UAA Recycling Program

UAA’s recycling program is a student run program that currently collects mixed paper and cardboard at several locations across campus. The team collects over 30,000 pounds or 15 tons of paper and cardboard each semester. According to the EPA, recycling one ton of mixed paper saves 17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 2 barrels of oil, and 4,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity. To contribute, check the list of pick-up sites and start recycling today. Don’t see your office on the list? Email recycle@uaa.alaska.edu to get your office added to the pick-up schedule.

Our Recycling Efforts Continue to Grow

The recycling program began as a student run initiative in 2000. By 2003, recycling workers expanded their service, created a university-wide recycling program, and collected approximately 500 pounds of mixed paper each week. That number increased to 1300 pounds per week in 2006 and 2300 pounds per week by 2007. Each pound of paper recycled helps reduce the environmental impact of our paper usage. Congratulations and thank you to the Recyclers for their hard work.

Recycling Facts

Check some recycling facts from Oberlin College’s Recycling Page by clicking here.

History of Recycling at UAA

• Paper recycling has a long term presence on UAA’s Anchorage campus; Anchorage Recycling picked up from individual offices in the early 1990's, then General Support Services handled it until 1998.  Dumpsters were then provided if departments wished to recycle on their own.
• In 2001, former Regent David Parks, with the input of concerned students, felt that recycling was a social responsibility of the university and led USUAA to restart a low-level recycling program.  This was funded partially by student fees and UAA Facilities. 
• In December 2004, USUAA was awarded a $28K Waste Reduction and Recycling Challenge Grant from the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA).  Grant funds were used primarily to purchase recycling containers and centralized recycling collection receptacles now distributed across the Anchorage Campus.
  
• USUAA received another grant in Spring 2006 for the academic 2007 year for $26,000 from the Strategic Opportunities Fund.  This grant  paid for student employees to continue and operate a small scale recycling program.
• The USUAA, through a generous donation and EPA grant, install a special kit into a diesel truck so that the truck can run off of straight vegetable oil. The kit was put in during the Spring 07 Semester and successfully ran off of straight soy-bean oil during the end of that semester.
• The Recycle Program received funding from the university to continue operations through the 2008 Summer semester.