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In a boost to its conservation and sustainability efforts, Boston College will receive 75 recycling bins as part of the Alcoa Foundation Recycling Bin Grant Program.
BC is one of 35 colleges and universities being given a portion of more than 11,500 recycling bins by Alcoa Foundation, in partnership with national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful and the College & University Recycling Coalition. The campaign will help schools boost their recycling results during the current RecycleMania Tournament — a friendly eight-week competition that aims to change behavior about recycling and raise awareness about waste reduction programs on college campuses — and expand their recycling efforts throughout the year.
The 75 bins — which will be be used in different campus settings, such as in dining facilities and at catered events — enable BC to get additional recycling infrastructure where it needs it most in an effort to divert recyclables from the waste stream, administrators said.
“Last year BC was number two in the rankings for the amount of recycled materials per person, and we are hoping to move into first place in that category,” said Sustainability Program Director Bob Pion.
BC’s recycling actions netted an equivalent of 2,106 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which Pion said is the equivalent of keeping 413 cars off the road or the amount of energy for 182 households.