Swap event part of Recyclemania

As Emerson continues its participation in Recyclemania—a two-month nationwide recycling competition for colleges and universities—the student group Earth Emerson is doing its part.

On Wednesday, March 13, at 6:00 pm, the group will hold a “freecycle” event and movie screening at the Bill Bordy Theater, inviting students to bring unwanted clothing, books, DVDs, knick-knacks, and anything they can find to swap with other students.

“It’s good for the environment,” said Erin Moriarty ’13, co-president of Earth Emerson. “It limits the amount of resources and supplies we use, so obviously it’s good for the planet. Especially when everything you throw away ends up in a landfill.”

An added benefit, Moriarty said, is savings for students.

“It’s good for college students who don’t have a job or steady income,” she said. “And because it’s coming from someone else at the school, you know it’s cool.”

The March 13 event involves screening the documentary Dive! by Jeremy Seifert, which follows people living off items they collect while Dumpster diving.

“We’re not advocating diving into Dumpsters,” Moriarty said. “It’s entertaining. It has to do with reducing and reusing, so we thought it would make sense and be interesting to watch.”

Through March 30, Emerson is participating in the Recyclemania tournament in which more than 500 colleges and universities report their recycling and trash weights each week in hopes of having the highest recycling rate.

You can take the Recyclemania pledge on the Emerson website. The program is organized by the President’s Sustainability Committee.