By Jana Hanova
One of the lesser known organizations on campus is the Campus Recycling Board (CRB). The major goal of this board is to promote awareness and education about the environmental challenges facing this university.
You may have noticed collection bins placed conspicuously throughout the halls on campus. In case you were wondering, these receptacles accept pop cans and bottles, as well as Tetra-Paks. This project is possible through co-operation with the Developmental Disability Resource Council, which allows the CRB to employ five individuals who maintain the functionality of these bins.
In the past, the CRB has undertaken a variety of initiatives such as planting trees, donating benches and picnic tables for use on the U of C campus, organizing a clothing drive and campus and highway cleanups. With the exception of the 2001/02 year, the CRB also holds the annual Book Drive, during which used books are collected and sent to an academic institution in a developing country. Universities in Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Cuba have benefited from this program.
However, the fun doesn’t stop there. On Fri., Feb. 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Ballroom on the third floor of MacEwan Student Centre, the CRB will host the fourth annual garage sale featuring many useful items such as clothes and electronics at prices you’ll like. You’ll find everything from jewellery to discmans.
Not only will the proceeds of this event go towards supporting "Into the Streets" and "Students for Literacy" programs, but it’s also a great way to promote the idea of reusing items instead of letting them go to waste.
Another purpose of the CRB is to financially support groups or individuals committed to environmental awareness and improvement projects through funding and bursaries. Applications for funding a project can be picked up at the SU office, MSC 251.
The CRB also encourages the campus community to reduce waste by doing things such as using a coffee mug instead of styrofoam and disposing of paper in paper recycling bins located around campus instead of the regular bins. Also, if you have clothing and household items you want to get rid of, you can contact the Canadian Diabetes Association at 509–0070.
If you are interested, or just want more info about anything from carpooling to current initiatives of the CRB, check out the Web site at www.su.ucalgary.ca/crb.