Nov. 12, 2007 — Practical tips as well as fun and games are part of "America Recycles Day" events, to be held in front of Old Cabell Hall at the University of Virginia from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 14.

Activities will include a "dumpster dive," in which students empty out a large trash receptacle on the Lawn to demonstrate how many discarded items could have been recycled. Last fall, students found that about 50 percent of the material in a selected receptacle could have been recycled.

The University recycled about 4,882 tons of metals, glass, plastics and paper in 2006. Bruce C. "Sonny" Beale, recycling superintendent, believes an additional 40 percent can be pulled from the waste stream.

"We're doing everything we can," he said. "We're talking with the students and the Athletics Department to recycle athletic shoes. We want to recycle all lamps and ballasts (which warms a fluorescent tube and turns it on), get better participation from the students and get more recycling containers in the John Paul Jones Arena."

Beale and the student volunteers want "America Recycles Day" to focus attention on how much can be recycled.

The results of the "Cabell Campaign" will be on display. U.Va. Recycling student employees and members of the Conservation Advocates club collected all of the recyclables left on floors and desks in New Cabell Hall classrooms during one week.

There will also be recycling games and a contest to guess the dollar value of a bale of aluminum cans. Volunteers will collect plastic grocery bags to recycle through the plastic lumber company Trex.

Student volunteers from Madison House Holiday Sharing will collect nonperishable food items.

Several student organizations and environmentally friendly businesses will be represented at the event, including Students for Environmental Action, Green Grounds, Rivanna Solid Waste Authority, the Student Council Environmental Sustainability Committee, Go Green Taxi Service and The Habitat Store.

For information, visit www.recycling.virginia.edu.