Keeping Our Paws Clean

A Commitment to Sustainability

By implementing green solutions into buildings across campus and producing an effective strategy for increasing the lifespan of buildings and outdoor spaces, sustainability has become a priority at the University of Pikeville.

Leading by example, the university recently launched an initiative with a sustainable focus. Clean Paws is a new student group working to educate and engage the campus community about the importance of sustainability.

Some solutions have developed quickly on campus, while others are long-term projects. UPIKE’s City View Café now provides compostable to-go containers and paper cups instead of plastic or Styrofoam, as well as offering glassware for dine-in. In addition, 24 water filler stations have been installed in convenient locations across campus to reduce the use of plastic bottles.

Clean Paws has a variety of opportunities for students, faculty and staff and empowers the campus community to rethink its relationship with the products that are used every day. Currently, students are working toward implementing a policy for cardboard recycling that will include collection locations placed throughout campus and utilize the recently acquired larger cardboard bailer to handle the waste volume. The first of many, a cardboard drop-off location has been added to the ground floor of the Administration Building.

Clean Paws President Emily Dendinger has been a passionate advocate surrounding sustainability on campus.

“Clean Paws is the sustainability initiative for the mountains. We created this club to provide education on waste reduction and management for the future generations to make a lasting impact in the years to come,” said Dendinger. “UPIKE has shown tremendous initiative by asking us to start this club and we are working with several members of leadership weekly, to make the campus a more sustainable place for everyone.”

By using sustainable elements to spark creativity inside and outside the classroom, UPIKE can influence how students learn and educators teach while decreasing the institution’s impact on the environment. A more environmentally-focused campus ensures stimulation for its student body from an intellectual, social and civil perspective.

In 2021, UPIKE partnered with Rubicon, a company based out of Lexington, Ky., that developed a software platform that provides innovative waste and recycling solutions for businesses and governments worldwide.

Innovating Change

Using technology to drive environmental innovation, the company helps turn businesses into more sustainable enterprises and neighborhoods greener and smarter places to live and work. Rubicon’s mission is to end waste. It helps its partners find economic value in their waste streams, confidently execute their sustainability goals and save money — specifically taxpayer money — in communities like Pikeville.

UPIKE Director of Facilities Charles Atkinson says initial signs of the partnership and joint commitment to sustainability will be evident on waste and recycling bins throughout UPIKE facilities.

“UPIKE initiated a relationship with Rubicon to explore ways to implement sustainability on campus,” said Atkinson. “The long-term impact could be an increase in tourism by community impact on the surrounding region and an increased global marketability of our graduates having exposure to or participation with sustainability.”

This year, Rubicon collaborated with the university by sponsoring the inaugural Rubicon Rural Waste Innovation Challenge. Rubicon's Pikeville initiative tracks the efforts of its Chairman and CEO to stimulate economic development and economic advancement opportunities in rural communities in Kentucky.

UPIKE students were invited to submit concepts for solutions, products or programs to promote sustainable materials management on campus, in the community or in the Appalachian region at large, with the winning team receiving $25,000, split between prize funding and funding to incubate the project with Rubicon. Chosen by a panel of experts, Preston Poag ’21, MBA ’22 was announced as the winner for his RecyclePod proposal demonstrating an innovative approach to eliminating waste.

Becoming intrigued with Rubicon after hearing Chairman and CEO Nate Morris speak at graduation last year, where the Rural Waste Innovation Challenge was first announced, Poag has continued to keep up with the company and was excited to see that they were tapping into Eastern Kentucky with this competition. While working an internship, taking MBA classes and teaching a college course of his own, Poag worked long nights on a business plan that brought his idea to life.

“RecyclePod is an idea I came up with as a solution for rural communities that lacked recycling infrastructure. The concept incentivizes users to recycle, creates a platform for companies looking for recyclables and provides jobs for locals,” said Poag. “I am grateful for the opportunity that Rubicon and UPIKE provided us, and it means a lot to be chosen as the winner. I put a lot of work into RecyclePod. It is so fulfilling to see other people believe in my vision.”

By Stacey Walters