The NIU Wellness Fair provides health education to students and, for the first time, an opportunity for recycling.

“Green up your life” is the theme of the fair today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Duke Ellington Ballroom in the Holmes Student Center.

E-Waste Recycling is a new program that has been added to the fair. The NIU Taskforce for Sustainable Campus Environment is offering a chance for participants to bring in electronics such as cameras, telephones, VHS, CDS, VCRS, hard drives, hubs, laptops and desktop printers to be recycled.

The taskforce has added the recycling portions to the fair to keep balance in students’ lives, said Jeff Daurer, director of capital budget and planning for finance and facilities. Daurer said the program is about “getting people to have habits to lessen their carbon foot print.”

Larger electronics such as computer monitors, TVs, CPUs, servers and towers will not be allowed to be recycled at the fair, Daurer said. Participants will receive a ticket for such items to be dropped off Wednesday, April 8 at the Software Implementation Center (the old John Deere building).

The fair will host 75 wellness providers from around the campus and the community such as the American Red Cross, DeKalb Area Women’s Center, Health Services, Kishwaukee Family YMCA, Whole Body Health Acupuncture Center, NIU Physical Therapy Program – AHCD, Recreation Services, Gateway Yoga and Whole Body Health Acupuncture Center.

Becky Lewis, assistant director of the recreation services for fitness, wellness and marketing, said the entire fair and the theme allow participants to learn about information regarding health and wellness and environmental awareness.

“Going green is a hot topic on campus and people are trying to be more resourceful, so that’s why we are giving it a try,” Lewis said. “It’s a good chance to come and learn something about your health and the resources available on campus.”

Lovvion Little, senior family social services major, has been to wellness fairs but not the fair held at NIU. She said she learns about different aspects of health from experts at the fair.

“You have things in your house that you don’t use anymore, so you can help someone else out,” Little said. Little said she has electronics, such as radios, that could be recycled.

The event is free and is open to all.