Along withe other move-out collection events, our Res Life department also joins suit in sustainable intiatives for items left behind. Every year, the res life student staff find microwaves left behind by students. One of the reasons this occurs is because they are so inexpensive. It seems that it is easier to abandon a microwave and buy a new one for next year rather than take up the space in their car or storage unit. Every year Facilities for Res Life collects these microwaves left behind and either gives then away or recycles them; the fact that they are abandoned goes to show that sustainability is not yet on many students’ radar.
The past two years, summer housing has been in Susan B Anthony Hall where microwaves are already provided. This year, since summer housing has moved to the Residence Quad where there are no microwaves, we needed to provide the kitchens with microwaves. Again this summer we encountered the usual stack of abandoned microwaves, collected the functional ones, and recycled the broken ones. These collected microwaves will be reused in Residence Quad kitchens, making it easier for college students to cook and helping to create a more sustainable campus environment.
