Formed in the fall of 2004, the Recycling Task Force, or RTF, is a group of 4-5 students who are enthusiastic recyclers! We are in charge of improving Hamilton's recycling program under the wing of Physical Plant. We manage all recycling stations on campus, the distribution of blue bins in the dorm rooms, and special projects. Terry Hawkridge, the Assistant Director of Grounds, Horticulture and Arboretum and head of recycling at Hamilton College, manages the task force, but it remains a student-led initiative. The Task Force acts a liason between the student body and administration and works to improve recycling at Hamilton.
Roxanne Makoff '12
Coordinator (Fall 2009-Present)
Roxanne is a sophomore from San Francisco, California and plans to be a Religious Studies major. She came to Hamilton in January 2009 after spending her fall semester sailing in the Caribbean for 80 days. Roxanne is extremely enthusiastic when it comes to recycling and hopes that as the coordinator of the RTF she will be able to promote recycling around campus and establish new programs to help shrink Hamilton's carbon foot print. Roxanne hopes that by her graduation all students on the Hamilton campus will understand the positive impact
recycling, reducing, and reusing has on our Earth.
Tara Apo '11
Member (Fall 2007-Present)
Tara is a junior biochemistry major. She is from the island of Maui in Hawai'i. On campus she does biology research and helps plan Hamilton's annual Alternative Spring Break trips. She also enjoys taking flute and piano lessons. She believes that recycling, as well as waste reduction and energy conservation, can be greatly improved upon on campus. Tara participates on the task force because she would like to help make that change and ensure that Hamilton does its part in the preservation of the environment. In her spare time, Tara likes to read, go on nature walks, hang out with friends, and sing and dance like no one is watching. She also loves to surf when she is home.
James Beslity '11
Member (Fall 2008-Present, On Leave 2009-2010)
James is a junior Environmental Studies major from Princeton, New Jersey. He plans on being active in the position throughout his time at Hamilton. In addition to the RTF, James spends his free time working with the Hamilton Environmental Action Group and singing for the College Choir. He hopes to see composting and sneaker recycling initiated on campus within the next year, and overall recycling awareness raised amongst students, faculty, and staff. James is studying in Washington, D.C. this fall and will be heading to Australia in the spring.
Nat Duncan '12
Member (Fall 2009-Present)
Nat is a sophomore Government major and History minor from Old Lyme, Connecticut. Nat also sits on the Sustainability Committee and will is a co-president of Hamilton Environmental Action Group. He is also an RA. In his free time, Nat enjoys anything outdoors, napping, and tinkering with bicycles.
Kate Harloe '12
Member (Fall 2009-Present)
Kate is a sophomore at Hamilton and a prospective Comparative Literature major from Canton, New York. She is a member of the Social Justice Initiative, the Figure Skating Club, and the Music Library Staff. Kate joined the RTF in the hopes of increasing environmental consciousness and education throughout the community. She will work to provide more integration between different student organizations on campus, especially ones with overlapping interests.
Jennifer Santoro '11
Member (Fall 2008-Present)
Jen is a junior Environmental Studies major and English minor from New Jersey. She hopes to continue involvement with the RTF throughout her Hamilton career. Jen has always been interested in doing whatever she can to help the environment, and hopes to see recycling improvements implemented at Hamilton in the near future.
RTF Alumni
Jennifer Kleindienst '09
Coordinator (Fall 2006-Spring 2009)
Jen is a Public Policy major and Environmental Studies minor from Niskayuna, New York. Jen is spending the summer working at York Hospital in York, Maine as a Clean Air-Cool Planet Fellow. She served as the RTF coordinator from 2006 to 2009, though her interests in sustainability and recycling stretch further back. Jen worked her hardest to get composting started on campus, and has not given up on the fight though she has graduated. Jen went on a RTF-sponsored research trip to several northeastern colleges to learn more about composting and recycling best practices in Summer 2007. In her spare time, Jen enjoys playing board games, going for walks, and spending time with friends.
Gillian Smith '09
Member (Fall 2006-Spring 2009)
Gillian is a Chemical Physics major and Philosophy minor from Silver Spring, Maryland. At Hamilton, Gillian was a member of the Woollcott Cooperative, the Cross-Country team and the Wellin Hall Staff. Gillian really enjoyed working on Cram & Scram expansion for the spring semester and the introduction of Mini Cram and Scram for the Fall Semester.
FACT:
Hamilton pays $72.15 for every ton of garbage we produce in the community, but disposing of recyclables is free. Please reduce, reuse, and recycle whenever possible!
UPDATE:
Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority has recently changed its recycling guidelines and no longer accepts plastic #6, which includes Styrofoam containers, Solo cups, most plastic cups, and Opus cups.
TIPS:
The container group includes plastics #1-5 (look on the bottom of most containers for the recycling symbol).
Cups from McEwen and the Diner are not recyclable! Commons cups (only the ones that have "Bon Appetit" on the side) are recyclable if they are rinsed out.
Use the blue bin in your room or office to make recycling easier.
Use a travel mug or water bottle instead of paper cups.
Roxanne is a sophomore from San Francisco, California and plans to be a Religious Studies major. She came to Hamilton in January 2009 after spending her fall semester sailing in the Caribbean for 80 days. Roxanne is extremely enthusiastic when it comes to recycling and hopes that as the coordinator of the RTF she will be able to promote recycling around campus and establish new programs to help shrink Hamilton's carbon foot print. Roxanne hopes that by her graduation all students on the Hamilton campus will understand the positive impact 
Tara is a junior biochemistry major. She is from the island of Maui in Hawai'i. On campus she does biology research and helps plan Hamilton's annual Alternative Spring Break trips. She also enjoys taking flute and piano lessons. She believes that recycling, as well as waste reduction and energy conservation, can be greatly improved upon on campus. Tara participates on the task force because she would like to help make that change and ensure that Hamilton does its part in the preservation of the environment. In her spare time, Tara likes to read, go on nature walks, hang out with friends, and sing and dance like no one is watching. She also loves to surf when she is home.
James is a junior Environmental Studies major from Princeton, New Jersey. He plans on being active in the position throughout his time at Hamilton. In addition to the RTF, James spends his free time working with the Hamilton Environmental Action Group and singing for the College Choir. He hopes to see composting and sneaker recycling initiated on campus within the next year, and overall recycling awareness raised amongst students, faculty, and staff. James is studying in Washington, D.C. this fall and will be heading to Australia in the spring. 
Jen is a junior Environmental Studies major and English minor from New Jersey. She hopes to continue involvement with the RTF throughout her Hamilton career. Jen has always been interested in doing whatever she can to help the environment, and hopes to see recycling improvements implemented at Hamilton in the near future.
Jen is a Public Policy major and Environmental Studies minor from Niskayuna, New York. Jen is spending the summer working at York Hospital in York, Maine as a Clean Air-Cool Planet Fellow. She served as the RTF coordinator from 2006 to 2009, though her interests in sustainability and recycling stretch further back. Jen worked her hardest to get composting started on campus, and has not given up on the fight though she has graduated. Jen went on a RTF-sponsored research trip to several northeastern colleges to learn more about composting and recycling best practices in Summer 2007. In her spare time, Jen enjoys playing board games, going for walks, and spending time with friends. 
