Advocates of a recycling program in Champaign accomplished their goal this semester.

Editors note: This article is part of The Daily Illini’s semester in review edition. These articles are meant to round-up the most important news of the Fall 2010 semester.

The program started Dec. 1. Blue bins bearing the message, “Feed the thing” can be found at all multi-family buildings, or any building with at least five units.

The previous recycling program, which had been in place since 1994, only provided pick-up to buildings with four units or less.

For the majority of students who live in a complex housing five or more people, the only means of recycling was to take recyclables to a drop-off center at the Hagan Street Recycling Drop-off.

The new program provides convenience to environmentally concerned students, as the drop-off center was not in walking distance for many students.

“The green movement is happening, so Champaign wanted to go on and get on board with all of that,” said Angela Adams, recycling coordinator for Champaign.

Matthew Snyder, Urbana resident and president of the recycling company Community Resource Inc., said the change was long overdue.

“Champaign, way back in the mid-90s, had an ‘absolutely, positively we’re not getting involved in recycling, that’s the private sector’s business, we’re not going to tell apartments what to do’ attitude, and that has changed, obviously,” Snyder said.