UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 17, Page 1
January 23, 1992
Campuswide recycling focuses on paper chase

     The three R's have taken on an added meaning at the University
of Delaware. In addition to the traditional reading,'riting and
'rithmetic, the new "R's" of importance are recycle, re-use and
reduce.
     Next week, the University's recycling effort will go
campuswide, when custodians begin to distribute 4,700 blue, plastic
containers to faculty and staff offices for the specific purpose of
recycling office paper. In addition, 200 large, blue containers
will be placed in buildings to collect paper at work-station sites.
     Stuart J. Sharkey, vice president for student affairs and
chairperson of the Environmental Concerns Committee, said, "This
new initiative is an important addition to the campus recycling
efforts already under way. By incorporating recycling into our
basic operations, the University reinforces the importance of such
action and at the same time makes it relatively easy for people to
do the right thing."
     "It is important that environmental concerns be shared by
members of the campus community--students, faculty and staff,"
University President David P. Roselle said. "This effort builds on
our enthusiasm for conservation and I hope that the program will
receive the cooperation and participation of everyone."
     According to Roger K. Bowman, grounds supervisor in Plant
Operations and coordinator of the campus' new recycling program,
employees can begin using the recycling containers as soon as they
are delivered, though custodians will not begin routine collection
of recycled paper until Monday, Feb. 3.
     The Whiteline Recycling Co. in Georgetown will collect the
recyclable products from the University regularly each week, Bowman
said.
     When the containers are distributed next week, they will be
accompanied by an instruction sheet, detailing what can and cannot
be recycled, he said.
     Seven sites have been chosen to recycle only high-quality,
white paper, and all other campus buildings will recycle all paper.
     The designated High-Grade Paper Recycling sites are the
Computing Center, Graham/Newark, Hullihen and Smith halls, the
Willard Hall Education Building, Morris Library and the General
Services Building.
     The only paper to be placed in the desk-side or work-station
recycling containers at these high-quality paper sites, Bowman
explained, should be computer paper (white or green bar), white
office paper, white copier paper, plain white paper, plain fax
paper (not thermal) and any paper meeting the above criteria that
has been shredded.
     The following types of paper should NOT be placed in the
recycling containers at the high-grade sites: legal pad paper
(yellow or white), spiral binder paper, paper from any type of
tear-off pads, envelopes of any type, glossy paper, newspaper, NCR
paper, thermal fax paper and carbon paper.
     All paper clips and rubber bands should be removed before
recycling. Staples do not need to be removed.
     Paper not designated for receycling at the high-quality sites
should be disposed of in routine fashion, Bowman said.
     All remaining buildings on campus are being considered
Commingled Paper Recycling sites (for low-grade papers), Bowman
said. At these sites, any paper that can be torn--no matter the
color--can be disposed of in the blue desk-side and work-station
containers, including envelopes, fax paper, glossy paper and NCR
paper.
     Newspapers, telephone directories and magazines should NOT be
placed in the recycling containers at any site, Bowman added.
     Cardboard, clear glass and bi-metal and aluminum cans will be
recycled from Dining Services.
     "There is a demand for high-grade paper," Bowman said, "making
it marketable. Commingled paper is not salable but will be taken
away free of charge by Whiteline, which sells it at a low price for
use in manufacturing such items as paper towels and tissues."
     The University may save some money on trash disposal," he
said, "but the campus will not make a profit on recycling."
     In addition to this new paper recycling effort, which builds
on successful programs in the residence halls for recycling glass
and aluminum cans and a successful pilot program for paper last
year in Hullihen, Graham and Newark halls, the University is urging
units to purchase recycled paper products, keeping up demand,
Bowman said.
     It is also hoped, he said, that members of the University
community will take to heart the other two R's--re-use and reduce.
A big paper savings could be realized on campus, he said, if people
would use scrap paper as well as cut down on or eliminate
unnecessary and redundant notices and memos.
     "We are starting out small on the recycling program," Bowman
said, "and we will evaluate it on an ongoing basis. Its success
will depend ultimately on cooperation from individuals across the
campus.
     "After this part of the program is in place," he said, "we
hope to increase our recycling efforts as part of the University's
commitment to improving the environment."
     For further information, contact Bowman via e-mail
(MVS@recycle) or phone 831-2624.
                                        - Sue Swyers Moncure