Recycling taking on new face at USU
education coordinator, is reviving the recycling committee, which has been nonexistent since 2004.
“It’s hard to see how things are going on the ground, so the committee will act as eyes and ears. I can bounce ideas off of them and take ideas from them.
It’s nothing super-revolutionary,” Price said. “We are really trying to basically make recycling a central part of campus.”
With the reformation of the committee, Price said he hopes to work with various people and organizations at the university to increase the amount of
recycling on campus.
“It is not so much a question of people wanting to recycle, but a matter of time. They wonder, ‘Do I really have time to do this?’ We are trying to make it more convenient,” Price said.
The recycling committee’s first meeting will be held Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in the Facilities Maintenance conference room. At this first meeting, Price said they will set ground rules, discuss a recycling survey,
office and resident recycling and review the locations of recycling bins.
Under the guidance of former USU President Kermit Hall, an environmental assessment task force was created which included an emphasis on recycling.
When this began, the recycling committee was superseded, said Kevin Phillips, manager of resource recovery. Phillips said with the absence of Hall, the
recycling committee will resume its original position.
Aside from the recycling committee, Price said he is taking other steps to better the recycling system on campus. He has worked with facility maintenance representatives to coordinate the collection of bottles and cans. Price said the number of bottle and can recycling stands has quadrupled.
With the help of committee members, Price said he plans to place more recycling containers around campus where they are needed. He said he wants to be sure everyone with an office has a recycling bin.
“If you have a desk, you should have a recycling container,” Price said.
Price is also attempting to organize a collection that will take place when students are moving out of their apartments.
“Move-out day is a disaster. It is ridiculous how much useable stuff they throw away. I would like to have a move-out day collection,” Price said.
He also said he would like stronger relations with USU Housing directors. There are currently two bins for every apartment building on campus and Price said he said he would like to see their use substantially increased and he believes the housing directors could be of great assistance.
“We can do quite a bit of ground work with help from housing,” Price said. “We can help students understand how easy it is. It is good for the environment and, hey, it gives nine students a job.”
Price has helped increase Utah State’s involvement in Recycle Mania, an intercollegiate recycling competition. Out of the 87 participating schools nationwide, USU is currently in the top 10 for waste reduction, Price said. The last day of this year’s contest is today.
To close the 10-week competition, Price will be hosting Recycle Fest 2006 Saturday, at which several organizations and students will be volunteering to build a shed that has been designed by the Society of Environmental Engineering Students specifically for USU Recycling. The Recycle Fest will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Recycling Center at 870 E. 1250 N.
Price said he would like to conduct a waste audit on campus as soon as possible to evaluate the conditions of the school’s trash. Price said audits in the past have shown that a good portion of trash in the garbage is still recyclable.
He said USU recycles 700 tons of items every year. As far as universities are concerned, that is very good, Phillip said. Recycling is also a money issue, he said. It costs the school nearly $140,000 to throw garbage away and Phillip said the price will continue to rise as city fees increase.
By recycling, the university has lowered this cost by 25 percent and it is not beyond USU’s realm to continue to decrease this expense, Phillip said.
“We need to wake up and smell the roses around us and understand the part we play as individuals. We will only be as good as the individual commitment,” Phillips said.
He also said this goes beyond just recycling. He said people need to
individually focus on reducing use, reusing, refurbishing and reselling.
Throwing something away should be the last option, Phillips said.
“Recycling requires an extra effort. You may have to walk a little farther. Too many people just don’t think about it,” Phillips said. “We need to change that and throw away as a last resort.”
Anyone interested in being involved with the recycling committee or other related activities can contact Price at usu_recycling@yahoo.com.
-ariek@cc.usu.edu