Georgia Southern University ropes in new provider for aluminium can recycling

Georgia Southern University has entered into a new partnership for aluminium recycling on its campus. As a result, the system it has been using till now for recycling aluminium cans will remain non-functional till the time the new provider supplies the university with their infrastructure.

GS uses a system of recycling bins located in every building and other areas on campus. Until now, paper, cardboard, aluminium and other recyclables could be recycled on campus with the same convenience as throwing away a piece of garbage in a trash can. With the previous provider for the GS recycling program, aluminium and plastic could share recycling bins. However, GS recently switched to a new provider that requires the separation of aluminium and plastic, temporarily leaving GS without bins suitable for aluminium.

Georgia Southern and the Center for Sustainability are trying to act fast to remedy the situation, and with new recycling bins for aluminium on the way, the problem is expected to be resolved in as little as a month.



Georgia Southern University has been running an aluminium can recycling scheme for quite some time now. There is an incentive program that includes prizes for those who recycle.

“We want to welcome our students with a culture of sustainability,” said Lissa Leege, director of the Center for Sustainability and professor of biology. “Aluminium is what we collect the least of." Referring to the unavoidable glitch in the system, she said, “I don’t expect a huge difference in the actual weight of our recycling.”

The recycling program on campus is run and funded by the Center for Sustainability, which has recycled impressive amounts of waste. In the fiscal year of 2013, 134.2 tons of cardboard, 133.2 tons of paper, and 15.42 tons of plastic and cans were recycled on campus.