Mountain Echo

Issue date: 11/15/06 Section: Forum

-Plastic #1 and #2 (must be emptied)

-Aluminum (must be emptied)

-Clean Office/Copy Paper (no glossy paper or envelopes with windows)

-Newspaper

-Cardboard (if broken down, can be placed next to any recycling bin on campus)

Many factors contribute to the Mount not recycling as much as it could.

Bins in residence halls are not convenient. Fire codes prohibit recycling bins from being on each floor and bathroom of residence halls. Therefore, recycling bins in residence halls tend to be in laundry rooms, lounges, basements, or outside (in the case of the apartments). These are clearly not convenient locations because it forces people to go out of their way to recycle. Unfortunately, this is because our society is all about convenience. In addition, the locations of bins in other buildings may be located off to the side of a main hall, where many people do not notice them. It is easier when you can walk right by a recycling bin and drop off your items, rather than having to search for a recycling bin.

Recycling paper is also not convenient because it is not in residence halls or beside all printers and copiers on campus. If the recycling bin is not right next to where paper is most used, paper will just get thrown away. Finally, our campus does not recycle glass, which many people drink out of in the dining hall and can take a million years to decompose in landfills (http://www .wlf.net.au/waste/index.html).

The Environmental club would like to extend its thanks to all Physical Plant workers who make the Mount's recycling program possible. We really appreciate the extra work and dedication you put in to picking up recyclables, as well as trash, which helps make the Mount more environmentally friendly.

Please send suggestions and feedback about the school recycling program to recycle@msmary.edu. Also, visit http://www.msmary .edu/recycle/ for more information.

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