The University of Illinois at Springfield is already an active campus in recycling and supporters in a sustainable, waste free campus. Recycling bins can be found in most classrooms and eating areas, as well as faculty offices and common areas. UIS encourages students living on campus to recycle by providing informational pamphlets and bins in housing complex's.

We are full supporters of all the actions already taken on campus but feel that more can be done to increase campus recycling rates and lower waste.

We are proposing that if we increase the amount of recycling bins in classrooms, offices, residence halls and in the PAC and Grill dining areas and by building an accessible compost area for excess food waste the University of Illinois will lower its waste and be a more sustainable campus.

The objectives of this proposal is to receive funding and support for the following;

1. To receive funding and support for more public space, office and classroom recycling bins.

3. To receive funding and support on lowering waste reduction in dining areas.

3. To receive funding and support for the construction of a compost pile where students can dump extra food waste into after meals at the dining hall.

The United States generated 250 million tons of municipal solid waste and recycled or composted 85 million tons of material. This saved more than 1.3 quadrillion Btu’s of energy, which is comparable to 229 million barrels of oil. In addition, the recycling annually reduces 186 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent which is equal to removing 36 million passenger vehicles off the road. Each day, Americans recycle or compost 1.5 pounds of the 4.4 pounds of waste individually generated.

As population grows, waste grows along with it. Educating future generations on the importance of recycling to protect Earth is a number one priority for anyone who cares about tomorrow. By increasing recycling on University of Illinois Springfield's campus we are teaching students to not only care about waste reduction, but giving them the tools and knowledge to care about a better tomorrow for all of us who call Earth home!