NIACC's Logos -- Student Newspaper

Volume 32, Issue 8

December 9, 2005

Ready to trade

Logos photos by Samantha Donisi and Chris Swingen
Heather Klemm and Terri McKimmy sorth through clothing in the AC before the exchange.

Logos photos by Samantha Donisi and Chris Swingen
NIACC Librarian Karen Dole helps move items for th clothing exchange which was held on Tuesday, November 15.

Logos photo by Samantha Donisi
NIACC students Jordan Niewoehner and Tim Corcoran sort materials in the clothing exchange held in the Activity Center on the NIACC campus.

Logos photo by Chris Swingen
NIACC sophomore Bethany Baxter and Emily Stumo look through donated clothes as part of the clothing exchange.

Exchange provides chance to recycle used clothing

Samantha Donisi
Assistant Editor/Opinion Editor

It has been done with cardboard, plastic, glass and paper. Now, it is even being done with clothes.

The Student Environmental Club sponsored a clothing swap at NIACC on November 15; making it the first time the college has ever recycled clothing.

The idea for the exchange came from a brainstorming session the club held in order to generate ideas on how to get NIACC students to participate in America Recycles Day.

"America is a consumer-driven society and people buy a lot more than they recycle," Heather Klemm, Environmental Club president, said. "College students don't always have the money to buy new clothes, so we thought a clothing swap would be a good way to recycle and help each other out."

The clothing exchange had a simple setup.

Students wanting to participate brought their "gently used" clothing items to room AC 212 for drop-off. They were given one ticket for each item they brought, and that ticket allowed them to choose other items they would like in exchange, and it also entered the student into a drawing for a Hy-Vee gift certificate.

Klemm said the club didn't know what kind of response it would get from students.

The exchange was planned in only a two-week period, so not much advertising was done. Fliers were sent to all faculty, and a few signs were posted, but most advertising was done by word of mouth.

"We have never done anything like this before," Klemm said. "If it works out, we will definitely do it again next year, or possibly this spring for Earth Day."

Leftover clothes were donated to the Salvation Army to help replenish their stores after Hurricane Katrina.

"Everyone talks about recycling cardboard and plastic," Klemm said. "But we wanted to let people know they can recycle more than they think."