Everyone has heard to reduce, reuse and recycle, but the process often goes unnoticed in this day and age. 

Despite this, and many challenges, Ashland University has remained committed to ensuring as much waste as possible is properly recycled, from cardboard to electronic waste, since 1991. 

Building Services Director Peggy Kohler, who has overseen campus recycling since 2003, believes that recycling is very important. She said, “Recycling is so important. At one point, it was such a viable part of our Facilities department.” 

Originally, all recycling on campus was done through the Ashland recycling center, which closed in Dec.2020 following several COVID-19 related shutdowns of partner programs.  

Since the closure, AU’s blue recycling bins have accepted a much more limited set of items. “They are currently taking all of our cardboard and all of our paper. Prior to the recycling center being closed, we recycled aluminum, magazines, newspapers, paper, carboard, pallets, glass, plastic, books… it was amazing,” said Kohler. 

Unfortunately, that closure has had an effect on the scope of recycling efforts. Since the closure of city recycling programs, the university no longer gets paid for the items they recycle, which removed crucial funding from recycling programs. 

“We used to put on a green fashion show. All clothing was made out of recycled items… in 2013, every third-grade classroom, we went there, and we distributed ‘Help Tuffy Recycle’ activity books,” said Kohler. 

Still, Building Services is doing everything possible to keep AU’s contribution to landfills as low as possible.  

For example, the AU Cares program that collects unused and unwanted clothing, furniture and food is run entirely by the Building Services Department and donated to local charities.  “In my opinion, that is just as critical as the recycling because it’s AU students giving back,” said Kohler.  

While the statistics are no longer being tracked, AU recycled more than 70 tons of paper and cardboard in 2020. 

Recycling bins are available in every residence hall and in several other places around campus, and currently accept all paper and cardboard products, minus pizza boxes and other greasy or contaminated items.