The Great Spring Office Clean Out

From Facilities Management to Old Main and everywhere in between, faculty and staff across the University of Arkansas are encouraged to clean out their offices during February and March as part of RecycleMania.

The office for sustainability is organizing the University of Arkansas to combine efforts to compete in the national RecycleMania competition.

“The intent of the Office Clean Out is three fold,” said Carlos Ochoa, director of the office for sustainability. “First, it’s meant to spotlight and laud those offices who already engage in some sort of program that allows their staff to properly recycle the material gathered in offices over the year. Second, it’s to promote fire safety through reduction in combustible materials stored in offices. We all have a tendency to hold onto papers far too long. Finally, it’s a general call to action. Cleaning out your office and properly recycling during the RecycleMania competition is the easiest way for faculty and staff to help the University of Arkansas increase our rank in the SEC RecycleMania Challenge.”

Plastic and glass bottles, aluminum cans, and paper can all be recycled on campus. Large recycling receptacles are located in every building across campus. Education and general-use buildings should have desk-side recycling receptacles. If you are in need of new or additional recycling receptacles please contact Razorback Recycling to schedule a delivery of additional or new recycling containers: genzor@uark.edu. 

Other items such as cellphones, printer cartridges, toners, and batteries can all be recycled on campus as well. The University of Arkansas Bookstore on Garland Avenue accepts cellphones, printer cartridges and toners.

“The University Bookstore has partnered with Staples and Battery Outfitters in Rogers, Ark., to provide this service for the campus,” said Ali Sadeghi, bookstore manager. Mullins Library accepts batteries on the first floor in the main lobby. For a full list of how to properly recycle most items on campus, please visit the University of Arkansas Environmental Health and Safety website.

If you intend to participate in the great Office Clean Out, please take this online pledge.  The online pledge will also allow you to request volunteer assistance to dispose of recyclables and to locate proper recycling receptacles in your building. 

If more information is needed, please contact the office for sustainability at sustain@uark.edu.