School is coming to a close, and spring cleaning is right around the corner. To ensure UNC continues to be a green campus, students should donate and recycle any unwanted belongings instead of throwing them away.
UNC students should look to a variety of local programs that encourage waste reduction.
Throwing away unwanted items or just laying them out on the curb can be tempting. However, UNC works with other organizations to provide students with the necessary resources to donate and/or recycle these items.
Donating items will not only provide students with a sense of accomplishment in regards to sustainability but also provide a service to Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers in Durham. This organization is where most of the items donated will go. It is a comprehensive two-year residential recovery program.
Other nonelectronic items, such as bedding, will be donated to Paws4ever, a nonprofit organization that promotes animal welfare by educating about humane treatment, among other things.
It can be easy to forget that electronic waste is recyclable. American Greenz, a Durham-based company that refurbishes and recycles electronics, will recycle donated electronic waste, such as computers.
UNC will have drop-off locations for these organizations throughout campus for those who live in residence halls. They will also have bins that allow people to recycle and donate things ranging from athletic equipment to toiletries. For those who live off campus, donation centers can be found throughout Chapel Hill.
By recycling and donating unwanted goods, students need to understand they are doing a service for the environment, as well as doing a service for others.
