In the fall of 2016, the Office of Sustainability introduced a new volunteer program called Recycling Geniuses in response to recurring contamination issues across campus. A significant number of recycling and compost loads were being rejected from their respective collection facilities due to cross-contamination with other waste and improper sorting. The WashU community is committed to lowering contamination rates, and Recycling Geniuses play a key role in addressing the issue through peer-to-peer education.
If you are interested to become a Recycling Genius, you can participate in a short training and volunteer in different dining halls across campus through the months of February and March. During volunteer shifts, you will help with educational outreach to bring awareness to the new recycling guidelines. Outreach strategies include tabling in dining locations and presenting to student groups, campus offices, and other stakeholder groups.
Upcoming training sessions include:
- Monday, February 6: 7-8p in Simon 109
- Wednesday, February 8: 7-8p in Simon 105
Perks of being a Recycling Genius include:
- Each volunteer will receive a Recycling Genius button and Office of Sustainability t-shirt
- Volunteers will gain experience in public speaking and improve presentation skills
- Volunteers will be making a difference at WashU and within the greater St. Louis community
If you are excited about helping solve this problem and making WashU a greener place, we encourage you to fill out an application. Once completed, we will send you more information regarding training and shifts. We look forward to working with you!