Current Release: September 11th, 2007 | Vol. XXIV Iss. 10

PHOTO BY ERIC ZITZ

New recycling program on campus

By Betsy Lane

ealane@vwc.edu

This year s introduction of the Marlins Go Green Campaign is what campus leaders consider a major step in raising awareness for the President s Environmental Issues Council.

The campaign is led by Director of Community Service Diane Hotaling, leader of the Student Environmental Awareness League Vickie Brynildsen and other student and faculty volunteers, is reaching out to students, staff and faculty to encourage recycling on campus.

According to Hotaling, the first step in addressing green issues on campus is  to say we re recycling with some effort.

And that s exactly what they ve set out to do.

After researching and observing recycling campaigns at places like Old Dominion University and attending conferences on recycling around Virginia, Hotaling and Brynildsen  mapped out a recycling program for VWC.

Even with no budget, the group has set out to make sure recycling bins can be found prominently in all campus buildings. This includes residence halls, classrooms, faculty and staff offices, and in places like the Batten Center and outside the Boyd Dining Hall. WAC has provided funding for all office and classroom bins. Because of budget and disposal problems, ideas for Village III townhouse and Lake Wright recycling are still being adjusted.

Partnering with Resident Assistants and Housekeeping on campus has proved beneficial for the program. The two groups have asked to be role models to students on campus.

 Housekeeping is our bridge, said Brynildsen.

The housekeeping and physical plant staff have taken on the task of emptying the large and small blue bins that can now be found all over campus. All recyclables are picked up together by Tidewater Fiber, who offers the mixed recycling service to the campus.

The most obvious problem so far?

 Making sure people know what they can and can t recycle, said Brynildsen.  The biggest problem is food contaminants.

In addition to this, pushing students, mostly upperclassmen, to participate and take the time to sort their trash and recyclables has been another challenge.

 It s pretty new to them, added Brynildsen.  Recycling hasn t really been encouraged and enforced in the past.

The group is aware of these challenges but also aware that progress is already being made.

 The consciousness is already being raised. said Hotaling.  That s the first step.

Brynildsen adds that one of the biggest ways to reach out to students has been  encouraging it by word of mouth.

Other efforts of the Go Green Campaign include reusable cups that can be used in the Marlin Grille. These plastic mugs were gifted to incoming freshmen at the beginning of the semester and can be purchased by other members of the VWC community in the Grille. Students, staff and faculty pay a one-time fee of $5.00 for the mug then receive a discount when purchasing drinks and refills.

Another common sight at campus events now include the Recycle Police. Currently an all-student project, the campaign hopes to add faculty members to the ranks of those who police campus events.

The Recycle Police was formed to  help encourage recycling and make sure people are recycling the right stuff, said Brynildsen.

Beginning in the Spring, members of the campaign hope to include VWC in Recyclemania, and EPA sponsored recycling competition between colleges and universities.

 It will be a continued effort, said Hotaling.  Not something that has a beginning and an ending.

To find out more about what items you can and can t recycle and where to dispose of them, ask your RA, a member of housekeeping, or log onto www.vwc.edu/peic/recycling.php/.