U-M student leftovers find new homes
ANN ARBOR, Mich.From Hula-Hoops to microwaves,
ironing boards to fat-free Caesar dressing and Gerber's strained
green beansall of this was left behind when University of
Michigan students left the Ann Arbor campus for summer break.
As in years past, U-M's award-winning recycling
program was put into high gear during this move-out session in April
and the 25,011 pounds of goods collected from campus residence halls
found new homes and new uses.
 |
Tina Smith is a volunteer with
Caring Quilts that converts bedding into bedrolls for the homeless. |
"This was a 37 percent increase over last
year's collection," said Sarah Archer, Coordinator of
Waste Management and Recycling Services for U-M's Grounds
&Waste Management Services. "This was a record-breaking
year."
Archer's team sorted through the collected
goods, separating clothing (10,301 pounds), shoes (2,162 pounds),
bedding (1,751 pounds) household goods (6,311 pounds), and food/toiletries
(4,486 pounds) for distribution to various local and regional community
agencies and recycling operations.
Archer's team makes sure students who either
don't want to or can't take the goods home or who don't
want to store them until they return to campus become fully aware
that what they leave behind will be recycled or reused.
Bedding went to Caring Quilts to make bedrolls
for the homeless and for warming stations. Fairy Godparents, serving
as a distribution center for agencies in Washtenaw County, received
household goods and furniture. A variety of items, including clothing,
shoes and books went to Purple Heart. Crutches were returned to
the University's Health Service and Residential Dining Services
dishware were returned to the dining facilities in the residential
halls. Books identified as coming from University libraries were
returned to the facilities.
But there were some unusual items among the collections.
"We had more real hair wigs and hair pieces this year,"
she said. "But this is the first time we've had a fake
ficus tree and bowling shoes but no bowling balls."
Standing out among the goods separated and tied
into plastic bags ready for pick-up by the participating agencies
were a grinning plastic jack-o-lantern and one large rubber duckie.
Related Links:
U-M's
recycling information >
Contact: Joanne Nesbit
Phone: (734) 647-4418
E-mail: mjnesbit@umich.edu