Atlas Day 2007 commenced at noon on Harris Field Thursday so students could collect neglected and misplaced recyclable materials from all around campus.

The Inter-Residence Council and University Facilities hosted the event, which was open to all students who collected and sorted recycled goods.

Ori Tuvia, recycling committee chair for the IRC, said he decided to hold the event to raise awareness about recycling and the need for more recycling-specific receptacles around the University.

“[We] want to do something in general to spread the word,” Raphael Clearfield, junior in materials science and engineering, said.

Tuvia, a junior in engineering, sported a red T-shirt that read, “Even Atlas can’t carry the world by himself — Recycle” and displayed the outline of Atlas, Greek god of weightlifting and heavy burdens, carrying the world on his back.

Event volunteers received free T-shirts for their efforts, and other participants could purchase the shirts for $4, Tuvia said.

He said the concept for the T-shirt came from Tuvia’s ideas about environmental problems.

“The world is getting too crowded,” Tuvia said. “People [need to] get used to recycling.”

Cassandra Bopp, a sophomore in psychology, said she hoped the event would raise awareness around campus.

“We should have recycling next to the trash cans … there should be signs,” Bopp said. “[The] University needs to address this [and] alert the public of the need for better, more accessible recycling facilities.”

Bopp voiced her concern for the state of the environment as well.

“What really bothers me is how trash is being stored in the Earth at landfills,” Bopp said. “We shouldn’t be shoving that in the Earth because then things can’t grow out of the ground.”

Atlas Day 2007 was structured as a competition with a point system where each type of recycled goods counted for a certain point value.

“The person who brings the most stuff will get a prize,” Ori said.

The top three collectors were awarded prizes. Among their choices were a digital camera, an iPod and $50.

Megan Delph, graduate student in extension education and IRC adviser, said she was pleased with the event.

“Traditionally our recycling committee hasn’t been as active … but this is one of their ideas, and they just ran with it,” Delph said.

Participant Natalie Brooks, a freshman in animal science, said she enjoyed the event. Brooks and her roommate brought several boxes and bags full of recyclables out to Harris Field.

“Me and my roommate recycle, so we decided just to hold onto them for this event,” Brooks said.