Students Encouraged to Donate Items in ‘Don’t Toss it, Recycle it’ Event
JONESBORO – At the end of each semester, many students at Arkansas State University, eager to pack up their belongings, leave behind items they no longer want.
Because of the prevalence of clothing, small appliances, bicycles and other items that are often thrown away, an event at A-State will encourage students to recycle unwanted items so other students can reuse them.
The three-day event, held Monday, April 29, through Wednesday, May 1, is being called, “Don’t Toss it, Recycle it.”
“Occasionally we run across mini refrigerators and small appliances that will be in the dumpster. Those items cannot go into the dumpster, so we have to go through and get them out,” said Melissa Dooley, director of environmental health and safety.
Dooley said after years of unwanted items being left behind and thrown away, this year they are turning one person’s trash into another person’s treasure.
“We will have a designated drop-off site for clothing that students don’t want to take home for whatever reason,” she added.
Clothing can be dropped off in the lobby of Reng Student Union from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Monday, April 29. Clothing must be clean.
“Since we do realize that a lot of students are busy, we also have a website where they can log in and schedule a pickup and someone will come and pick up a bicycle or small appliance,” Dooley continued.
Small appliances that are working and cleaned out can be brought to the Facilities Management parking lot from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30. The Facilities Management parking lot is located on the southeast corner of campus, near Red Wolf Blvd.
Dooley said Facilities Management has agreed to designate an area of their warehouse to store donated items.
“We will let the A-State Food Pantry know what types of items we have and when students here on campus need one of the items, they can contact us and we will give it to them,” said Dooley.
Students who wish to donate a bicycle may do so from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, at the Facilities Management parking lot.
“We are trying to recycle it here on campus first,” said Dooley.
She added this will be a great resource for incoming and returning students.
Those who wish to schedule a pick-up date and time may do so via an online form.
Those with questions may reach out to Dooley at mdooley@AState.edu or 870-972-3644, or Tammy Webb (twebb@astate.edu, 870-680-4753) with any questions.
Memorial Arch on the Arkansas State University campus.
