ITTA BENA, Miss. — Mississippi Valley State University was recently recognized as the top recycler among the state’s educational institutions by the Mississippi Recycling Coalition (MRC).
MRC is a consortium of business and industry executives, members of trade organizations, nonprofits, state environmental officials and other entities designed to promote and grow recycling efforts across Mississippi. Its mission is to complement, promote and encourage responsible solid waste management, which includes source reduction, reuse, recycling and composting programs.
Each year, the coalition recognizes organizations, businesses, agencies, schools and local governments from around the state that have excelled in their recycling and materials management program efforts.
This year, MVSU received the “Educational Institution Recycler of the Year” award. MRC bestows the top award to institutions that promote recycling on their campus and in their respective communities.
Terrence Hurssey, director of MVSU Facilities Management, expressed gratitude for the hard work staff members put in at the recycling center.
“We congratulate our Sustainability Coordinator Ms. Portia Boyd and Assistant Manager Mr. Michael Anderson for an outstanding job. MVSU can proudly say recycling has improved community waste handling and environmental practices,” Hurssey said.
The nominees were evaluated based on the success of their recycling efforts including promotion and outreach, the duration and extent of their recycling program, their overall environmental stewardship, and the manner in which recycling has improved community waste handling and environmental practices.
“My assistant manager and I provide encourage our MVSU students, faculty, staff, and residents on the importance of recycling, such as global warming, keeping our environment clean, and the benefits that this program have for our students who participate in recycling,” said Boyd. “We are very honored and proud of winning the award, as an HBCU institution, for promoting and encouraging participation in recycling.”
For the fiscal year of 2018, MVSU’s Recycling Center recycling pounds weighed at 92,297. For Title III Year 2018-19, the recycling pounds came in at 104,251.
“I truly must say that when it comes to our campus, the recycling center is greatly supported. Everyone across the campus and off-campus participate in recycling by either collecting for us to pick up or by dropping it off to our 24-hour recycling bins located outside of the Technical Education building,” said Boyd.
“When it comes to our campus, we know that we can count on them, and without their participation, we wouldn't have received this award,” she added.
For questions or more information about participating in MVSU’s Sustainability Program, contact Boyd at (662) 254-3098 or via e-mail at portia.boyd@mvsu.edu.