Incoming first year students are to receive a 15-minute crash course in correct recycling methods through workshops led by their peers during Freshers’ Week. The workshops are available to students living in Trinity Hall.
The “Sort Your Shit” workshop is designed to educate participants on which materials are recyclable and which are non-recyclable in Ireland. Students will also learn how a recycling plant operates and have the opportunity to test their knowledge in an interactive group setting.
Speaking to Trinity News, Sustainability Advisor to the Provost, Michele Hallahan, described the programme as a “great initiative”, and the first time Trinity has taken such a step. “It’s in line with what the Provost wants,” said Hallahan, speaking about an ongoing “drive” towards sustainability in College.
According to Hallahan, the workshops mark an important step towards improving recycling in student residences. She explained that the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability is “actively working to increase the recycling rate at Trinity”.
The “Sort Your Shit” workshops are part of a bigger national programme which has already been given to 13,000 people across Ireland. Voice of Irish Concern for the Environment (VOICE) developed the initiative with an aim to improve Ireland’s recycling rates and reduce contamination in household recycling bins.
Last week, Hallahan teamed up with Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) to deliver the “Train To Be a Recycling Champion” session to students, which instructed attendees on how to deliver the 15-minute workshops. Hallahan confirmed to Trinity News that the training session went well and the new student trainers would confidently deliver the workshop to Freshers.
