• By JASON BROWN
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Nov 27, 2009

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LAFAYETTE — Beginning next year, students at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will begin to see more recycling bins on campus.

The effort is part of a push by the ULL Student Government Association and university officials to bring more sustainable and green-minded efforts onto campus.

SGA President Dustin Domangue, 22, said students voiced their desire for more sustainable efforts last year. He said those wishes are now being addressed.

SGA members met with ULL President Joseph Savoie and administration officials last week to discuss the issue and to begin planning ways to green-up the campus.

This could include increased recycling efforts, using more recycled products, increasing renewable energy usage and lowering the campus’ carbon footprint.

Domangue described the first meeting as a brain storming session that was welcomed and embraced by those present.

“We’re all individually trying to do something and now we need to start streamlining our approaches,” Domangue said.

Other quick and easy changes could include removing many of the trash cans next to desks, which could lead some to additional recycling.

“I was impressed by their knowledge, their research, and the passion with which they approached the sustainability conversation,” Savoie wrote in an e-mail. “This knowledge and passion is shared by many throughout the administration, faculty and staff.”

The discussion brought together a group of university-wide stakeholders, Savoie said.

He wrote that it “allows us to use their collective efforts to develop a program and will be instrumental in communicating and generating enthusiasm for the effort.”

Four working groups were formed to oversee comprehensive plan development, expansion of campus recycling,  marketing and communication,  and funding/resources and cost saving opportunities.

The groups will report on their work early next year, Savoie wrote.