When a group of students decided to begin a project, one of the first things they did was purchase a broken toaster from Goodwill.

Students in class S T S 497B (Creativity, Innovation and Change) were given a group project assignment in which the goal was to take risks and make an environmental impact.

One group decided to initiate a recycling project in downtown apartments.

"The main [apartments] we're focusing on are the ones with trash chutes," said Dennis Plank (senior-mechanical engineering), who explained that these apartments tend to have the most recyclable materials in trash dumpsters.

The project is aimed primarily at students living in downtown apartments who want to recycle but don't know how and those who don't think recycling is important, said Kevin McNamara (senior-mechanical engineering.)

Last night, group members Rob Brown (senior-agricultural and biological engineering) and Plank began to distribute "junky-but-funky" objects, like broken toasters and plastic fire hydrants, to apartment residents.

"I think it's unique because we're using unconventional methods to raise awareness," said Brown.

A note is attached to each object that explains how and where residents can recycle in their apartments, and asks

that they pass the object and note on to another resident of the apartment after they have located the recycling bins and recycled something.

The group members believe this will be more effective than handing out fliers.

"If you get a flier, even for pizza, you throw it out," said McNamara.

Group members said recycling is easy in their selected apartments.

"Environmental concerns are becoming more prevalent today. I think people are starting to realize, 'Gee, this isn't that difficult,' which it isn't," said Justin Fraser (senior-civil engineering).

Some students said they would begin to recycle because of the recycling campaign.

"I'm sure 90 percent of the people in this building don't even know we have a recycling bin," said Nicole Loaney (senior-landscape architecture), a resident of Beaver Hill Apartments.

Loaney also said she thinks the group's efforts will be effective and added that recycling would be easier for her, since she already recycles on campus and at home.

Other students said they knew there were recycling bins but still would not recycle.

"It's just too much time -- too much of a hassle. It's easier to just dump it down the [trash] chute, said Lauren McPartland (senior-crime, law and justice), a resident of Beaver Hill Apartments. "I should though."

Group members said they realize some apartment residents would still not recycle.

"It's not going to change everyone's minds, but every little bit helps," said Fraser.

The group also posted a video on youtube.com called "Happy Valley Recycles" that gives information about recycling.

Though the recycling project is not officially a part of the student group Eco-Action, many students from Eco-Action have volunteered to help and plan to continue the project in the future.

"We're hoping to use what they start and enforce it next semester," said Danielle Davis (sophomore-communication arts and sciences), a member of Eco-Action, of the recycling project. "We've been trying to start something like this for a while, and they have done it perfectly."