In an attempt not to be outshone by the European Commission’s plan to make the Earth a greener place, Housing Services (in conjunction with the Office of Environmental Stewardship, Facilities, and RecycleBank), announced today in the form of an email an “innovative new program…that rewards you for recycling while helping to improve our campus-wide recycling efforts.”

In an email simply abloom with exclamation points, Housing Services explained that all CU first-years will receive a “barcoded key fob,” which in this context is not a racial slur but a reusable recycling bag from John Jay Dining Hall. Who knew?

After activating their account from a website, one would presumably place their recyclables (which materials are recyclable within the program weren’t specified in the email) in his/her bag, take it to a designated area in the Furnald laundry room; the 1^st floor of John Jay and Wallach; or the 4^th, 8^th, and 11^th floors of Carman, and then recycle to his/her (green) heart’s content. Each bag will be weighed, and this weight will allow the student to accumulate points that can be redeemed for Chipotle gift cards (!) and of course the obligatory iTunes gift certificate, among other things.

– NB