UA Engineering Students Compete with Recycling Devices

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama senior mechanical engineering students will compete with their newly designed recycling systems Thursday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. in room 252 of Hardaway Hall.

Students have designed devices that can sort plastic and glass bottles, aluminum and steel cans, and unclassified waste with the push of a button. The device can be no larger than a case of paper, and it must be powered by over-the-counter rechargeable batteries. The devices must identify the materials and be able to separate the waste.

The 60 students have been divided into 15 teams that are participating. While this is a requirement of the senior mechanical engineering design class, there are also chances for the teams to gain recognition outside of UA.

“There is no limit to the number of teams that we can send to the district competition,” said Dr. Beth A. Todd, associate professor of mechanical engineering and undergraduate program coordinator.

Of the teams that compete on Nov. 19, Todd hopes to send several to the district American Society of Mechanical Engineers Student Design Competition, which will be held March 26-28 at the University of Miami.

Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, today’s ASME promotes the art, science and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the globe.

In 1837, The University of Alabama became one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering classes. Today, UA’s fully accredited College of Engineering has more than 2,700 students and more than 100 faculty. In the last eight years, students in the College have been named USA Today All-USA College Academic Team members, Goldwater scholars, Hollings scholars and Portz scholars.