Kansas University students are becoming savvy in recycling as campus receptacles become more visible.

Last year, the Environmental Stewardship Program, which works with several KU organizations to coordinate the collection of recyclable items on campus, collected 420 tons of materials. Five years earlier, the program collected 193 tons.

“The most important thing we can do is make sure to let the students know where to recycle, because it’s easy to leave stuff like empty soda bottles in the classrooms,” said Jeff Severin, environmental services manager for the stewardship program.

The program hires volunteer recycling technicians, who collect recyclables at 50 receptacles in 30 buildings on campus. Students can leave newspapers, plastic beverage bottles, aluminum, cardboard and products such as computer paper in the receptacles. The recycling technicians then sort the recyclables to be picked up.

On Earth Day — April 22 — the stewardship program conducted a trash audit, sorting through all trash accumulated on the fourth floor of Wescoe Hall. It found that 65 percent of the 410 pounds of discarded materials collected — mostly newspaper — was recyclable material.

Severin attributed the increase in recycling to the branching out of the university’s recycling program in the late 1990s and to support from students.

The students voted last year on a referendum for a $2 increase in fees for the university’s environmental programs.

“It’s important to respect the land we’re using as we move towards more of a prepackaged society,” said Brian Thomas, a member of Student Senate’s Student Environmental Advisory Board. “That way, future society will have the resources and the space to build on.”

Plans are under way for a new recycling center, similar to the one at Wal-Mart, to be built next year on west campus. Thomas said the new center would be integrated into normal waste management, and the recyclables would be picked up with the trash.

Brian Thomas, Lawrence senior, empties one of the recycling bins at Wescoe Hall. Through the Environmental Stewardship Program, 50 receptacles used for recycling are in 30 buildings on campus.

Two trailers were purchased to be used for special events, and could also be used for students who live off campus and in greek housing, Severin said.

The stewardship program recently received a grant from the Coca-Cola Corp. that would allow it to do a pilot study of recycling in residence halls. It will choose one hall and provide residents who want to participate with two recycling bins. If the program is a success, then every residence hall room could come equipped with a recycling bin.

Severin said he wanted to see the campus program try to find ways to provide receptacles for recycling printer cartridges and mobile phones, and provide more recycling center outlets for apartment residents.