LAURINBURG — In April 2018, St. Andrews was selected as one of 19 recipients (out of 60 proposals) for the PepsiCo Recycling Zero Impact fund and received funding for a collaborative campus venture amongthe Student Government Association, Office of Student Affairs and SAU Leadership. The grant would be used to initiate a campus-wide recycling project that the Green Knight Initiative Committee would oversee.
This month, the results of that recycling venture on campus powered by the Green Knight Initiative are on course to divert an estimated 60,000 pounds of recyclable materials from the Scotland County landfill. Housing and Residence Life Director Clifton Dial and SGA President Eduardo Andrade have been in communication with Scotland County Solid Waste to ensure that recycling efforts meet the requirements of the local municipality.
The success of the campus program was furthered by St. Andrews representation at the Carolina Recycling Association’s 28th Annual conference on March 18 at the Citadel in Charleston, S.C. Dial and Andrade presented the recycling program development story of SAU recycling and participated in round table discussions with other universities such as the Citadel, USC, Appalachian State, Clemson, UNC Chapel Hill, and NC State.
SAU alum BJ Tipton, who is the head of UNC Chapel Hill’s Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling, was at the conference and shared her reactions with President Paul Baldasare Jr. about St. Andrews presentation.
“I have to tell you what a great job Eduardo and Clifton did at the Carolina Recycling Association’s Collegiate Recycling Coalition workshop this past week at the Citadel,” she said. “They gave the best presentation of all—and that’s not just my opinion. Their approach to the recycling program and grant request was great. They were able to talk about all the right details of getting a program off the ground and maintaining support for it — from working with the collection staff, to visiting the processing facility, working with the city, and selecting bags. They were spot on.
“Again, you are very lucky to have such committed, articulate, and professional representatives for St. Andrews,” she added. “They made me proud!”
Baldasare added his congratulations.
“The response from BJ Tipton is the highest praise! As the head of recycling at UNC Chapel Hill, BJ is considered one of higher education’s most knowledgeable and successful recycling leaders. For her to be so impressed with your work is an amazing stamp of approval,” he said. “Thanks for all that you’ve done and will continue to do to keep us focused on recycling.”
The Green Knight Initiative hopes to finish up the year strong with the Scotland County Green School Jam on April 17 and an SAU Earth Day celebration on April 28.
James R. Henery is the director of communications and university chaplain for St. Andrews University.