Despite popular rumors around campus, the University does recycle, and now it’s up to the students to play their part.
After becoming concerned about the lack of recycling on campus, we formed a group to encourage recycling and dug deeper into the procedure behind the myth. We spoke to Tony Dillard, coordinating manager of general services in Facilities Management, and he uncovered the truth for us. The process starts when the separate bins are all placed into recycling trucks. The trucks then go to the CWI plant located in Virginia, where the bags are placed on a conveyor belt and separated by hand. The recycling separated from the plant is then sold to various mills for reprocessing.
Although there is a plan of action, there is little being done on the part of the waste generators. Students seem discouraged even to attempt to recycle because many students report seeing all the separate bags placed together in places such as the Marvin Center. This may look suspicious, but rest assured; D.C. law requires recycling in all commercial establishments. According to the Recycling Statute and the Sierra Club Settlement Agreement, “(universities) must recycle and arrange for the recycling of the standard recyclables – glass, newspaper and metal – and paper. Arranging for recycling pickup is the burden of the establishment and not the District.” We also have seen the University’s recycling percentages. In 2003, 46 percent of the total waste tons produced by the University were recycled – a percentage that rose from 26 percent in January of the same year. Although these numbers are impressive – because we have such a clear-cut separation system throughout campus – they should be higher.
To make it easier, here’s a guide to what you can recycle at GW: in the mixed paper bin, you can place all types of paper – computer paper, magazines, folders, etc. – including The Hatchet you are reading right now. In the bottles and can bins, you can place all colors of glass and plastic, as well as aluminum. In your residence halls, you can recycle all types of cardboard – ranging from cereal and Pop-Tart boxes to shipping packages. However, contrary to popular belief, you cannot recycle pizza boxes, paper cups, milk cartons and yogurt containers.
You may be wondering why some buildings on campus have such a clear separation system on each floor, while others have only unlabeled bins behind the building that we can assume are for recycling. This is because the University buys buildings and converts them into residence halls, which do not fall under Mr. Dillard’s area of responsibility. He is responsible for housekeeping and grounds maintenance in and around all academic buildings and the older residential establishments on campus. The other residence halls are maintained by Property Management – including buildings such as The Schenley, The Dakota and 1957 E Street. We attempted to contact Property Management about their lack of concern, but they did not get back to us.
As the recycling club on campus, we feel that it is important to let students know that although they might not feel it’s a big concern, the more we don’t recycle, the more waste piles up around the country. Recycling is as easy as having a separate bag for your beer cans at your next party, or placing your Hatchet in the labeled mixed paper bins – it’s an easy solution to a growing problem. Stick it where it belongs.
-The writer is president of the GW Recycling Club.
