Annual Recycling Challenge Reimagined

The Recycling Renaissance, an initiative focused on educating the Choate community about recycling, started on November 2 and will end on November 20, replacing the annual Recycling Challenge due to pandemic-induced restrictions. Covid-19 regulations have forced the C-Proctors to establish a program that focuses on education via virtual platforms like the C-Proctor Instagram.

The initiative, which was put together by the School’s C-Proctors, aims to inform the community on how to properly dispose of their waste in the correct bin — landfill, recycling, or compost — around campus. The C-Proctors hope to reinforce previous knowledge about recycling and introduce new information to the student body.

Events planned for the Recycling Renaissance include educational Instagram posts, recycling games, dorm bingo events, educational videos, and more.

“My favorite thing about the Recycling Renaissance is how easy it is to educate the community through fun activities,” said C-Proctor Sofia Muñoz ’23. “By playing the bingos in the dorms, for example, people can learn about recycling while also having a friendly competition with dorm mates.”

Another C-Proctor, Brian Harder ’23, said, “The Recycling Renaissance is important because recycling is an essential part of sustainability, and given that many people are spending more time at home nowadays, it is extra important that people know how to sort their waste.”

This year has been extra challenging for the C-Proctors as their weekly meetings have shifted to Zoom. Additionally, C-Proctors no longer have the chance to inform the community through in-person dorm presentations or school meetings.

Despite these challenges, the C-Proctors have put in extra effort to make sure that Covid-19 does not have a significant impact on sustainability efforts at Choate. For example, they’ve introduced composting bins in dorms and continued to spread knowledge with the help of the Eco-Reps, students who facilitate sustainability in dorms without a resident C-Proctor.

Many students from the Choate community feel that the C-Proctors have done a great job adapting to the pandemic and are excited about this month’s program. “I think it is really awesome that the C-Proctors are doing the Recycling Renaissance this year,” said Richard Chen ’22. “It is a great alternative to the recycling challenge, and I am really looking forward to some of the games and activities.”

Mark Hong ’23 said, “I watched the video shown during the school meeting about composting, and I also follow the Choate C-Proctors on Instagram. They are doing an amazing job spreading information, and they are an extremely useful resource that students should utilize more often.”

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