The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Office of Waste Reduction & Recycling (OWRR) Staff

919/962-1442, Giles F. Horney Bldg., 103 Airport Drive, CB #1800, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-1800

Please feel free to contact any of the people below with questions regarding trash disposal, waste reduction, reuse or recycling issues at UNC-Chapel Hill.

The OWRR Crew
(minus Samantha and Brittney)

Amy Alves is the Office Manager for OWRR.  She graduated from UNC Greensboro with a degree in Psychology.  She worked in various offices on UNCG’s campus including the library, Student Academic Services, and Romance Languages.  Amy enjoys being involved in campus activities and committees and most recently served on UNCG’s Sustainability subgroup for Waste Reduction and Recycling.  The Office Manager coordinates the day-to-day workings of the office and is the friendly voice that you hear when you call OWRR's main number (962-1442).  This position's responsibilities include compiling OWRR's statistical reports, maintaining OWRR's database, and assisting with programs as needed. Amy may be reached via phone at 962-1442 from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday or via email.

Samantha Jackson is an Office Assistant for OWRR. She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in May 2008 with a degree in geology and will be pursuing a graduate degree at Clemson starting in August. She has been working as a Green Games Liaison since August 2007 and continues to promote this program and other recycling programs like Carolina Green Games. Samantha may be reached via email.

Brittney Jenkins is an Office Assistant for OWRR. She is currently a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, and she is double-majoring in English Literature and Art History. She will be graduating May of 2010. She has been working as a Green Games Liaison since August 2007 and continues to promote Green Games and other programs like Recyclemania. Brittney may be reached via email.

Ray Lanier is our Operations Manager.  He has been with OWRR since November, 1993. Ray manages all aspects of the collection and transportation of Carolina's solid waste (trash & recycling). Ray's projects include administering the service contacts for trash, cardboard and outdoor recycling collection; reviewing plans; and working with designers, contractors and other university personnel to design locations for dumpsters and outdoor recycling sites.   Ray supervises the Material Recovery Specialists who are responsible for confidential paper collection, emptying the walkway recycling sites, and maintenance and day-to-day repairs of dumpsters and compactors.  Ray's work hours are 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Ray can be reached at 962-7175 (office), 201-2834 (cell) or via email.

Gary McDevitt is a Material Recovery Specialist, and has been with OWRR since November, 2005.  Prior to joining OWRR, Gary worked at the Grounds Department.  Gary is one our Material Recovery Specialists, responsible for picking up confidential paper from departments on campus, emptying the walkway recycling sites on campus, maintaining and repairing dumpsters and compactors, monitoring dumpsters for regulated materials, and making sure that the areas around the recycling carts and dumpsters are clean and safe. Gary's work hours are 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. You may contact him at 962-1442 (office) or 201-2832 (cell).

Ernest Moffitt  is a Material Recovery Specialist, has been with OWRR since May, 2007.  Ernest is responsible for inspecting indoor sites, setting up sites, and responding to indoor special requests. Ernest also assists our other Material Recovery Specialists, responsible for picking up confidential paper from departments on campus, emptying the walkway recycling sites on campus, maintaining and repairing dumpsters and compactors, monitoring dumpsters for regulated materials, and making sure that the areas around the recycling carts and dumpsters are clean and safe. Ernest's work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. You may contact him at 962-1442 (office) or 201-2831 (cell).

Sarah Myers is our first-ever Construction Waste Specialist.  Sarah, a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, began with OWRR in 2002 and became a permanent employee in August, 2003.  Sarah has worked on construction crews here in Chapel Hill and as a health and environmental educator for the Peace Corps for two years in Moldova.  Sarah's mission is to help minimize the amount of waste landfilled due to construction on campus.  Sarah's work days are spent reviewing plans to evaluate the types and amount of waste generated by construction projects, working to see that building components, furniture and equipment are salvaged prior to demolition, making sure contractors have their solid waste management plans in place before construction starts, gathering and recording contractor's monthly waste reports, and promoting the efforts and results of construction and demolition (C/D) waste management practices by contractors and campus employees.  In her spare time, Sarah also coordinates OWRR's design review comments and serves as OWRR's liaison with Facilities Planning and Construction and others involved in the construction, demolition and renovation process.   Sarah's work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  You may contact her at 962-4699 or via email.

Amy Preble is the Recycling/Outreach Coordinator for OWRR. Formerly known as OWRR's Office Manager, Amy is a UNC-Chapel Hill alum. Before coming to OWRR, she worked for the Carolina Population Center and the Friday Center. In her free time she volunteers for the Orange County Rape Crisis Center.  She is responsible for promotion of OWRR programs, educating the campus community about waste reduction and recycling issues, and managing the indoor recycling program.  Amy's projects include GreenGames, beautifying indoor recycling sites, encouraging use of the programs, coordinating "Donation Stations" for student move-out, organizing and promoting cardboard recycling at student move-in, reviewing plans and working with architects and customers to determine locations for recycling in new and renovated spaces, working with departments to maximize recycling and minimize waste during office cleanouts and moves and working with special events recycling.  Amy is also the contract administrator for OWRR's confidential paper recycling program. Amy's work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  She may be reached at 962-5169 or via email. 

BJ Tipton is the Solid Waste Program Manager for UNC-Chapel Hill.  She joined OWRR in October, 1998 and is a graduate of St. Andrews College.  Prior to working at Carolina she worked for Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and UNC Charlotte.  At EDS, she worked to develop and implement recycling programs for the offices and statement printing areas.  In 1992 she became UNC Charlotte's first recycling coordinator and has brought a comprehensive approach to Carolina's recycling program.  BJ oversees OWRR's extensive solid waste management programs and has helped to develop a comprehensive database for the office which tracks service locations, schedules, contacts and more. She also helped to develop the football stadium recycling program and worked with the Special Olympics task group. She serves as a liaison to Orange County's Solid Waste Advisory Board.  She worked extensively on the OWRR Guidelines website which is a reference for designers and contractors working on capital projects.   BJ is now working with Sarah Myers to further develop the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Program. BJ's work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. She may be reached at 962-7251 or via email.

Craig Yarborough is a Material Recovery Specialist, and has been with OWRR since January 2004.  Prior to joining OWRR, Craig worked at the Surplus Property Office.  Craig is one of our Material Recovery Specialists, responsible for picking up confidential paper from departments on campus, emptying the walkway recycling sites on campus, maintaining and repairing dumpsters and compactors, monitoring dumpsters for regulated materials, and making sure that the areas around the recycling carts and dumpsters are clean and safe. Craig's work hours are 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. You may contact him at 962-1442 (office) or 201-2785 (cell).