This reputation has held true over the years as Auburn’s beauty has received numerous accolades from residents and visitors.
With beauty, rolling plains and incredible infrastructure, Auburn has seen exponential population growth unmatched in Alabama since 1990 when it was 19th in the United State in population growth. As of 2006, Auburn had a population 51,906 with a metropolitan population of 123,254.
Such a fast paced environment causes an immense amount trash to build up with seemingly no end.
Auburn University, Lee County’s main source of revenue and employment, has stepped to the front in the race to reduce the trash the University adds.
Last year Auburn University alone sent an astounding 90 tons of trash to landfills.
Great amounts of trash such as this amount require extensive planning and preparation to handle such a load.
Many dumpsters, trucks and man power were needed to keep the campus in such pristine condition.
The expense for such a detailed operation cost the University an estimated $16,000.
To help reduce the trash output, Auburn has implemented new policies and programs to ensure Auburn will stay clean for generations to come.
Leading the operation is Donny Addison, coordinator of the Recycle and Waste Reduction Division, who has formulated new plans and ideas.
“If everyone at Auburn would recycle, it would of course make an incredible difference,” Addison said.
“You save money by recycling but more importantly you lessen the burden on natural resources.”
A project called “Residential Recycling” has placed an emphasis on those who live on campus.
The operation takes place as students move into their dorm rooms and have tons of trash.
Receptacles are in place to dump trash into as well as ones to put recyclable goods in.
More than 30 attendants are on hand to assist those at the receptacles, holding banners and signs easing the process.
“It’s important for parents to know Auburn cares about the environment,” Addison said.
The recycling doesn’t stop after move in day as all residents will have a bag given to them upon moving in that will list all the goods that can be recycled.
Football season also nears and with the crowd comes the trash.
The Gameday Recycling Program will again be emphasized to help reduce trash, especially since cooking and drinking are so prevalent and create trash.
Recycling stations will be set up all over campus that will be easily accessible and ready for use for all Tiger fans.
Also, Addison and his crew plan on having a pep rally on Cater lawn on game days where people can play games, have fun and learn more about recycling.
All goods collected on campus will be collected single stream, meaning items that are going to be recycled do not have to be separated by patrons, it is done at the recycling plant.
That is good for Auburn students as time is a concern.
It is hoped that these new programs, as well as other innovative ideas, will reduce the trash output by Auburn University significantly.
“As a university, Auburn has an obligation to the community to help raise awareness about recycling,” Addison said.
Addison hopes Auburn can reduce the trash output by 70 percent, which will be a tremendous difference.
Auburn University hopes to live the slogan “Orange and Blue going green.”
