FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Office for Sustainability recently partnered with University Housing and Gamer4Good by facilitating a pilot recycling program on campus.

The most recent April pilot rallied the participation of more than 800 students, faculty and staff. It included teams from every sorority, Sigma Nu fraternity, Pomfret residence hall, several classes, and even the administrative office under the leadership of Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz.

The purpose of this pilot was to raise awareness of environmental issues while having fun.

Eric Boles, the director at the Office for Sustainability, echoed that point saying, “The Office for Sustainability supports projects that raise awareness and get students more engaged in the conversation of social and environmental responsibility. A highlight of this project was working with University Housing which continues to be a paragon of open collaboration. The OFS and Housing plan to partner on more sustainability initiatives throughout 2016.”

“Residential students use more resources than other students just because of how they interact with the university. Housing must play a forward role in getting the campus toward its goal of zero waste by 2021. That’s why these pilots are so critical to test,” said Flo Johnson, executive director of Housing.

Caring for the environment and recycling doesn’t have to be seen as a chore. That’s exactly why Daniel Hazman co-created Gamer4Good, a website and developing app that aims to “gamify” recycling. “Doing good and having fun does not have to be mutually exclusive...but now with Gamer4Good you can do it in your sweatpants,” said Hazman.

On Tuesday, May 3, the competition closed with a reception and awards ceremony. It was an opportunity to celebrate the month’s accomplishments.

Chancellor Steinmetz started off the awards ceremony, saying, “The University of Arkansas has committed to being a zero waste campus by 2021. That means in the next four years we will have to divert 90 percent of the nearly 3,000 metric tons of solid waste we generate each year from landfills.”

Impressively enough, the Greenest Group award went to the Chancellor’s team. Other groups and individuals won prizes ranging from an iPad to a Yeti cooler.

The winners had the support of a full house as they accepted their prizes.  

Greenest Group:

1. Chancellor Steinmetz’s team
2. Alpha Omicron Pi
3. Alpha Delta Pi

Greenest Floor in Pomfret:

• 1st Floor C Wing

Greenest Group on Campus, Top Individuals:

1. Ann Gallaher
2. Caroline Zanot
3. Tyler Platt

Pomfret Recycling Challenge, Top Individuals:

1. Connor Bosch
2. Hayley Maxwell
3. Hunter Caldwell