policies. Recyclemania data is extremely important, because it gives the university a better look at waste habits in our housing areas. The data can be used to educate students about exactly how much trash is created on campus. Furthermore, it allows us to target areas that may not have a high diversion rate and focus resources and energy in these areas.