Campus News

'Behind the Blue': UK Recycling's Esther Moberly on Reducing Waste on Campus

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 22, 2021) — The University of Kentucky Recycling program has set sustainability goals for campus designed to significantly reduce the university’s waste. In an effort to reach those goals, the program strives to offer a comprehensive recycling program, outstanding service and interactive education.

Despite some of the complications from the pandemic, the program has continued to make exciting progress toward their sustainability goals throughout 2020 and 2021, including expansion of the food waste composting program to coffee shops on campus, an increase of collection spots for yard/green waste by grounds, recycling concrete from sidewalk repairs on campus, and the development of online resources for faculty, staff and students.

Esther Moberly came to the university in 2015, starting as the recycling coordinator. In 2017, Moberly stepped into a new role as the waste, recycling and trucking manager for the university, where she oversees operations of the waste management and recycling departments for UK.

On this episode of "Behind the Blue," Moberly talks about the responsibilities of her department, from the collection, removal and proper disposal of all the university’s municipal solid waste, to the implementation of plans to significantly reduce that waste through recycling, reduction and reuse programs on campus.

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. “The Kentucky Wildcast”, the UK Staff Senate podcast, is also available on your favorite podcast platforms.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of "Behind the Blue" can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

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As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.