Like the mailman, they can be seen in rain, sleet, hail or snow pulling more than 300 pounds of recycled materials on a trailer behind their bicycles.

They are the Fresh Aire Delivery Service.

Jim Gregory started the business in 1991 as a grocery delivery service.

It has evolved since then with the help of the Iowa State Department of Residence, who pays for the recycling program.

Students at ISU may have noticed the recycling bins in the residence halls.

There is one located on every floor in all the halls.

Joan Stein, an employee of Fresh Aire Delivery Service, said recycling has never been so easy for students.

“We are bringing recycling to the students, for their convenience on their floor,” he said.

Carolyn Stouwie, an employee of the Ames Area Recycling Center, said students who take advantage of the service are contributing to the almost 29 tons of metal and 548 tons of newspaper that are recycled each year at the center.

A large portion of the recycleables brought to the center come from Fresh Aire Delivery Service, she said.

The employees who transport the material by bikes to the center also sort the material they collect.

Stein said the Fresh Aire collect about 225 bins from the 160 stops in all of the residence halls, as well as some offices on campus and private residences.

They also deliver prescriptions for Walgreens as well as various local newspapers.

Stein said the use of bikes is very efficient as well as healthy.

“Bikes are environmentally sound, environment friendly and health promoting machines,” Stein said.”

They have no exhaust, no noise pollution and the machine waste is minimal.”

“Fresh Aire Delivery Service is providing a service that doesn’t use or waste energy while they’re trying to preserve resources,” Liesl Kelly, an employee and graduate student in animal ecology, said.

When winter arrives, transporting 300 pounds of material on a bike can get a little difficult.

Jeff Hankens, a rider for Fresh Aire and a junior in political science, said his first day was after one of the larger snowstorms. “It was an experience, put mildly,” he said.

“After about four or more inches of snow, we just have to wait for the plow,” Stein said.

He said they use chains and put care studs in their bike tires when the weather gets bad.

Fresh Aire Delivery Service employees said students should recycle whatever materials they can.