A voluntary recycling program could begin in Hawthorn Court as early as Friday.

The Hawthorn Court Community Council initially discussed the program last spring but the council had difficulty finding a recycling program that would work well for Hawthorn residents.

The issue was raised again at town meetings last semester. Council member Aaron Rud, senior in chemical engineering, did extensive research into existing ISU recycling programs until he found an option that worked, said Ryan Guard, chairperson of the council.

The program in Hawthorn Court is modeled after the recycling program in Schilletter Village, a university housing area north of campus.

Hawthorn Court’s program will have a dumpster-style bin placed in the north parking lot for recyclable materials, said Guard, senior in history.

The council considered recycling through Bikes at Work, 216 N. Hazel Ave., but it would have been too expensive since many small recycling bins would have been needed throughout the apartment buildings, he said.

The decision to use Waste Management, 210 Freel Drive, will cost each resident about $2 per semester, Guard said.

“It is a great thing that they’re doing,” said Barry Stouwie, operations manager at Waste Management.

“We’re excited to be a part of it.”

The recyclable materials being collected are newsprint, clear glass, aluminum cans and foil and plastics numbered “1” and “2,” Stouwie said.

For the recycling initiative to be effective, people must rinse all food out of the containers, he said, or Waste Management is forced to treat dirty items as garbage.

“I think it’ll take a little while to get up to speed,” Guard said.

But he said there is huge support for the program, and he estimated that perhaps a third or more of Hawthorn Court residents will recycle.

If student demand increases, the council could put a second recycling bin in another parking lot, Guard said.

Hawthorn Court resident Alissa Russ said there is a need for the recycling program.

She, along with other Hawthorn Court residents, takes her recyclable materials to University Village, located next to Schilletter Village.

Recycling at Hawthorn Court would be more convenient, said Russ, senior in agricultural biochemistry.

“I think they could’ve put it in earlier, but I’m glad they’re doing it now,” she said.