Recyclable waste collections still low

By Elaine Ku Daily Bruin Contributor Newspapers and beverage
cans strewn across floors of lecture halls is not an unusual sight
at UCLA, but some say it signifies the lack of interest in
recycling on campus.

Although 12 recycling clusters were placed throughout campus in
January after UCLA received a $30,000 grant from the California
Department of Conservation, the amount of recyclable waste
collected since has been low.

"The bins are just not being used that much," said Terence
Castelli, a second-year chemical engineering student who works on
recycling for Facilities Management. "A lot of people are just
ignorant about recycling and they need to wake up to the
responsibility of saving our resources."

In January, about 300 pounds of plastic, 1060 pounds of glass,
and 110 pounds of aluminum were collected from the newly-installed
recycling clusters.

The clusters that were filled with the most recyclable waste
were located around Ackerman Union and Schoenberg Hall, while
clusters around the Bomb Shelter were not widely used.

In comparison, about 45 percent of Stanford’s total waste is
diverted for recycling each year, according to statistics published
by Brown University. Many of the course readers at Stanford are
also printed solely on paper made out of 50 percent post-consumer
waste, 100 percent recycled material.

Organizers said a lack of awareness of the recycling program may
be part of the problem.

"This is really just the beginning of our program, and I am
really positive about what we’ve accomplished so far," said Tracy
Beck, an administrative analyst with Facilities Management. "I
think the recycling is going to do even better in the future, but
education is really the key to recycling."

To increase recycling, organizers want to place brochures that
describe proper recycling methods in freshman packets. Also,
student interest groups are designing information packets for
faculty and staff about recycling on campus.

"A lot of people need to know why they need to recycle and the
opportunities that are available," said Castelli. "There is a lot
more that can be recycled than just paper and Coke cans."

California in particular has not met its recycling goals that
were set for the end of this year. Eighty percent of the
municipalities in California may be fined $10,000 a day unless the
amount of trash that is produced is cut down by the end of the
year, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"People just don’t think about recycling that much," said Javier
Trincado, a first-year economics student who occasionally recycles
when he sees the bins. "When you get out of class, you just want to
get rid of the beverage can or waste and don’t think about looking
for a recycling bin."

Four additional recycling clusters, each costing about $1,500,
will be placed at new locations on campus during the next
month.

"Some people still don’t think that there are enough recycling
receptacles on campus," said Castelli. "However, we are hesitant to
buy even more recycling clusters until people get into the habit of
using the ones they have."

Student groups on campus who are campaigning for increased
recycling include subcommittees of the California Public Interest
Group, the Undergraduate Students Association Council’s Student
Welfare Commission and Bruins for Recycling.

The Environmental Coalition will also be sponsoring an Earth Day
celebration Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Westwood
Plaza.