by Catherine Norris
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.–Earth Week started at the University of Arkansas on April 22, but trash remains an issue around campus. Some of the most common litter items found on the grounds of the University are straws and plastic bottles. Cigarette buds also litter the parking lots and lawns at the edge of campus. According to planetaid.org, the average college student produces 640 pounds of trash annually. While her peers pollute, one student is trying to curb the campus trash problem. Mary Benchoff started a campus organization called the Ozark Recycling Initiative.
“It absolutely breaks my heart that the people who are here to change the world are walking by trash and not even bothering to pick it up,” Benchoff said.
Benchoff said that the easiest way for students to make a difference in the trash problem littering campus is to carry a glove and plastic bag and pick up trash “on the fly.” Mary and the Ozark Recycling Initiative do trash pick up events on and off campus. Benchoff said anyone interested is free to join the Initiative for their next clean up on Bel Air Road in Springdale.