An ideal Saturday afternoon for a University of Wisconsin student typically does not involve collecting thousands of plastic bottles from the Camp Randall stands. However, members of REthink Wisconsin have done this after every home football game for the past two years.
Since it began last fall, the group now collects approximately 1,200 pounds of plastic bottles after each game, according to Maggie Galloway, former REthink chair and current athletic coordinator for the group. She also runs the “Wear Red, Think Green” recycling program at Camp Randall.
REthink Wisconsin organizing began when a group of about six members working on an Environmental Studies 112 project all expressed interest in reducing waste on campus.
According to REthink Wisconsin Chair Lindsey Schiller, the organization has already collected more than 5,000 pounds of plastic after just five home football games, doubling last year’s collection output of 2,300 pounds of plastic during the 2008 football season.
“We’re hoping to work with the Athletic Department quite a bit more this fall to figure out a way to make the recycling program more sustainable for the future and expand it to different areas of athletics (aside from just football),” Galloway said.
Cleaning up while most students are recovering is not the only conservation initiative REthink has thought up.
The group — now in its third year of existence — began Homecoming weekend by distributing reusable mugs and water bottles during its conference with Energy Hub Friday, endorsing its REfill campaign.
REthink Wisconsin also increased recycling awareness during the Homecoming parade by cooperating with Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group and Energy Hub to create a Bucky mascot composed entirely from recycled materials they displayed on the We Conserve car with a large tricycle recycling bin trailing behind.
Last week, REthink also completed a Library Mall trash sort, in which REthinkers concluded that 75 percent of the 51 pounds of garbage they sorted through could have been recycled, according to the group’s website.
REthink Wisconsin plans to collaborate with We Conserve, as well to bring outdoor recycling bins to Library Mall, making them the first outdoor recycling bins on campus.
Finally, the group is looking to expand their campaign through an upcoming event called “REfill on the Hill,” set to occur on Nov. 17.
“We are looking to expand the REfill campaign that we have been working on this fall by planning a REfill on the Hill event where we will have free coffee on Bascom Hill for all students who bring their (reusable) mugs,” Galloway said.
