Arnold School students plan community, university recycling events

Recycling will be the focus of a community and University of South Carolina promotional campaign by Arnold School of Public Health students during national Public Health Week, April 7 – 13.

Graduate students in a health-communications class, taught by Dr. Daniela Friedman, will debut their “This is Public Health” campaign Tuesday, April 1, during the S.C. Public Health Association’s Public Health Month Kick-Off, from 5 – 7 p.m. at the State Museum.

From 4 – 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, April 7 - 8, the students will promote recycling at the Southeast branch of the Richland County Public Library at 7421 Garners Ferry Road and distribute canvas tote bags to the public.

During the week, the students also will have a display at the Russell House on Greene Street and will have recycling bins at the university’s public-health buildings on Sumter and Assembly streets.

The University of South Carolina project is funded by a $2,000 grant from the Association of Schools of Public Health and is one of only 19 awards nationwide.

Friedman said the campaign, which also will include a survey of recycling awareness and behaviors, puts teaching into real-world application.

“The class wants to raise awareness about recycling,” Friedman said, “and spread the message that public health is everywhere in our daily lives. The follow-up study from this effort also will give us information about recycling in our community.”