During April, students will start seeing clear plastic bins all around the HPU campuses. The Filipino Club, a.k.a “P2B Pinoy Club,” is managing the bin distribution to promote recycling as part of the “Sustainable Campus Project,” currently undertaken by P2B Pinoy, the Green Club, and the Sustainability Club. This coalition’s mission is to make HPU a sustainable campus in all aspects.
“ Our vision includes having green building designs, renewable resource input (alternative energy), efficient landscaping, and waste and pollution control,” said Roniza Gonzales, 21, president of the P2B Pinoy Club, adding that the project’s main objective is to reduce HPU’s environmental footprint.”

“ For now, we are making ‘baby steps’ toward this ultimate goal by offering the HPU community recycling opportunities for cans and bottles, paper, and ink cartridges.”

Bins for recycling paper have already been placed in two of the University’s main copy rooms, in the Faculty Support Center, the Mail Room support center, and Kalamalama. Bins for recycling containers will initially be placed in select locations to serve as a test run for predicting how often bins will be filled with cans and bottles, and thereby determine pick-up dates for Reynold’s Recycling.

The ultimate goal of this bin distribution, however, is that it will help organize and conserve the HPU community’s resources.

“ The goals of a sustainable campus will be reached through the dedication and active efforts of HPU’s students and faculty,” said Gonzales. “It will be maintained through continuous education about sustainability and its importance, and the integration of sustainable efforts into HPU’s daily operations. By influencing a sustainable lifestyle, this vision will be more easily attained.”

The success of the sustainability effort will depend on student and faculty participation in the project’s efforts. To that end, the Filipino Club offered some friendly reminders about best recycling practices. These include rinsing cans and bottles and removing caps before putting the bottles into the bins.

Gonzales added, that the community can help by not putting trash (anything other than cans and bottles) into the recycling bins.

“ This helps to avoid bugs and foul smells,” she said, adding that proper recycling is one of the first steps into achieving not only a sustainable campus, but a better-looking community.

“ Everyone should care because it’s not just the clubs’ campus. These recycling efforts will help to make HPU a cleaner and greener campus for the entire community to enjoy,” said Gonzales.