Launching Recycling Program on OEK St. Thomas campus in January 2023!!
The Caribbean Green Technology Center is collaborating with UVI’s Conservation Club and Island Green Living Association to begin a pilot program for recycling on the Orville E. Kean campus on St. Thomas beginning in the Spring semester of 2023. Please look out for recycling bins and informational flyers around the following buildings on campus: Administration and Conference Center (ACC); Classroom Administration Building (CAB) and West Hall Residence.
This is just the start!
We will continue to expand the program throughout the semester to include additional buildings on the OEK campus, and we will expand to the AAS campus in the Fall semester.
The University of the Virgin Islands will partner with Island Green Living Association’s Ocean Bound Plastics program to recycle the materials. We would also like to thank YES! Waste Management for their generous donation of a dumpster for storing materials. We would also like to highlight the work done by Howard Forbes Jr., utilizing crushed glass to create sand.
We are excited about this new launch, as we work to achieve goal I.5.C of UVI’s Greatness Through Innovation Strategic Plan, which seeks to “develop and implement a comprehensive ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ program.”
Recycling DROP OFF Location
You can drop off your clean aluminum cans and plastics inside the UVI Recycling Dumpster next to the CMES Annex (above the golf course) anytime during University hours.
No glass, plastic film or tin cans are accepted at this time!
Image from Island Green Living Association Ocean Bound Plastic Program
Recycling Guidelines
The recycling program will be accepting aluminum cans and plastics #1, #2, #5 which include:
plastic bottles and containers;
soda, waters, and juice bottles;
cleaning products, shampoo, and lotion containers;
yogurt, sour cream, and milk Jugs;
prescription bottles; and
aluminum cans
To make the program successful and limit the burden on our processing staff, please follow the guidelines listed above, and follow the directions that will be placed next to the bins. Place only recyclable materials in the bins and remove any food waste from the container before utilizing the recycling bins. While rinsing materials is not necessary it would, of course, be appreciated.
Want to get involved?
You can volunteer to help sort materials every other Monday from 2-4pm.
Why Recycling?
“The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) is facing a waste management crisis. ”
The U.S.V.I.’s landfills on St. Thomas and St. Croix have been ordered to close in compliance with regulations by 2022. Regardless each day Virgin Islanders continue to throw away 250-300 tons of waste and the majority is not recycled nor composted.
Although recycling does not address the root of the problem, the over-production of non-biodegradable products, we should not dismiss its social and environmental benefits. Recycling can help in diverting waste from landfills and reducing the energy and greenhouse gas emissions from the production of raw materials. It should also be promoted in conjunction with conservation efforts such as reducing consumption and finding creative ways to reuse products.
If Virgin Islanders were to recycle all the aluminum cans we use in one day instead of throwing them away we would divert 20 megatons of carbon dioxide. This is the same as removing the annual emissions from 4 passenger vehicles which is over 2,300 gallons of gasoline.
“Natural Disasters cause the generation of 5-15 times the annual waste of these communities”
Following the hurricanes of 2017, the Virgin Islands saw an unprecedented influx of trash. The trash generated by these events was the same as a year’s worth of waste for the islands. This, in addition to island landfills being filled near to or at capacity, highlights the need for a dramatic change in how we manage waste in the Territory.
What’s next for the UVI Recycling Initiative?
Educate UVI students, faculty and staff about the benefits of recycling and other conservation practices
Kickoff event to introduce recycling bins on the UVI campuses
Have student volunteers at new bin sites to demonstrate proper recycling etiquette
Sort, count and weigh bottles and cans to measure progress of recycling initiative
Share successes with UVI community and territory at large so that others may follow in our footsteps.
Look into further efforts to become more sustainable and a zero waste university and community.
USVI Waste Audit
The CGTC director, Greg Guannel, is the Project Manager for Finding Treasure in Virgin Islands’ Trash, a comprehensive Waste Audit study for the USVI. One goal was to identify and quantify potential recyclable and compostable products in our waste stream
Check out the UVI recycling marketing and educational material posted around campus!
Last Updated: April 2023