Prescenzifall2014EH2000

Ohio University has a very active recycling program on campus and in the city of Athens.  This is headed by several offices at the University.  One of the offices that is extremely proactive in recycling at the university is referred to as The Recycling and Refuse program. The Recycling and Refuse Office consists of one manager, one supervisor and approximately eight student staff. They work with the Office of Sustainability, Facilities Management, and other campus departments and groups to encourage a culture of reusing, reducing, and recycling. This group has a contract with the Athens County Recycling Center.  The ACRC also works with a few other organizations in order to reduce the environmental impact on the area.  Groups like  the Appalachian Peoples Action Coalition, Re-Use Industries, New To You, and Albany Tutoring Center are all working with the Recycling and Refuse program to try and divert as much trash from land fills as they can. (http://www.ohio.edu/facilities/recycle/index.html)  One way of keeping lots of organic matter like food and yard waste out of land fills is to compost it.  Composting is utilized by Ohio University and here in Athens county.  On the other side of Radar Hill just across the Hocking River and down the road from the University is a  very large composting center.  The facility takes in food scraps, yard waste, and other organic matter. The facility is very large and has rows and rows of compost outside.  The waste is rotated  or flipped from time to time.  Eventually the organic waste becomes highly fertile soil and can be used in agriculture.  " RecycleMania" is a positive reinforcement program implemented to encourage colleges in the united states to recycle.  The project is eight weeks of the intercollegiate recycling competition. (http://www.ohio.edu/compass/stories/12-13/4/RecycleMania-wrap-2013.cfm)  Ohio University's Athens campus finished first among Mid-American Conference schools in four categories.  This establishes Ohio University as one of the most eco friendly colleges in Ohio.