In a joint effort to create a greener campus, Plant Operations and Coca-Cola have placed 22 red Coke-themed recycling bins throughout the campus.
Johnnie King, director of the Department of Solid Waste and Recycling, aims to eliminate 80 percent of campus waste through recycling and hopes the accessibility of the new bins will encourage students and staff to dispose of plastic and aluminum in a more environmentally responsible manner.
"If I need to put more bins somewhere so they can use them, I’d be more than willing," King said.
Students can find Coca-Cola recycling bins in high-traffic areas such as the M.D. Anderson Library, the University Center Satellite and Philip Guthrie Hoffman Hall. These recycling bins can also be found in the Fleming Building, McElhinney Hall and the Ezekiel W. Cullen Building.
"I try to put them in the high-intensity areas where kids pass through," King said.
Students may throw away aluminum cans and bottles in any Coca-Cola bin. The aluminum and plastic waste will then be separated by the Department of Solid Waste and Recycling at Plant Operations. Their plans to differentiate specific bins for disposal of aluminum and plastic waste will be implemented this fall.
The Coca-Cola recycling bins were donated to the University System from Coca-Cola. The contract between Coke and the University stipulates that in exchange for selling only Coca-Cola-produced cold beverages on campus, the company sponsors UH athletic teams and supports the school through gestures of goodwill. The original contract in 2000 specifically requested the initial donation of 50 Coca-Cola recycling bins to aid the campus’s recycling initiative.
"We’ve been at this for eight years," Auxiliary Services staff manager Cora Day said.
The original 50 bins requested by the University in 2000, such as the bin next to the vending machines in the Fleming Building, are bright red and rectangular. In 2006, 19 blue Dasani bins were distributed across campus, and in 2007 UH-Downtown sent 25 Coca-Cola bottle-shaped bins for Central campus’s use, while June’s 22-bin donation has a Coca-Cola can-inspired design.
The standard-sized recycling bins requested by the University cost the company $50 to produce, with larger bins running as much as $100 each.
"They’ve shown tremendous support over the years," Day said.
The new recycling bins form part of Coca-Cola’s upcoming national marketing campaign. Along with distributing recycling bins to universities across the United States, All Coca-Cola advertisements now include information on recycling and requests for consumers to properly dispose of plastics.
In addition to recycling aluminum and plastics, King urges students and staff to call his officeat (713) 743-5655 with requests for more bins at on-campus locations or if they need to dispose of cardboard, car batteries, metals or other recyclable materials. Students may also use Plant Operations’ blue recycle bins, located throughout campus, for paper and plastic waste.
