New “Original ecotrash” trash cans have been installed in the Downing Student Union food court, sparking discussion among students and staff.
The new trash cans are part of a recent movement by Aramark and the WKU Restaurant Group to push for environmental sustainability.
The trash cans, which are motion-activated, utilize compaction to tightly pack waste. This leads to an 80% decrease in trips to the dumpster, said Aramark, a food and facilities service company contracted by WKU Restaurant Group.
“The main goal of the new ecotrash compactors is to make waste management more efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective,” Aramark stated in an email to the Herald.
The new automated trash cans offer a matte-black box design and operate on less than $8 a year in electricity according to an Aramark flyer.
Aramark also reports the ecotrash compacts reduce the volume of trash and cut emissions by garbage trucks.
“They are compact, so I have to take them out less,” said Dylan Castro, an employee of the Western Kentucky University Restaurant Group.
(Dominic Di Palermo)
Some students on campus feel the new trash cans will benefit the campus.
“I think it’s huge for WKU to start doing this,” said Kate Kirby, a freshman Pre-Veterinary major.
However, some students miss the standard trash cans and feel the new models provide no substantial purpose.
“What is the difference between that and a normal trash can, except it takes longer?” asked Evan Tuck, a freshman accounting major on the Hill.
Freshman computer science major Kaeden Sutherland is also not fond of the change.
“I don’t think that we should be spending money on flashy trash cans when the old ones work perfectly fine,” Sutherland said.
Aramark has already installed two ecotrash trash cans at Davinci’s and plans to add one more to RedZone soon.
“This is just one step toward a bigger plan that could include more recycling, composting, and smarter ways to handle trash in the future,” stated Aramark. “The WKU Restaurant
Group is always exploring new ways to make our dining spaces more sustainable.”
News Reporter Bradlee Reed-Whalen can be reached at bradlee.reedwhalen539@topper.wku.edu.
News Reporter Kaylee Hawkins can be reached at kaylee.hawkins407@topper.wku.edu.
