Student Government partner to promote recycling from MWSU Campus Watch on Vimeo.

To promote recycling, Student Government Association officials say a new project is not only good for the environment, but a good way to earn some income as well. World Wear Project representatives contacted university officials last April with hopes of raising clothing and shoe donations for people in need.

“We decided to do a recycling initiative last semester and besides paper recycling and aluminum and all that, we really wanted to influence with clothing and shoes,” Melody Coffey, SGA president says.

Based in Dallas, The World Wear Project, is a shoe and clothing Collection Company that pays universities, school districts and organizations for every item donated.  MSU receives 15 cents per pound of clothing and 85 cents per pound of athletic shoes. Student government leaders have not determined how the money will be used.

“It adds up, so we get a lot of money hopefully. We aren’t really sure how it’s going to go yet. We do start getting money in we are going to discuss with our advisors as well and see if we want to do a student recycling initiative scholarship or some kind of different project with that money that we could put towards more recycling efforts,” says Coffey.

The 560–pound bin accepts items like clothes, shoes, purses, hats, and backpacks. SGA placed an athletic shoe bin in the Wellness Center and a clothing bin in the parking lot of Killingsworth residence hall last semester.

Laura Holiday says the donation bins are an easy way for students to get involved with recycling.

“I definitely would be willing to donate my old stuff just because I’m not using it anymore and somebody else could get use out of it. So why not,” social work junior Laura Holiday says.

However, Jake Mullen says the donation money collected should not go towards the university’s scholarship programs.

“Honestly, I think the money donated should be distributed to charities and stuff, people who actually need it. You know people are giving their clothes for a good cause, why not give the money it’s made for to another good cause,” Mullen, a sophomore in social work, says.

In 2012, the World Wear Project raised more than 43 million pounds of shoes and clothing.  SGA and The World Wear Project have a one-year contract together. Coffey says if the recycling program goes well, more will be added to campus this semester.