MTSU officials are seeking the public’s help to keep the University’s Greenland Drive recycling area cleaner.

The recycling bins at 1500 Greenland Drive, near the Tennessee Livestock Center, are available 24 hours a day for public use.

MTSU Recycling Program Manager Linda Hardymon adjusts new signs at the Greenland Drive community recycling location. (MTSU photo by News and Media Relations)

MTSU Recycling Program officials recently added signs to inform users what is and isn’t acceptable for recycling at the site, as well as signage with useful community recycling guidelines.

The campus and surrounding community can recycle white and mixed paper, magazines, newspapers, books, aluminum cans and plastic containers with identification codes 1 through 7.

Tin cans, glass and e-waste cannot be recycled at the Greenland site. MTSU also is not currently accepting cardboard at the community location while it obtains a new vendor, an official with the program said.

The Community Recycling Area Guidelines ask users to:

• be respectful of MTSU property and others using the site;
• place recycling materials in appropriate bins;
• not leave recycling materials or trash on the ground;
• not climb on or in the bins; and
• not remove materials from the bins.

Facilities Services’ Linda Hardymon, assistant manager with the Center for Energy Efficiency, manages the student-run program.

Six student workers schedule paper pickups in buildings all across campus, help with cleanup “and keep an eye on things for me,” she said. Occasionally, students who are performing community service are part of the program.

While the first three recycling guidelines are important, the response to the last two often leave Hardymon shaking her head.

She has seen people—four at once, in fact—inside the bins and had to ask them to leave.

“It’s a safety issue,” she said, explaining that such activity could lead to injuries. Once recyclers place items in the bins, she said, the items become MTSU’s property. In effect, removing coupons, cans or anything else is stealing.

She expressed gratitude to those in the community who bring their recyclables to the Greenland Drive site, whether in small or large amounts.

“Recycling is better than not recycling at all,” Hardymon said.

“Our recycling program is a benefit for the community. It could go away at any time. People should be conscientious. Don’t leave a mess for somebody else to clean up.”

— Randy Weiler (Randy Weiler@mtsu.edu)