Recycle U

Project Eco College Challenge

2006-11-27T18:34:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,
Okay, so it's officially happened...I've completely lost my mind (to recycling that is). A few weeks ago someone from MTV called me and wanted to know more about Recycle U and wanted to know if our college group would be willing to participate in the Eco College Challenge . So apparently MTV and General Electric (GE-pictured above) have teamed up to sponsor a way cool project called the Eco College Challenge for individuals and college students to participate in. Of course, the focus is on making one campus more green and trying to promote more awareness about global warming and its affects. So, a few of us from Recycle U decided that we're up to the challenge and planning to throw our ideas to MTV and GE by the end of this week. EEKK!! Deadline!! We have until Dec. 1st-aka-this Friday to submit our application. After that it looks like we wait to see if we are selected as a finalist and then if we win we get $25,000 to carry out our green plan along with a concert for Earth Day 2007. So for the most part I plan to try and blog our progress as we go along and I encourage all of you to let me know if you are interested or have any fantastic ideas. Right now we're still working with that recycling idea and trying to get more involvement on campus. Any more details and I'm afraid that I'd run out of virtual space.

Please feed us your ideas and keep rooting for us. We appreciate your help!

In all recycling sanity,

Laura Wilm

President/Founder-Recycle U

Curb Your Impact on Global Warming

2006-11-03T09:18:00.000-08:00

Hello All,

I was watching TV the other day, specifically Curb Your Enthusiasm with Larry David, and was wondering if celebrities actually recycle. Yes, I know a little bit of pop culture here and there never hurt anyone. It's shocking really when you think about how much cars, lights, and chemicals contribute to global warming everyday, but if you had a lot of money to change your lifestyle would you? When you think of how much money it would cost to change in your Mercedes Benz for a Hybrid or get solar panels put on your house the cost climbs into the thousands. And when people like celebs are making a ton of money every day one would hope that they would start a "trend" in recycling. In the case of Larry David the answer was yes. More recently the Oprah show did a show on global warming "Global Warming 101" featuring Holloywood celebs that have gone green. Laurie David, wife of Larry, says that there are four things that people can do to help the environment.
1)Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. "Listen to the statistic from the EPA report," Laurie says. "If every American household changed five regular light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs, it would be like taking 8 million cars off the road."
2)If you bring clothes to the dry cleaners, bring along a garment bag instead of having them wrap your cleaned clothes in plastic.
3)Unplug appliances when you're not using them, even though you may think they're off. "For example, when you take your phone off, if the charger's still in the wall, it's sucking energy and that's costing us money and costing us emissions," Laurie says. "Everything needs to be pulled out of the wall: your coffee maker, your toaster, your hairdryer."
4)Buy toilet paper made from post-consumer waste paper—that's recycled paper!
The picture above features Laurie explaining to David that your tush does not know the difference between recycled toilet paper and new paper on the Oprah show.
So, there you have it. In an age where Hollywood seems to rule all, this time they set a better example for people by recycling instead of just encouraging plastic surgery.
So remeber to recycle and be more aware of your daily activities to
cut down on global warming.

Laura Wilm
President/Founder-Recycle U

Recycle your old PC/MAC

2006-10-25T00:11:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

I realize that as you read this on your personal computers you may be wishing you had somewhere else to put your old computer besides in a landfill...you know the one that sits in the corner collecting dust? For instance, the model to the right is an old school looking Lear Siegler computer that was actually designed in 1970. Yeah, so believe it or not you can also recycle your computers right here in the Valley. There's also the option to donate you computer to a local refurbishing center that can put your old machine to use like the Arizona Students Recycling Used Technology (StRut) Organization. This will ensure that your old computer goes to someone in need of one for educational purposes. Or check out Earth 911 for a complete listing of every computer recycling facility within Phoenix and the surrounding area.
Let us think about technologically advancing ourselves further by recycling the very hardware that we use everyday. And just think, with the new designs of smaller computers on the rise there will eventually be less product to recycle after its usage. So, the message is clear, if you purchase a new computer make sure your old one doesn't end up as a door stop or as pollution-RECYCLE IT!

Continue to Be Techonologically Savvy,

Laura Wilm
President/Founder-Recycle U

In Brief

2006-10-20T10:32:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Last time I wrote to you encouraging you to recycle your old fabrics, but today I'm writing to all you car junkies...that's right it's time to recycle your old car batteries!! Did you know that you can recycle your small appliance batteries as well as your old car batteries? Most auto repair and matinence shops can help you dispose of your batteries properly but I encourage you to check out Battery University online for other creative ways to make sure car batteries do not end up in a landfill. Also, for those who are a bit more earthly conscious I also encourage the use of the Hybrid vehicles that are rechargeable and use less gasoline that further contributes to poluting the ozone layer. Thinking about buying a new car that is good for the environment? Then you should definately check out a Hybrid at http://www.hybridcars.com/.
So please remember when you are thinking to recycle your glass, plastic and tin cans that you think about your car and how you can recycle that ol car battery too.

thanks and keep recycling!
Laura Wilm
Founder/President-Recycle U

Recycle Your Old Duds and More!

2006-10-10T00:19:00.000-07:00

Recycle Your Jeans??

Yep, that’s correct. Even your old denim can be recycled at ASU as part of this week’s Cotton’s Dirty Laundry Tour being held on Hayden Lawn. The event is sponsored by Tide laundry detergent and features many creative resources about post-manufactured denim and cotton that can be recycled. All denim that is collected this week from ASU and from other schools participating in the Tour will go toward rebuilding schools devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Recycling and helping out victims or Katrina could not possibly be any easier right? Besides the information on recycling cotton products there are also prizes and many chances to win a free ipod-yes, it is a recycling dream come true. So in the continuation to turn ASU green, I find that blue denim may be the way to go. Below I have listed two informative question and answers from the Cotton’s Dirty Laundry Tour’s Website.

Q. Why is cotton so important in today’s energy-conscious environment? Cotton is the largest natural fiber supplying the global demand for textile products. In 2005, the world’s demand for textile fibers was 130 billion pounds. In 2006 and beyond, world income and population growth will stimulate a 4.5 billion pound increase in global fiber demand each year. That means enough fiber will be needed for nearly 9 billion tee shirts or 2.3 billion pairs of denim jeans. And the main alternatives to cotton are non-renewable chemical fibers. Q. Can cotton supply the market in an environmentally-friendly manner?Absolutely. Cotton is sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable, making it an excellent choice as an environmentally-friendly fiber throughout its entire product life cycle. Most chemical fibers are petroleum based, which means they come from nonrenewable resources.

And while we’re at it, we shouldn’t just stop at recycling our clothes. Now, more than ever it has become increasing easier to infiltrate recycled products into our homes. Products such as recycled tiles, recycled cotton (yes, even denim) and even recycled metal can go into building a “green” home. In one instance from “Building Green Part One” a couple finds themselves a home that they decide to demolish and rebuild using recycled products. Watch and learn how even you could participate in an environmental version of the extreme home makeover.

Be sure to check out Cotton’s Dirty Laundry Tour this week and remember there’s always some way to Recycle U.

Laura Wilm
President/Founder
Recycle U

Videos and more...

2006-09-28T22:18:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

So I thought that this week in the spirit of all things visual, to give you a link to a video that I thought was pretty cool about recycling. Okay, well, it's actually what I would call really funny advertising but whatever can get the point across is better than nothing at all. I originally found the video on Google Videos and was surprised at how many others I had found. What I find most amazing about all of the video I found was that I never see much advertisement in Arizona for recycling at all. This is probably why we are the lowest ranking state in the U.S. to recycle anything. I would really like to change this starting at ASU and would really appreciate some feedback from anyone interested in advertising Recycle "U."
The name of the video is "Recycle PSA" and was originally featured on www.jimbolaiya.com .

Enjoy the video and remember to keep recycling!

All the best,

Laura Wilm
Recycle U-President/Founder

Mission Statement

2006-09-21T23:28:00.000-07:00

Mission Statement:

To enhance and encourage academic and social well-being of the ASU campus by providing more recycling facilities for disposal of paper, glass and plastic. Recycle “U” will promote recycling efforts in the classroom as well as on campus by using the “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” motto. Recycle “U” will offer additional awareness forums about the importance of recycling and the positive affect that ASU students can have on the earth.

Mission Statement, a Constitution and more oh my!

2006-09-21T23:19:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

So this week, I have to admit, I 've been a bit behind in writing everything for this club. However, having said that I do have a mission statement that I will try to post as an attachment and as soon as I finish the Constitution I'll post that too. This week I've been contacting some professors about becoming an advisor to the Recyle U club at ASU and have yet to hear back from them either way. Also, for anyone interested, you should definately check out the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality's website at www.azdeq.gov/ . The ADEQ really has some great stuff concerning how recycling effects polution and public health safety. So while this may take some more time just know that I'm still plugging along and will have some more exciting news coming for you soon. Oh, yeah, and as always, with any posts on this site spelling is OPTIONAL.

Take care and keep recycling,

Laura Wilm
President/Founder-Recycle U

The ball is rolling...

2006-09-12T16:41:00.000-07:00

Hello again,

I just thought I'd update you on my progress through the Student Organizations office at ASU. I'm currently filling out the paperwork that is due by Sept. 15 (this Friday) for priority registration. I need at least six students willing to sign the registration form for the SORC to actually take me seriously. After that I'm looking for student officers and a faculty member to officially advise the organization. Then comes the statement and purpose of Recycle U and what exactly we would be doing. After I file the paperwork I will post an a calender of events...as soon as ASU gives me a heads up on the registration form. Did I mention that I need to write a constitution too? I guess being a student government nerd in highschool has proven itself well. Anyway, please cross your fingers, toes, and eyes that we receive approval. Also, please contact me ASAP for involvement as an officer or advisor.

thank you,

Laura Wilm
President/Founder Recycle U

Welcome to Recycle U

2006-09-12T14:13:00.000-07:00

Hello to Everyone who cares about Recylcing!

This blog is for students, professors and groupies dedicated to helping make Arizona State University one of the largest universities in the country to recylce. Our main goal is to encourage ASU to offer more options for people to recylce massive amounts of paper, aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles. Most of these items students and faculty use everyday but are only left with one option to throw them away.
Along with a newly formed club "Recycle U" and anyone else interested I would also like to hold forums for discussion on how ASU can lead the country as a model for mass recycling. But before you trade your Minolo Blahniks and Nikes in for Birkenstocks please know that I'm not asking for people to give up the products they love most for the sake of recycling. The goal is to inform people that recylcing something is better than recylcing nothing. That is, if we can reuse something instead of putting it in a landfill, then the world is a better place.
Also, along with informing the university of its responsibility to its consumers, we will be throwing a huge PR event in lieu of Earth Day for the spring of 2007. You know, something a little more encouraging than the heaps of garbage on Hayden lawn. I'm talking sponsors, free products, food and more. The more people we can get involved, the better. Besides everyone likes to party for a good cause right?
Ok, so in brief that's what Recycle U is all about. I encourage anyone interested to contact me at laurawilm@yahoo.com for more information. Comments and criticism are always welcome :).

Take care and keep recycling,

Laura Wilm
President/Founder Recycle U

ps- here is a list of way cool recycling sites you should check out!

-Keep America Beautiful http://www.kab.org/aboutus.asp?id=35&rid=56
-Recycling tips http://www.obviously.com/recycle/
-Recycle City http://epa.gov/recylcecity/