Inside Clemson

Clemson wins conservation award

By Morgan Williams, Class of 2017

What can you do with more than seven million pounds of waste? Reprocess it into something else. That’s precisely what Clemson did in 2015 when it recycled more than 3,565 tons of waste. So it’s no surprise that the university was named recipient of the 2015 3 R’s Conservation Award by non-profit organization Upstate Forever.

“I am thrilled to see that the employees of Clemson recycling services are being recognized for their amazing work,” said Thomas Jones, director of custodial, recycling, solid waste and special events. “They lead the state not only in tons recycled, but also in the breadth of material that they manage. I am not aware of any other university in the South that can match their effort and success.”

Recycling services includes staff members Dave VanDeventer, Von Fruster, Mark Gilbert, Annette Thomas and David Thorton.

The department isn’t new to winning awards. In 2014, the recycling services helped Clemson take first place among universities across the nation for total recycling with 60,724 pounds recycled at a single home football game against the University of South Carolina.

The award ceremony will take place in February.