Jerseys from the world’s most successful soccer teams, fleece jackets, insulation for ceilings and walls, and coffee filters are just some of the uses that can be found for the paper, cardboard, and plastic that are thrown away every day—materials that take years to decompose and pollute the environment. That is why changing the daily habits of students and staff at Universidad ORT Uruguay reducing waste generation were the main goals of an interdisciplinary team that launched the #ORTrecicla campaign in 2017.
That work made it possible to collect:
- more than 5,000 kilograms of paper and cardboard
- about 820 kilograms of PET plastic
Students joined the #ORTrecicla initiative and disposed of their waste in special recycling bins—marked in blue (for paper and cardboard) and yellow (for plastic bottles)—located at various university campuses.
Recycling paper and cardboard not only reduces the use of wood but also cuts down on the amount of water and energy needed to produce these materials. As a result, it generates less pollution. However, not all paper is suitable for recycling, which is why the university created aninteractive video to share information with its students about better consumption habits.