Lamar University’s Green Squad tackles the challenge of recycling after recycling businesses’ downfall during COVID-19 quarantine whilst urging campus to take more action toward being environmentally conscious.
Lamar University’s Green Squad ditches red for green to help the community bring back recycling monthly after multiple recycling businesses shut down during COVID-19 in Beaumont, 2020.
The Green Squad is a student run organization that focus on ways to bring awareness to campus and help the community through hosting monthly recycling events. This gives active recycling participants a way to get rid of their trash sustainably, amongst educating others how to recycle.
The Green Squad brought light to the issue of recycling and lack thereof within the city of Beaumont during 2020. Since running from 2020, LU’s Green Squad continue to face issues of lacking manpower which limit the rate of recycling occurring throughout each school semester. Each event occurs monthly on a chosen Saturday and takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the semester in the Montagne Center’s parking lot.
Marilyn Guidry, advisor of LU’s Green Squad, said that in order for these monthly events to maintain its activity levels, the organization would need 20 or more volunteers to ensure the entire event runs as smooth as possible. “We need volunteers to do a lot of the sorting and talk to the people and meet the cars,” she said.
Lamar’s Green Squad value participants that both recycle and volunteer in these events. Guidry highlights the Green Squad’s connection to the community and is grateful toward gaining a following through their acts of service.
“The patrons are really happy about their recycling service, so they like to chat a lot and tell us about their experience,” she said. “They’re appreciative for the opportunity to recycle.”
Though being a campus organization, recycling could be done on school grounds as well. LU’s Green Squad hopes to set an example through their dedication toward community service and believes that educating students on campus would lead to raising awareness and activity.
Erica Callahan, sophomore and social media coordinator of LU’s Green Squad, covers the issue of the campus’ lack of awareness behind the practice of recycling. Callahan shares goals of the Green Squad’s is to optimize recycling – possibly reaching for greater community growth. She also shares the thought of being able to educate volunteers through participating and sorting trash given by other patrons.
“I do wish that as a whole campus, we try to go a little more green,” she said.“There should be more campus-wide education; [education] could be a little better.”
Despite all challenges faced, LU’s Green Squad continues to host further recycling events every month – next recycling day is April 12 at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information, follow The Green Squad on Facebook and Instagram for educational tips and updates.