Acadia
Students Produce Cash From Trash
For Release: May 31, 2002
(Wolfville,
NS) - Anyone who has been or knows a university student
understands the frustration of moving. Trying to pack all those
articles collected over the years isn't always a fun task. Sometimes
it seems easier just to leave everything at the curbside. But
wouldn't it be great if someone could reuse those articles and help
the environment and the community? Acadia students, supported by
Acadia Campus Programs and Building Services, organized a Dump and
Run program to reduce year-end campus wastes by providing an
opportunity for students to donate items to a large yard sale in
support of charities.
Acadia
University's second annual Dump and Run took place at the Acadia
Arena last month. The event raised $8,382 over $3,000 more than last
year's event. According to Lisa Heller, founder of the US based Dump
and Run program, "Acadia's Dump and Run was the most successful
sale her organization has ever seen."
The
proceeds went to the Dump and Run organization, Acadia Environmental
Society, the Wolfville Children's Centre, Wolfville Lions Club, the
International Children Games and the Diabetes Association.
Approximately 95 per cent of items were diverted from the local
landfill.
There
were over 75 tables full of items including clothes, furniture,
computers, bikes, appliances and a lot more. Some of the interesting
finds included a stack of old records from the 1920s and a mint
condition steel bathtub.
Acadia's
Dump and Run is unique from those operated in the US because the
University partners with the community for a collaborative effort.
Part of the success is due to the partnerships with the Town of
Wolfville and Valley Waste Resources Management.
Leon
de Vreede, coordinator of the Acadia Environmental Society, says,
"We hope to turn this into an integrated community event as
more organizations work together for this environmental and social
cause." Last year's Dump and Run won the "Best
Community-Based Environmental Project" at the Nova Scotia
annual Solid Waste-Resource Awards held in February.
Since
1999 the Dump and Run program has been successful at reducing wastes
across North America and or as its motto says, turning "trash
into cash." Environmentally conscious Acadia was the first
Canadian university to use this program.
Acadia
continues to show its environmental sensitivity by supporting
programs such as the Dump and Run. Since 2000 Acadia's waste
resource recovery program has surpassed the province of Nova
Scotia's target of 50 per cent diversion, achieving waste diversion
of 53 per cent.
-30-
For more information contact:
Sheri Woodland
Communications Manager
Office of Public Affairs
Acadia University
(902) 585-1362
Acadia
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