Student government leaders at Montana State University Billings have long been taking the lead in recycling efforts at the university. The problem is few of their fellow students knew it.
So recently, the Associated Students of MSU Billings invested about $4,000 to upgrade from the plain orange and blue receptacles to gather paper, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles to some new multi-bin and single recycling stations from Busch Systems.
“The recycling stations are a part of an effort to promote sustainability at MSU Billings and make it an even more inviting place for students, faculty, and staff,” said Steven Kirby, sustainability coordinator for ASMSUB. The customized Busch Systems recycling containers will bring awareness to everyone and they show our school colors and mascot. The bins catch your eye when you walk by making it easier to find a recycling station.
“We wanted to get our name out there so students knew what we were doing and to help make this a better place for everybody,” said Kirby, a senior from Billings majoring in communications and theater. The Busch Systems Customized recycling stations have done this perfectly!
Four new recycling stations went out in the past week. Two customized Indoor/Outdoor Sorts from Busch Systems are at the library at the MSU Billings university campus, one is at the City College and another is at the Student Union Building. They are about four feet long and a little more than two feet tall. The hard plastic design is easy to clean and comes with slots for paper, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles.
The single station “Smart Sorts” was also purchased through Busch Systems with a customized logo and appearance. Busch Systems offered several bins to select from as well as matching our colors perfectly. More of the stations will replace the single collection bins as funds become available, Kirby said.
The recycling effort follows through with efforts started in 2009 to boost awareness of sustainability all across the university. Surveys have shown that more than 90 percent of MSU Billings students support recycling and are responding favorably to other sustainability efforts. A year ago, ASMSUB worked to replace a handful of water fountains at the university with stations to handle refillable water bottles.
For more information on the student government and its efforts, go to www.msubillings.edu/asmsub/.
