Elon University in North Carolina Aims to Have 50% of its Waste Diverted by 2030

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): Elon has plans to divert 50% of its waste by 2030. Currently, the university is diverting 25%. Kendra Harrison, waste reduction and recycling manager, said it will take a lot of work for Elon to reach 50%.  “I keep coming back to outreach, because we have to educate a lot,” Harrison said.

Sustainability has been integrated into Residence Life’s training, according to Elon’s website on sustainability.  Sustainability has spread to other areas of campus in other ways, outside of just the office of sustainability, senior Lauren Hill, volunteer coordinator for the Office of Sustainability, said. But, students are not always aware of the waste they are generating and other ways Elon maintains sustainability, Hill said.

“A big part of contamination and the waste that’s generated on this campus definitely is from what students so I think there’s a bit more awareness and responsibility that needs to be taken because again, you just throw your stuff in a bin and then someone comes and picks it up, you never have to think about it again,” Hill said.

 Courtesy: www.wasteadvantage.com