By Niki Acton '16

A coordinated reuse and recycling effort has saved more than 9 tons -- a 50% reduction -- in the amount of landfill waste generated when Knox College students move out of residence halls in June.

For a long time, year-end recycling at Knox relied on committed individuals, notably a clothing drive led by Sue Hulett, professor and chair of political science. She and student volunteers collected bags and boxes of discarded clothing that were then donated to local charities.

But that still left tons of trash bound for the landfill. Todd Smith, Knox's audio-visual services coordinator and member of the Sustainability Task Force, says he was shocked when he came to Knox in 2011, to see trash dumpsters rented by the College overflowing with usable but unwanted items. "I noticed an amazing amount of stuff being thrown away," said Smith, who decided to tackle the problem.

The big break came in 2012, when Smith, Hulett and student groups joined forces. In 2013, volunteers and students working for the College put in more than 350 hours sorting and transporting recyclable and reusable items -- diverting an estimated 50% of year-end waste and ultimately saving an estimated 9 tons of discarded items.

And this year, Froggi VanRiper, the College's new sustainability coordinator, equipped student work crews with green vests and detailed instructions on sorting and handling. Smith's office contributed more student workers and hand-carts for hauling items to a central storage area. Costs of the new program are partially offset by the reduction in dumpster use.

"Knox has grown beyond dumpster-diving and other informal activities," VanRiper says. "Students, faculty and staff are working together to maximize waste recovery. And just as importantly, we're building an economy of sharing that makes resources available to students and community members based on financial need."

"This is a great way to help the community and maintain a sustainable lifestyle, instead of just getting rid of things that other people can use," said Sophia Spooner, one of the students in the collection effort.

"Food is being donated to local charities, and reusable items are going to the Free Store on campus," said Spooner, a senior environmental studies major and student intern in Sustainability Office. Established by KARES, a student club, the Free Store enables students to reuse, without cost, items donated by students that otherwise would have been thrown away.

This year, some 300 lbs. of food and 500 lbs. of personal care items were donated to Safe Harbor and the Galesburg Rescue Mission. An estimated four tons of clothing, housewares, books, and other items were donated to the Purple Hanger charity resale shop and the on-campus Free Store. A total of seventeen students, including both work-study and volunteers, helped with the recycling.

Full-screen photos with captions and credits are available in an album at the Knox College Flickr channel