FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2008
Contact Ben Chambers, (770) 537-5756

RECYCLING EFFORT AIMS TO CUT WASTE TO LANDFILLS

In an effort to cut the amount of waste it sends to landfills, West Central Technical College has begun a College-wide paper recycling program.

New bright green containers outside each campus location accept paper products only – from office paper and cardboard to newspapers and cereal boxes – and students, as well as faculty and staff are being asked to separate other forms of garbage from recyclables, Murphy Campus Director G.W. Rogers said.

Bright green GreenFiber containers like this one are in place on each of West Central Tech’s campuses. Each one is clearly marked with a list of acceptable recyclables.

“We are teaming up with GreenFiber, which is a company that turns waste paper into cellulose insulation,” Rogers said. “They provide the container and empty it at no charge, and we are able to reduce the amount of trash that we as a College generate that needs to go to the landfill.”

President Dr. Skip Sullivan said the project is a small way West Central Tech can make an impact on the environment.

“We had a saying years ago, ‘think globally – act locally,’ and I think that is what we are trying to do. Last year we installed a rainwater collection system on the Murphy Campus and we have been able to keep some of our landscaping watered this summer, as well as refill campus fountains,” Sullivan said. “As you can imagine, even with efforts conduct much of our business digitally, our College uses a lot of paper. Paper recycling is another small way we can try to lessen our environmental impact.”

Rogers said all paper deposited into the special bright green GreenFiber containers is manufactured into fiber insulation, fire and sound products. Each ton of paper recycled provides enough product to insulate the attic of a 2,500 square foot home and saves about 17 trees.

West Central Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas and Haralson counties, offers over 90 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Central last year served over 10,000 students including credit enrollment, adult education, ESL classes, continuing education and corporate training. In FY 2008, West Central was the fastest-growing technical college in Georgia.

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